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Just bought a new drill press but table doesn't totally lock in place. Need help.

3K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  redlee 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Since I'm new to woodworking as a hobby and don't do a lot of projects, I decided to go cheap on a few things: one of them being a drill press. I picked up a HF 17" drill press with one of their 25% off coupons. It seems to be working ok, but one issue is that when I lock the table to shaft it still moves laterally fairly easily. It seems like a real problem if I were trying to make repeat holes using a jig or something if the table doesn't stay in place relative to the chuck.

Is the table supposed to move that way, or did I just get a dud? Maybe there's another way to lock the table laterally that I'm missing on mine?

Thanks.
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
I had that same DP for a couple of years . . . don't remember any issues
with the table not locking but I did have a problem with the chuck key
not fitting properly and finally stripped out - I gave it to my neighbor when
I found a vintage floor model DP . . . the chuck and key "may" be metric
as I could never find another key to fit it . . . . just something to keep your
eye on and don't force the key to skip teeth on the chuck. (or loose the key).

.

.
 
#4 ·
Sounds like the collar for the table is a little too big and when you lock it down it doesn't grip the column firmly. When you tighten the locking screw, look at the gap at the split in the collar. Is it closing completely? Is it only closing at one point? Take a small file and make that gap a little wider at whatever spots it's closing up first. A wider gap there will allow you to tighten the collar a little more. It shouldn't take much. And don't overdo it or you could over-stress the collar by over-tightening the locking screw.
 
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