My poorman's milling machine

jim moyer

jim moyer

Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
1,158
OK - I surrender, apparently a bad idea.

This is my poormans milling machine. I just could never justify the cost of a milling machine for slotting guards

I purchased this cross vise on ebay for less than 50.00 and clamped it to my small drill press with vise grips. I centered the brass in the vise; drilled a series of 1/8th inch pilot holes and than used a 1/8th carbide cutter bit. I just ran the drill press up and down while turning the handle slowly on the vise. Tested the fit and made the needed adjustments for a tight fit since my tang was over 1/8th inch by a hair.

The second photo is the guard drying; this one is JB welded to the blade. The tension spring below the guard is what I use when soldering or using JB on hidden tang blades. I can turn or move the spring for adjusting a 90 degree fit looking down the back of the blade.

Best regards,

Jim

1cross.jpg

1cross2.jpg
 
Jim,

Maybe I am not seeing it right...or reading it...

But using a drill press like that can seriously screw it up...

Not trying to be a "know-it-allsy-pants"....but experience is a bear...

Shane
 
WOW!!! Sorry I shared this one. I will refrain from posting except for nice knife or seansons greeting coments.

Jim
 
Well if apparently this is is a bad idea for a drillpress, how about doing it with a dremel or something that is held secure?

Ive been wanting to cut slots in guards, as well, but cant afford a milling machine to do so, but also dont want to have to drill, hacksaw, and file a slot to really fine tolerances with files and sandpaper when a milling machien would take so short a period of time.....theres gotta be an easier way....
 
its the side loading on the spindle if i remember right
after a while it can make the drill press arbor/drill bit wobble causing all your other holes to be out of round

looks like a nice blade btw
butch
 
It's not like the drill press cost a million bucks, if it works,do it. Besides they make berrings everyday and it sure beats slotting guards by hand. Keep on keeping on!..................John
 
Jim-

I think what Shane was hinting at, is the fact that drill press bearings are not intended for the lateral load that they'll get when you do milling operations like this.

While I don't think it's ideal, I think if you drill all the holes first with a center-cutting endmill, and keep them VERY close, then very very lightly remove the webbing, you'll be okay.

IMHO, it really depends on how much of a machinist the person is that you ask :) A friend of mine's dad has been a self-employed, full-time machinist for about 40 years. He freaked out when I suggested this idea to him about 5 years ago. I have a friend who does some "back-yard" engineering, and has a set-up like this that works really well for him.

I will say though, I wouldn't want to be around if the spindle gave out and decided to take a short flight around the shop! :eek:

;)
 
jim moyer said:
WOW!!! Sorry I shared this one. I will refrain from posting except for nice knife or seansons greeting coments.

Jim
Click to expand...


"Lighten up, Francis" :p
 
What Nick said!:eek:
The bearings aren't made for lateral loads and there's no way to lock the column, so you have unintended movement of the cutter, plus the arbor is a tapered press fit into the column and lateral pressure can help it to get loose at the worst possible time. That will probably cause damage to both the arbor and chuck when it hits the deck running, not to mention the end mill.

Shane Justice was not ragging on you, just trying to appraise you of the possible drawbacks to your method.

But it's your drill press and bearings are not that expensive, though chucks can be.
 
hey jim,


what ever it takes to keep those prices down :)

actually i was toying with the same idea, thanks for letting me learn from your mistake.

dave
 
Jeez...I did not mean to poop on your picnic....

I wrecked my drill press doing this...I think it lasted about a dozen guards...

...it worked up until I needed a round hole...then I got eggs instead...

It is just a Cratsman 15" floor model...but I got it new...

Actually, the chuck went first...

I am convinced if I had a better chuck it would hav ebeen the spindle and bearing instead...and would have cost a lot more...

Now I am doing a precise layout...punching dimples and shooting straight
holes..and then worrying the sh*t out of it with a file...

I think I read about not using a drill press like this on BF...one of these guys..Nick or JHiggins originally posted...

Sorry again for tripping your trigger...

SHane
 
jim moyer said:
OK - I surrender, bad idea

Jim
Click to expand...

There is one way it could work, Jim... :D





Use an end-mill in the chuck and only make vertical plunges with it. You may have to make quite a few, then clean it up with some light side-milling or filing. If that is all you ever do for milling in your drill press you will probably be fine. :thumbup: ;)
 
Jim, exactly what Higgy said.
I have to echo the others in that this machine was not designed for lateral load, no raining on your parade, just a fact.

First drill a good pilot hole with a drill bit (you will notice that even a centre cutting end mill is inclined to run around a bit and make the hole bigger when you start with it) and then use the end mill and plunge cut in very small increments, just a few thou at a time. It will take long but it will not stuff the chuck up too quickly.
Still not the best way to do it but if that is all you have.....and use a sharp cutter

Good luck.

Mike
 
jim,if need more uses to justify the purchase of a mill,try cleaning up damacus billets on one, saves alot of grinding .
 
Did it for a couple years. It' not like you can only do 2-3 knives. Just don't push it to hard and tighten the adjustment nuts to eliminate play.Still beats the hell out of filing.
Take care
TJ
 
Jim . seems like someone else had your idea too and even made a video about it...Ill post the URL in a followup post.

Yes!!! You Can Mill on the Drill Press!

This video just had to be to done in order to show most beginning micro machinists (and even some not-so-new), that if you simply cannot yet afford to add a "real" milling machine to your shop, you can still perform just about every type of milling operation in the book by using a small to medium drill press after some of the special modifications you will learn on this tape. That's not to say that you should forego ever obtaining a milling machine. Instead, the goal of this video is to show you that you simply don't have to wait for years until the funds for that 1000-pound monster are raised. There are no special camera effects, cut-aways as work pieces are substituted. You will see the author performing the following: end milling, side milling, cutting shoulders, slots, slitting cuts, spot drilling, drilling tapping basic indexing on 5c spin jigs, and X & Y coordinate locating with wigglers and edge finders and much more! Shop made tools will be shown as well as construction information. You will also learn the simple but very effective tricks used to transform this 40 pound weakling into a capable milling tool. You will see the author's special micrometer spindle/quill feed, accurate to .001" and locking feature he built into this tool and how it is used. Don’t avoid those projects requiring milling. Learn right now how it was done and begin milling in less than a few days with the help of this new video. All in all, probably the best video on this very "taboo" subject of milling in the drill press!
 
I have a vise like this....bought it because I have been slotting guards, etc. the hard way...eating the webbing away with drill bits.

I've had my lil' benchtop drill press for 3 years now....no problems whatsoever. It doesn't drill perfect (never has) and is by no means a precision machine...but that's why I have a set of files for truing up the slot in the guard.

I think if you go back and read Jim's original post, he is almost already doing what Higgy suggested = drilling, rather than true milling.


I did buy a good chuck for my drill press...so maybe I lucked out...


Jim - your idea is a good one - especially for those of us who can't afford to go out and drop $$$$ on a mill right now...


That said, I would definitely rather have a mill....:foot: :foot:
 
Jim thanks for posting this..that spring on the guard trick is so simple Im sure many people like myself have never thought of it...MIKE
 
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