For Those Forced To Use A Drill Press For Milling

I've used a table saw with a wafer in it. I have to say I wasn't that impressed. It wasn't worth all the work it took to get the saw dust cleaned out before I started.

I use a circular saw on thin stuff sometimes but I use carbide tooth blades on it. It's a gear reduction saw & I use a rheostat.
 
Oh dear, I've cut heaps of aluminium on my table saw. Wash my mouth out with soap and water.
Negative rake blade and it like a hot knife through butter.
 
I have an old craftsman made my Emerson Electric belt drive. Very easy to clean out. it breezes through Al. Of course eye and ear protection And safety first as always.
 
I have a table saw I've dedicated to metal cutting, slowed it down to about 2200 rpm and put on a steel cutting blade. So far, I have cut up to .750" aluminum and .250" steel plate with it. I use wax stick lube. The results are excellent.
 
....one of the guys that trained me (Delbert Wacker) landed on a beach at Normandy, was on the whole push towards Berlin, ran a big Army "put together" maintenance lathe that ran off the engine of an Army truck....side by side he (we) worked with another guy that trained me (Bruno Weggemer) that was about 12 years younger than Del and was in the nazi youth corps at the same time (they all had to be when they were around 8 yrs old)...aaaand another guy that trained me (Ron Barton) was one of the 2 founders of Estes Model Rockets (He built the tooling and press (not unlike shotgun shell reloading) out of hopper scrap that made those 1st Estes Model Rocket engines (He sold his half to his partner Estes here in Colorado back in the 60's if I remember right (He was also a Paratrooper in the Asian Theater of WWII)....those 3 along with some other guys that trained me (including an Israeli (Leonard Karasik) from NY (Had had a hobby shop in Queens) made the tooling out of old scrap rounds and stuff that made the 1st of one of the worlds biggest industries (the extruded Aluminum Can (The Companys patent ran out, I think it was the late 70's or early 80's...I'll always remember those guys and have respect for the old timers (That is me now LOL) of these trades and I teach my kids to do the same...
 
savarin said:
Oh dear, I've cut heaps of aluminium on my table saw. Wash my mouth out with soap and water.
Negative rake blade and it like a hot knife through butter.
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I've done some in the chop saw. I usually turn the blade backwards. It must do a nice job of honing the edge of the teeth because it cuts wood like a brand new blade afterwards.
 
Bill Gruby said:
Just call this group, "The Myth Busters.":D:D:D:D
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Yes indeed. However all drill presses aren't created equal. I think there has been a lot of good advice here to help people determine if what they have would be suitable and how to go about the determination.

Regardless of what you do, you can't convert a drill press into a Bridge Port, but with the right press and modifications I have been able to mill some very nice components.

Good luck all.

David
 
while some things are dangerous we do them anyway, walking across the street. take the proper precautions and don't force thing and it should work. I have machined 1/4 plate with a router and carbide tipped router bits successfully milled hardened steel shafts with carbide rotary files and it worked sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. you be the judge and take the responsibility for whatever happens. not advice but just life. bill
 
Hi Art, any updates to that thread?
 
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