Drill Press Crank Handle

[Captainleeward]

Drill Press Crank Handle. Made from aluminum bar and threaded rod, 2 set screws, 1 nut. Just got too sloppy.

[tonyfoale]

I just wish that I had a drill press with a rack and pinion lift that I could attach such a handle too.

I have two drills, one is bench mounted the other floor mounted. The floor mounted one has two tables and so it is quite heavy to lift up and down. To help relieve the effort I added a pulley above and ran a thin steel cable over it to a counter weight (a surplus face plate from an old lathe). That fixed the problem on that drill and for large vertical movements it is probably quicker than a rack and pinion system.

The bench mounted drill doesn't have enough vertical space for a counter weight and so I still have to struggle with that one, but the table is not too heavy. A rack and pinion would be welcome on this one. I am thinking about adding a spring such that the weight is balanced with the table in mid position, then below that height I'd have to press down a bit , and above I'd have to lift but less than now.

[volodar]

No rack on my homemade bench mounted drill press either. I raise/lower the relatively massive table with a dedicated 20 cm tall hydraulic jack that sits on the press foot, and which has its permanently attached engage/release handle. On rare occasion I need to slide the jack aside in order to bring the table closer to the foot than jack height allows. In addition, for a super tall job the press head may be swung on its column to completely clear the other side of the bench, at which point the floor becomes the foot.

[tonyfoale]

for a super tall job the press head may be swung on its column to completely clear the other side of the bench, at which point the floor becomes the foot.

I have done that a few times before I got the floor mounted drill. That was a few years ago though.

[Paul Jones]

Captain,

I have the same type of problem with my old floor mounted drill press where the handle metal casting has developed a crack along the edge of the set screw hole and should be replaced. Thank you for the close-up photos of your work. Making a new handle is on my to-do list.

Regards,
Paul

[Captainleeward]

Well Thanks guys for all your input on this serious matter Ha ha :O)