I have a nifty tip I'd like to share that will make centering your drill press in prep to drill a hole the easiest it can be without numeric control or lasers.

I found a useful item in the package of my subwoofer - this nifty little foot point. I rolled a couple of them and this was the most on center at less than 1/128" off center on the tip. I now slip it into the chuck, align the point on the center punch divit or at the crosshairs of where the new hole is to be drilled, swap out with the bit size of choice, and drill. a great tool tip for those who don't have access to Norm Abrahm's laser aligned drilling machines!

here it is in action, shown with the point about 1/32" down into the center puched location for the first of four neck mounting holes I needed to drill last night

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b253/Rodent65/Basses/MiscProjects/SemiHollowP/DaveM_PreparingToDrilNeckMountingHo.jpg

this has certainly improved my 'freehand' drilling accuracy, not to mention that I've also been able to significantly speed things up as I no longer spend forever and a half jiggering the alignment of the drill bit tip to get it spot on

all the best,

R

What is a foot point and why was it in the subwoofer package?:eek: :)

it's the threaded piece in this image

http://www.audioadvisor.com/images/STARAPCD2_000.jpg

it is machined to a sharp point to sit in an audio isolation disc ... but it also works great in the drill press. I have seen these in packages for several different types of audio equipment stands as well.

all the best,

R

hrmmm, would a good nail work as well? or maybe a round steel bar lathed to a sharp point?

if I had access to a metal lathe, this would definitely be my first choice

all the best,

R

hrmmm, would a good nail work as well? or maybe a round steel bar lathed to a sharp point?

That's what I did, sort of. I used a piece of 1/8" bar, put it in the drill press, turned it on then took an angle grinder to it slowly until I had a nice centered point.

if I had access to a metal lathe, this would definitely be my first choice

all the best,

R

ah right. i assumed from all the nice stuff you were turning out that you had stuff like that. you could use the drill press as a lathe, maybe?

Thanks! That is right on. No pun intended.

You can do the same thing with a brad point bit, no need to change out bits. Just put the point of the bit on your marked center or in the punched hole with the drill press off. You can even turn the bit backwards by hand to see if it is in the right place (It won't cut in that way). Turn it on and drill.

That's what I did, sort of. I used a piece of 1/8" bar, put it in the drill press, turned it on then took an angle grinder to it slowly until I had a nice centered point.

hmmmm...I got nails...(who doesn't)....and I got dremel tool with grinder wheel attachment...

now if I only had a drill press....lol....

You can do the same thing with a brad point bit, no need to change out bits. Just put the point of the bit on your marked center or in the punched hole with the drill press off. You can even turn the bit backwards by hand to see if it is in the right place (It won't cut in that way). Turn it on and drill.

I have brad point bits, but the point isn't as sharp as the end on the this fitting and the larger sizes hide a clear look at the tip. it's also simpler to see the fitting point against the thin crosshairs/centerpoint that it is to look around the wings on a Forstner bit.

maybe it's just me ... but this is now an essential item in my shop after a couple years of frustration with other methods

all the best,

R