Drilling

[Iamdusty]

Well friends, here I am again. I find I have so many questions and I am also finding you have many answers.
Will you kindly share with me your advice re: drilling starter holes. I have a large drill press as part of a shopsmith, but I wonder if I should have a small table top set up? I have ordered some small drill bits for scrolling. The shopsmith is a little cumbersome to put up. What about the rotary tools such as Dremel with the drill press attachment or any other approach you would advise.
Thanks again in advance.
Dale

DW 788 on Monday

[Eric]

Dale,

I like to use a cordless drill to make my holes but a drill press is better I have a small one and I find the depth is not big enough and limits me. I know what you mean about a shopsmith I have one on loan and I only use it as a lathe but I think you would be better using your shopsmith with a jig of some sort for your table but if you don't care how you make your hole cordless drill works fine.

Eric

[lucky788scroller]

I use a floor standing drillpress, your smithy should be fine. Make sure you have a pin chuck, a tiny chuck that will hold the wire size drillbits, and run your drill pretty fast.A DP is nicer because it drills the holes real straight, where a hand drill goes where you put it, and a few degrees off when drilling can ruin a project. Many do use a dremel with the attachment like a plunge router, and I can see where that would be handy, it could sit right by the saw so you dont even have to get up. If you get a drillpress for this, be sure you get variable speed,a depth stop of some sort, and get one that has a lot of room between the post and the spindle (called swing) so you can drill to the middle of your intended board. Dale

[Minnesota scroller]

Like Dale mentioned, with a cordless drill you may not get real straight holes all the time. And with these tiny bits, a little crooked can mean a little broke. I do keep my cordless drill handy because occasionally a hole needs cleaning out. Other than that, my cheap drill press is much faster and less frustrating.

[ozarkhillbilly]

I use a GMC drill press that has a lazer guide on it, it gets me thru most of my drilling task, but I've also used my dremmel and an old fashioned pin vise for some of my smaller starter holes. I tend to drill all of my holes before I start cutting also. Once I get started cutting I hate to stop. I'll go over a piece several times to make sure I have all the holes drilled, once satisified, it's saw time!!!

[morsewk]

drilling

I use my Dremel with the drill press attachment. It handles the small bits with ease.

[Iamdusty]

Thanks. For those of you who have used the dremel drill press attachment, what brand and where do you get it? Does it keep the drill bit square with the hole? What kind of "cheap" table top drill press have you used?
Dale

[Gill]

I use a standard Dremel in a drill press attachment too. One of the great advantages of the Dremel drill press over a workshop drill press is that it enables you to drill accurately in the centre of large panels. Of course, you'd be limited by the 'throat' of a workshop drill press. The Dremel can be mounted in its press then rotated and lowered so it drills holes beneath the level of the stand (I hope you get the picture from that - I'm finding it hard to describe ).

Don't forget that other miniature drills are also available, such as the Proxxon which has a particularly good reputation. However, I can't speak of these from experience because I've only ever used Dremels myself.

The base on the Dremel drill press attachment is limited to 90 degree cuts only. If you want to drill holes at an angle you'll need to make an angled false bed.

Gill

[Scrollhead]

Iamdusty,

I use the General drill guide for a drill, picked it up at Sears. Cordless drill, guide, I can even take it to shows with me.

http://www.scrollsawer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5919&highlight=drill

Towards the bottom.

Scrollhead

[CanadianScroller]

I have a small 8" drillpress I picked up for under $40.
The throat is usually deep enough to drill all the holes I need.
You may find in a Dremel setup the wood can be too big for you to reach the center.
You can always take the dremel out if you like, but for the price I would get a small dedicated drillpress. You can always fasten a sanding drum in it and use that for light finishing or intarsia.

[wwalker47]

Iamdusty-

I use a Delta 10" (model dp200). It dose a good job,but for the bits smaller than 1/16" I use a dremel type tool. I do have a pin chuck for the small ones if I have a ton of little ones to drill.

I know you will like your 788 it is a very good saw, I love mine.

-Bill

[Rolf]

If you will be doing fine fret work you will better off with the Dremel arrangement as suggested by Gill. The large drill presses dont spin fast enough for the really small drills. I couldnt find the attachment for my dremel xpr400. So I bought a tiny drill press from Micro Mark.
Gill thanks for the tip on turning the drill head around on the post. It never occured to me, blinded by the obvious or senior moment.

[Iamdusty]

Thanks for all the info.
I am leaning toward a Dremel with drill press attachment. I haven't had a Dremel or other rotary tool before, so thought it could also make some of the small sanding jobs a little easier too.
Any opinions on the cordless 800 vs. the cord Dremels for this use. I wouldn't anticipate using the Dremel for heavy use, but maybe that is just because I haven't used one before.
Thoughts and advice are sure appreciated.
Dale

SW 788 after it gets here Monday and I read some good books.

[BobD (Archive)]

I would go with a corded rather than a cordelss...It's got more power, and I don't think you'll be happy with the cordless!

Bob

[minowevie]

Dale, thanks for asking this quistion. I am learning from it too. I only ;have a big old drill press. and a 8" next to my scrollsaw. I agree with Gill , sometimes the throut is not deep enouph.to drill all the holes, in the middale of your work. and the drimale is a good thing. but you really do need to have your drilled holes go in straight. that blade can walk on you if your not carful. and produce a conneing shape if you may.or jump into the line.the blade will bend.or slide.so you can start a starter hole with a nail, or just go slow. looks like you have all the impho you might need here. but i will add one thing. after you drill your holes. hold your work up to some light , like a window. and see if all your holes are drilled. you can tell buy the front picture. somehow it will come through. you sure don't wont to drill tons of holes only to find out they didn't go through all the wood. bummer. I have done this time and a gain. but then i keep a drimmale tool next to my saw , just for this reason. also, there is a gismo for your old hand drill. that can make your holes strate. thats all i had for a long time. makes your old hand drill a drill press. cost about 25 $. was worth it to me. at the begening. but after you are scrolling for a while , that might not be enouph power. to drill through a thicker wood. hope this helps. your friend Evie