HOW TO USE A DRILL PRESS AND SET IT UP （2）

UPGRADING YOUR DRILL PRESS

Quick Release Clamp

The first thing I would do when getting a drill press is add a quick-release clamp. I leave mine attached to the table almost all the time. It makes it really easy and fast to clamp something down. I would also get a drill press vice for smaller pieces. These can be bolted to the table but usually, you can just hold on to the vice while drilling. Better still, use the quick-release clamp to hold the vice for you.

REPLACING THE CHUCK

What You Need to Replace the Chuck

At some point, your drill press chuck is either going to wear out or you are going to get tired of using the chuck key to manually tighten the chuck when you put bits in it. Mine recently wore out after close to thirty years, so I got my money’s worth out of it. 

To replace the chuck on a floor model, you will need the tapered drift tool that came with your drill press. Most people lose these. Keep it somewhere safe. You can always buy replacements on Amazon for less than $10. You will also need a new chuck. This chuck is the one I choose for my drill press. It has a number two Morse Taper on the end that goes into the drill column.The number two Morse Taper (2MT) is probably the most common size taper.

How to Replace the Chuck

Once you have a new chuck, lower the quill (the drill press head) all the way down. You should see a slot on each side of the quill. Insert the small end of the taper drift tool until it stops. It will now be resting on the back of the chuck. You may need someone to hold the handles in place so the quill stays all the way down while you do the next step. Take a wooden or plastic mallet and strike the thick end of the tapered drift tool. Use a wood block and a hammer if you don’t have a mallet. After a few strikes, the chuck should fall out—just be ready to catch it!

A new chuck is half the price of a benchtop model or more, so it would not be worth the upgrade. Also, the chuck in many benchtops is not designed to be replaced.

CONCLUDING HOW TO USE A DRILL PRESS

A drill press is an essential tool for any shop. They will last for many decades provided you put a coat of paste wax on the cast-iron tabletop every 6 months to prevent rust. The more you use a drill press, the more you will want to buy a bigger floor model. I find smaller drill presses useful, however, and keep a benchtop model in my office at work for “erasing” hard drives by drilling holes in them. This can be done in an office environment because drill presses are so quiet. In your shop, you will be able to find many uses for a drill press, no matter what size you choose.