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How is a Drill Press Measured?

BJ42LX

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Dec 29, 2010
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I've seen 14", 16.5" and even 20" drill presses. What does that measurement refer to?
 
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DocsMachine

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Technically, the largest disc the drill press can drill to the center of.

In other words, the throat depth- the distance between the center of the spindle and the front edge of the column. A drill with a 6" spacing would be a 12" drill, 8" would be a 16" drill, 10" is a 20" drill, etc.

And it's not necessarily new Harbor Freight doublespeak either; my circa-1909 Rockford drill press has "20 in. Drilling Machine" cast right into the column, and it has a 10" actual throat.

Doc.
 

KrisKustomPaint

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Sep 8, 2010
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Technically, the largest disc the drill press can drill to the center of.

In other words, the throat depth- the distance between the center of the spindle and the front edge of the column. A drill with a 6" spacing would be a 12" drill, 8" would be a 16" drill, 10" is a 20" drill, etc.

And it's not necessarily new Harbor Freight doublespeak either; my circa-1909 Rockford drill press has "20 in. Drilling Machine" cast right into the column, and it has a 10" actual throat.

Doc.

Indeed, same as swing on a lathe.
 
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shawhite

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The first answer is correct. It is the distance from the spindle center to the column, not twice that distance.

^^^Pretty sure this is incorrect.^^^


All the other post however are correct and saying the same thing. Essentially a 20in press will have 10in between center of chuck and edge of column allowing you to drill a hole in the center of a 20in circle
 

larry_g

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oregon
The first answer is correct. It is the distance from the spindle center to the column, not twice that distance.

You may be correct in Europe as that is how they measure a lathe, not sure if the same applies to a DP over there. In America it is the diameter of a disk that the lathe can swing or a DP can drill the center of. Europe measures the radius.

lg
no neat sig line
 

dutchgray

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Dorset. England.
You may be correct in Europe as that is how they measure a lathe, not sure if the same applies to a DP over there. In America it is the diameter of a disk that the lathe can swing or a DP can drill the center of. Europe measures the radius.

lg
no neat sig line

Generally that is how it would be done, here in the UK although with drills both dimensions would often be listed, the rated drilling capacity would usually be listed on the name plate, ie hole size with a twist drill in steel, though many have their model number contain the drilling capacity.
 
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