[Boatanchors] Probably OT: Drill press runout question

[hwhall at compuserve.com]

Yes, that works. I used my smallest heat shrink tubing to "fatten up" the bit and it works for a while but the bit gradually slips inside the tubing. That gives me an excuse to take a break, though, while I readjust the bit and let my back straighten out some. I really ought to have an adjustable height stool while doing this. 

I think that the next step will be getting some of the little PC board drill bits with larger shanks off Ebay. I don't think I'll find any around town.

 

 Wayne
WB4OGM

 

-----Original Message-----
From: manualman <manualman at juno.com>
To: hwhall <hwhall at compuserve.com>
Cc: boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Mon, Apr 28, 2014 9:01 pm
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Probably OT: Drill press runout question


For the very small drill bits where the chuck won't quite grab it, I've
wrapped several layers of masking tape around the chuck end of the drill
bit. Also, one or two pieces of tubing (the stuff you slip over the bare
wires of components to keep them from shorting other things) would also
work. This way you don't have to diddle mini chucks or chuck reducers.

Pete, wa2cwa

On Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:46:49 -0400 (EDT) hwhall at compuserve.com writes:
> I need to drill some very small circuit board holes for a project, 
> #64 drill size (.036 inch). My drill press chuck wouldn't grab a bit 
> that small, so I got a mini chuck to fit into the press. The mini 
> chuck shank is 1/4 inch. When I installed the mini chuck, the drill 
> bit wandered in a circle, like a case of runout. Not like a bent 
> bit, the whole length of the bit was moving around. But when I put a 
> 1/16 inch bit into the drill press, there isn't any runout anymore. 
> 
> 
> Thinking the mini chuck to be faulty, I looked around the workbench 
> some more and found a hand drill that would grab the #64, and it ran 
> true when I turned it, so I removed it and inserted it into the 
> drill press. It had a 5/16 inch shank. This combination also showed 
> wobble. But the drill press still will turn a small diameter drill 
> bit without noticeable wobble.
> 
> It's as if the wobble turns up only when the drill press chuck is 
> made to hold a larger diameter, and goes away with the smallest 
> diameters. Does that make any sense or suggest something that I 
> should inspect or adjust?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Wayne
> WB4OGM