other drill press uses

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beyondmyken

Joined
Dec 23, 2000
Messages
217
As a knife builder/shop tool novice I have read posts where others talk of different uses for a drill press besides drilling. What are these other uses? Preferably uses that will justify to my wife why I need to buy a drill press besides "just to make knives"
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It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness.
 
I use mine for buffing too! You can chuck a buffing wheel in there and shine up your wife's jewelry (and yes, you can buff up a knife blade too!)

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"Come What May..."
 
I also use mine for sheath making. Just chuck up an awl and punch the holes for hand stitching. The press can be running or not. Also I use a small drill press for tapping small 2-56 holes for folders. Take the belt off and releive the handle return spring. Turn the pulley by hand back and forth. Works good. Bruce
 
I use mine to cut 2 in hook and loop disks from paper I get at the auto supply store.My cutter is made from a sharpend hole saw.I add teeth as they wear out.The disks cost about 5 cents each. In the catalog they are about 20 each.The holder can be bought from Super Grit or Industrial Abrasives.The nice thing is when sanding the grits can be channged fast.I use them when sanding my carvings but I am sure they could be used to get in tight spots before hand sanding on knives.
Chuck
 
I guess I read this post differently than the other guys. It sounds to me that you wanted uses outside of knifemaking.

In that case, it makes a hell of a tool for helping on the "honey-do list" that all husbands have.
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Nick
 
I have used my drill press with various size sanding sleeves for cutting the small radius curves in guards and in shaping the curves on handles. Just be aware that any side strain you put on the bearings will cause excess wear. My nice, quiet Delta drill press now sounds like a garbage disposal with bones in it. I asked a Delta rep what it would cost to replace the bearings and he said it would be cheaper to sell my used one and buy a new one.

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I think Nick is right. This thread is supposed to be for other uses of a drill press than to make knives. I cant think of any at all. Drill presses were invented by the great Bob Loveless. Bruce
 
Bird houses! Lots and lots of bird houses! Bird feeders, too!

Put them near her side of the driveway.

Put them near the wash lines!

Put them near the picture window!

She'll BEG you to start making knives!
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Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives
 
When it comes to justifying tools to your wife,normal moral arguments (like truth) must go out the window.The good,ie:household uses, are only limited by your ability to fabricate.

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MIKE
 
Guys, I was joking about the slim excuses for the wife: she,ll let me have a lower end model if I ask nice. Would really like to know what else I can use a drill press for, but especially for knife making. Thanks in advance.
 
I also was joking.The drill press can be used for many things,as pointed out above,in knifemaking,for handle pins/bolts,drilling handle matl.,drilling sheaths for stitching,buffing,=(your wifes jewelry,wink,)and a number of other things.It is a very handy tool,once you get one,you'll wonder how you ever got along b4 w/o it.

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MIKE
 
I just got a book about green woodworking from the library that has a picture of a jig that lets you use a drill press as a small vertical lathe for turning small wooden parts.

Chuck
 
there are a variety of things you can use your drill press for.....as Mr Anderson can attest to.....but I would like to warn you that if you use it for ANYTHING where you are pushing laterally against whatever the chuck is holding (as in using it to hold a round sanding device etc) you are putting forces on the bearings that will make them wear WAY too fast and you will lose the precision built into the drill press...it was built for drilling holes....and pushing down. I know, I ruined my first one this way.
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http://www.mayoknives.com
John 1:14
Love is Stronger than Death!
 
I might add.....it wont matter much until you start drilling pivot holes in folders, etc.......then you will be spending hours pulling your hair out and wondering why your folders dont work right!!!
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http://www.mayoknives.com
John 1:14
Love is Stronger than Death!
 
Excellent point, Mr. Mayo!
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Deburring and polishing small parts by putting them in a drill press chuck is OK, but watch those lateral forces.

Drill presses also make good arbor presses, as long as the force is moderate!
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ps: Mine is 20 years old, never rebuilt, and still works fine!

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Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives

[This message has been edited by Tom Anderson (edited 02-23-2001).]
 
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