Need Suggestions For Chuck For Old Drill Press

[redsquid2]

I have been trying to figure out what combination of chuck and arbor/shank (whatever) would work on my old drill press. I bought this 100-year-old press on ebay a few months ago. My research keeps leading me to more questions. I had no idea chucks would be so complicated.

Here is a picture of the drill press:

The hole in the bottom of the spindle (I THINK that's what it's called) is exactly 1/2" diameter. You see a set screw on that [spindle]. I believe that is the only thing that would secure a shank.

According to my Google research a "shank" and an "arbor" are probably the same thing, but I am not certain.

Can anyone suggest a combination of chuck/shank/arbor that would work on this old machine?

Thank you for any help.

redsquid2

 

[12345678910]

I would look for a "drill chuck arbor with a 1/2" straight shank" and a matching chuck

http://www.amazon.com/Drill-Chuck-Arbors-Straight-Shank/dp/B0067BS4UY
for example, then you want a drill chuck with a JT3 taper


Try Enco and others for better prices and more choices
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=449&PARTPG=INLMK32
See the top left corner, Pick your chuck first, then match the arbour

 

[redsquid2]

I think I understand.

Pick an arbor with a 1/2" straight shank.

Match the arbor with a chuck. Makes sense now.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

While really cool looking on the wall ( I have one,too) they aren't much use for drilling holes in knives. I would just put in a 1/2" drill bit ( or any bit with a 1/2" shank) and let it be decorative. I do find it an excellent place to set a beer on.

The bits for that post drill are all the same length, and all have 1/2" shanks. You can find/build and adapter and a modern chuck, but it may be too long to fit a bit and the work under it.

Ebay and flea markest occasionally have bits for those old drills show up. You have to know what you are looking at, because the seller rarely knows they are for a post drill.

You could make a 1/4" bit for your post drill by using a 2" piece of round tubing that had a 1/4" ID and 1/2" OD. Drill this near one end for a 4-40 set screw. Grind a flat spot on a standard 1/4" drill bit to match the set screw. Grind a flat spot on this 1/2" shank adapter where the set screw on the post drill sits. This will allow you to use a 1/4" bit in your post drill.

Lots of info on this site about post drills. The first link is a close up of the bits your drill takes.
http://www.beautifuliron.com/images...rillBit_AntiqueStraightShankForPostDrills.jpg
http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm

 

[SeanMK]

I did the same thing. I bought a modern drill chuck, the threads are 1/2-28. got a 1/2 inch bolt witht he proper threads. Cut bolt to the length I need, ground a flat spot on it(for the set screw) and there you have it. Old time drill press/modern drill bits. Now I just need to get it mounted in my garage(instead of hose clamped to teh pallet rack.

 

[redsquid2]

It looks like I have room for a modern chuck and some thinner work. Thanks for all the suggestions and the link.

"...excellent place to set a beer on." Hahahahaha.

While really cool looking on the wall ( I have one,too) they aren't much use for drilling holes in knives. I would just put in a 1/2" drill bit ( or any bit with a 1/2" shank) and let it be decorative. I do find it an excellent place to set a beer on.

The bits for that post drill are all the same length, and all have 1/2" shanks. You can find/build and adapter and a modern chuck, but it may be too long to fit a bit and the work under it.

Ebay and flea markest occasionally have bits for those old drills show up. You have to know what you are looking at, because the seller rarely knows they are for a post drill.

You could make a 1/4" bit for your post drill by using a 2" piece of round tubing that had a 1/4" ID and 1/2" OD. Drill this near one end for a 4-40 set screw. Grind a flat spot on a standard 1/4" drill bit to match the set screw. Grind a flat spot on this 1/2" shank adapter where the set screw on the post drill sits. This will allow you to use a 1/4" bit in your post drill.

Lots of info on this site about post drills. The first link is a close up of the bits your drill takes.
http://www.beautifuliron.com/images...rillBit_AntiqueStraightShankForPostDrills.jpg
http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

"...excellent place to set a beer on." Hahahahaha.

yeah I thought that was pretty good too.

 

[12345678910]

It looks like I have room for a modern chuck and some thinner work.

The bottom round column may be pipe, that you can change to a longer piece.

but ya, it's seriously impractical to hand crank that to drill anything.

 

[cbr900son]

Heh you could try to make it even drill a hole in the beer instead of opening the tab!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

While out in the smithy today, I checked the clearance between the chuck ( I have an adapter chuck on it) and the work plate. With the drill raised all the way up it has about 6" of clearance ( I had nearly three inched more that I could raise the chuck). That will work better than I thought for clearance, but these are still a bear to use. Also, they are usually so sloppy in run-out that getting a precise hole is nearly impossible.

Anyway, a regular beer can will fit under the chuck, but a bottle of Guinness won't. It has to sit beside it. I swing the work plate out to one side when setting a beer there.