The drill press is a handy device for users to do DIY projects at home or in workshops. This tool helps you create holes in many different materials more accurately.
Therefore, how to use a drill press step by step is a question of many people.
Additionally, when preparing to use this type of drill, you should identify the hazards and components that bring injury to users such as electric shock, noise, vibration, etc.
As such, you can take the initiative to avoid causing accidents to yourself during working.
If you want to make full use of this tool, what should you do? Let’s follow the instructions of how to operate a drill press below.
Here we go now.
How To Use A Drill Press Step By Step?
Step 1: Get To Know The Drill Press
First of all, you should make sure that this power tool is unplugged from the power source, and you need to read and understand the manufacturer’s instructions clearly before starting drilling.
Then, you need to know the components of the drill press such as the motor, the speed gear, the chuck for using with bits of different sizes and the arm to raise or lower the chuck and bits. You also own a table that can be reduced, raised or tiled when working with various angles.
Step 2: Choose The Speed
You move the belt of the drive from one pulley to another to adjust the speed of the drill press. The pulley size affects the drill speed of rotation. If you want to spin fast, you should select small pulleys.
With the different cutting materials, you need to determine the appropriate speed to use. When you have questions about the speed of use, you should ask for more information from the manufacturer.
So, how to use a drill press for metal?
Due to the structure of the metal, metal drilling is slow and requires a force from the drill. If the drill bit takes the metal instead of cutting it, the metal could spin or launch causing injury to you.
So, the trick here is that you should use low speed for metal and fast speed for wood. Also, remember to clamp the workpiece well.
Step 3: Install The Bit
You open the chuck and slide in the bit. Next, you clamp the chuck by hand around the bit axis and tighten the chuck with its key. Make sure you take off the chuck as it becomes a dangerous thing when turning on the drill.
You need to choose the type of drill bits suitable for different materials such as a concrete wall, brick wall, wood, or metal. Do not use blunt drill bits that can be dangerous due to a lack of slip grip and loss of machine power.
Step 4: Set The Drill Table
In different drill press models, you set the table at different angles by releasing the clamping lever or using a crank. Therefore, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.
You also need to know your tasks, height and needs of physical health to adjust the table for optimal comfort.
Step 5: Adjust The Depth Gauge
Next, the task you do affects the adjustment of the depth gauge. For example, with holes on a block of wood, you may not need any adjustments. You can change the depth when you want to create holes at different fixed depths on the workpiece.
You lower the bit to the height you want and adjust the knurled nuts of the depth gauge to the desired point. At this time, you have a nut that stops the spindle, and another nut keeps the first nut in the right place.
Step 6: Start To Drill
Before starting to drill, you need to fix the material in place because the operation of the drill can rotate your metal or wood. You should clamp the workpiece to the machine firmly and braced on the table.
You check the speed setting following your material and bit selection, then run your drill press. When drilling, you use both hands to the feed, and the wheel reduces the bit for your safety.
Now you can drill holes with desired specifications within the specified tolerance range. Why do you need tolerance here?
Drilling is often oversized because the drilling holes are larger than the specified diameter of your drill. Factors leading to this are the precision of the chuck and the sleeve, the spindle, the drill press and the workpiece hardness.
So, you need to define the tolerance – the distance that is allowed to deviate from the standard size.
Finally, do not forget to clean the chips after drilling and keep your working environment tidy when not using the drill press.
A powerful drill press is such a dangerous tool that you need to know some safety rules to prevent injuries, waste of time and resources.
Check them out now.
Some Safety Rules To Know Before Using The Drill Press
- Before operating, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions and do not place any tools or equipment on the drill table.
- Always check to make sure the drill is working correctly. You also need to pay attention to the clamps, handles, table and cancel the chuck and wrench keys before using.
- During operation, you need to wear appropriate eye protection, clothing and protective gloves, clips to secure the workpiece, and a brush to clean chips.
- You do not directly hold the drill bit immediately after use because the hot bit can cause burns to your hand.
To Sum Up
All in all, the above post gives you information on how to use a drill press step by step. These instructions are simple but highly effective for your work to ensure absolute safety for you.
We hope you will have great DIY products with the help of this tool. Happy drilling, guys.