Drill press as a basic end mill?

Robert Erickson

Robert Erickson

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
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Is it possible to use a drill press as a basic end mill? I have a cross slide drill press vise for fixation. At this point I would love to be able to mill slots for guards. That's probably all I would use it for if this is feasible. I don't have any more room in my small shop for an end mill and I can't justify the expense at this point. I would imagine there's a difference in the strength of the chuck between a drill press and end mill? But, if it's possible what bits are used for milling the slots?
 
Sure it can be done.

But it will ruin your drill press ( bearings). They are not made for side load
 
They make small X,Y moving hand crank tables that you could clamp and indicate straight for light duty work in a drill press also. Would work fine for limited jobs.

Jay
 
The bearings in a drill press are made for strength in the Z axis...up and down. They are weak in the X/Y axis, and will not take side load well at all. A big heavy duty industrial press might not be ruined by some simple milling, like a 1/8" slot in 1/8" brass....but a budget press will be ruined fast if using it as a mill.
 
I wouldn't even consider it... if the chuck pops loose you will need some serious safety glasses to say the least.
 
This falls in the category of: I'd do it if I had to, but I don't recommend it. Kinda like using a chainsaw for building cabinetry.

The quill on a drill press is usually skinny and has side to side play and the drill chuck doesn't hold tight and often has excessive runout for milling. Also, if the drill chuck pops off its taper because of a side load it can be dangerous.

You can take shallow cuts, but in a material like steel you'll get a chewed up finish, gouging and the cutter won't last very long. And you'll reduce the life of the drill press and you're taking a risk of injury.

edit to add: The spindle on a drill press is primarily designed for thrust load where a mill is also designed for side loads.
 
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Interesting thoughts. I was reading the old manual for the Craftsman 100/150 presses and they mention using it for surface grinding.
I can't see doing it, but it would be cool if you could.
 
Dangerous. The jacobs taper used in a drill chuck is not designed to take a sideload nor is it retained by a drawbar. If it lets go its going to be scary
 
Interesting thread. What would be the best mini mill to get for reaming holes and cutting out lock bars? I'm thinking about getting into folders and am at about my limit for room. Cash is always a consideration too.
 
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Thanks guys. Next question is if I get a mini mill can it replace my drill press?
 
Yes, if sombody gave me a dril press I'd tie a rope to it and use it as a boat anchor.
 
It depends on what you call budget friendly. You can get one for under 1000 dollars from places like Grizzly Industrial or look on craigslist, etc and find a used one. I mooched mine off my dad so it was really cheap.
 
@Nathan: A boat anchor huh? I don't think it'll work as well as a cheap REAL one.......................... To say nothing of the rust all over the place

But back to the post - This kind of question is ALWAYS interesting.

Can I use (name any power tool) to do something its not really recommended for? Doesn't matter if it's a hand grinder, a chain saw, a buffer etc. You name it and someone wants to save $$$ by re-purposing it into something it isn't meant to do. Kinda like when I was young and put a long pipe on the end of an adjustable wrench of my dad's to break free a nut that was REALLY stuck (except it had a left hand thread that I didn't know about). It worked but not the way I expected and when it broke I almost lost some teeth.

I have an old Craftsman drill press that's done yeoman service for me since the 80's. I've drilled countless holes and upgraded it some with better drive belts, a better chuck and finally with a conversion to variable speed with a 1 hp Leeson DC motor that plugs into one of my DC controllers. I also have one of those accessory cross-slide vises Sears sold at the time. I've used that a couple times with wood but I was "ascared" to try using it sideways with metal. Now after reading the comments above I realize that I was lucky I didn't force it to do things it wasn't built for. I suppose I'm blessed by my fear (I like my eyes and my limbs) and I don't crunch many tools these days.

I also own a Harbor Fright mini mill that I bought from someone on here years ago and it does what I need done sideways. I do wish it was a BIG one but that's not happening anytime soon (or you'll be seeing that there's an estate sale with lots of knifemaker tooling in Oak Park, Illinois.)

I do see these minimills on Craigslist cheap with some frequency.
 
Actually, a drillpress can also be used to stir paint.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Actually, a drillpress can also be used to stir paint.
Click to expand...

Pretty funny Nathan. My drill press drills holes in my knives very nicely, but I imagine if I knew how to use a mill, and all the cool things it might do for me, I might not look back either.
In time I will probably get there.
 
i never got a drill press not once in 12 years have i used one on a knife i have made. a mill can drill a drill is no good at milling. mini mills HF are now liek 5-600 i think but they are so useful in the home shop i woudl get another one if mine ever crapped out (and i have a bridgeport in the corner)
i flycut my scales and blocks flat and square on the mini (makes fitting things up a snap ) it drills better then most dril presses. get a belt drive when you break the crappy plastic gears and go to town
 
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