Is My Drill Press Worth Fixing?

[kellogg]

Hi

I'm a new member and this is my first post. I just bought a used Harbor Freight 16 speed drill press at a garage sale. When I start the drill, I can visually see a little bit of runout on the chuck. The vertical outside edges appear a little blurry. I also have a small Delta table top that when started the chuck does not look blurry. My question is to find out if this is the best I can hope for with this brand drill press or if I spend some money on a new chuck and a new spindle I can improve on its performance. If there is hope I can use my dial caliper and get serious of fixing this drill press that is sold new for about $250.

 

[Outlawmws]

Pics help, but you need to determine WHERE the runnout is. A simple test is to use a wire from a steady resting point and check the spindle, then the taper chuck adapter, and then the outside of the chuck. often these are all fine and a simple cleanup of all the moving parts inside the chuck with reduce the runnout to at least tolerable levels.

 

[Packard V8]

What the outside of the chuck is doing is not really important. Runout is determined by what the point of the drill is doing. The standard test is to place a 6" length of drill rod in the chuck, tighten by using the key in all three holes in the chuck. Run the DP on slowest speed and place a dial indicator perpendicular to the bottom inch of the drill rod. Read the runout there.

If there's more than .003" runout, you've got to find where it is. The next step is to mark the chuck/spindle interface, remove the chuck and read the runout at the spindle taper. This should be a lot less, as the runout is magnified by the length of the chuck and drill rod.

If the runout at the spindle taper is .0015" or less, reinstall the chuck 180-degrees from the original spot. Read runout again. Sometimes there is a spot where the total runout cancels each other out.

If you have to replace the chuck, a good one is going to cost you more than the used HF DP,

jack vines

 

[Outlawmws]

Jack, checking the outside can tell you a lot about if the inside has problems. No it's not materially significant to the operations of the DP. it is a handy tell tale for diagnosing where the problems may lie.

 

[kd4gij]

I have the same drill press and had the same problem, Installed a jacobs supper chuck With a usa 2mt abor. All is good now.

 

[kellogg]

That's the best news I heard today. However, I can't seem to find exactly the items you used. Could you let me know where you got them and more specific details on the chuck & arbor? When I Googled the items I got Jacobs super chuck No. 14 2mt, 0-.5 Jacobs arbor. Are these the same items you used?

 

[kd4gij]

This is what I am using. not the same seller though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jacobs-14N-...ork_Holding&hash=item19db0c71a7#ht_120wt_1172

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, the chuck in that link is not one for which I'd pay $57.35. It looks well-used and was most likely replaced because it was worn out.

As I mentioned earlier, unless an offshore DP comes very cheaply, needing a new chuck puts them upside down in total costs vs value.

jack vines

 

[Todd.Brock]

I bought my chuck from Enco. It is a Rohm. I think it was 35 bucks? It's made in Germany, but is not a BB chuck. Mine is great!!

 

[lilredex]

Have a look here. The chucks are cheap (and good quality). Am presently using two of his (#25013). Those same chucks normally sell for about double those prices here.....on sale.

http://www.cdcotools.com/index.php

 

[kd4gij]

FWIW, the chuck in that link is not one for which I'd pay $57.35. It looks well-used and was most likely replaced because it was worn out.

As I mentioned earlier, unless an offshore DP comes very cheaply, needing a new chuck puts them upside down in total costs vs value.

jack vines

I only posted that link as an example of what I am using. I got mine from a retried frind localy.

 

[Outlawmws]

I wouldn't be looking at replacement chucks until you isolate the issue, and if it is the chuck clean it internally...