The Drill Press is used for drilling holes in various materials. The main advantages of the Drill Press over the hand-held counterpart, the Hand Drill, is that using the Drill Press will allow you to drill with more accuracy, drill larger holes, and drill at specific angles more successfully. The Drill Press does have a limited distance a hole can be drilled fvrom one edge of the material, 14 inches. This is the distance from the base of the chuck to the column

• DO NOT operate while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication
• SECURE any loose fitting jewelry or clothing, tie back long hair - they can get caught in moving parts
• ALWAYS BE AWARE of where your fingers are in relation to the drill bit
• DO NOT USE bits that are dull, bent or damaged
• MAKE SURE bit is centered in chuck and tightened before operating the drill
• DO NOT leave chuck key in chuck while operating machine
• USE A CLAMP when drilling metal, this will help prevent the material from spinning into your body or hand
• NEVER hold metal in your bare hand while drilling
• NEVER turn the drill press "on" before clearing the table of all objects (tools, scrap pieces, etc.)
• DO NOT USE DRILL BITS THAT HAVE A SCREW TIP(called wood boring bits). At drill press speeds, they will bore into the wood so rapidly as to lift the work off the table and spin it. This can be very dangerous!!! SEE CHART BELOW for identification of drill bits
• DO NOT start the drill press with the drill bit in contact with the work piece
• ALWAYS let the drill chuck come to a complete stop on its own. Never grasp the chuck in an attempt to stop the drill bit
• AVOID awkward hand positions where a sudden slip could cause a hand to move into the drill bit or cutting tool
• DO NOT ATTEMPT to drill material that does not have a flat surface, unless a suitable support is used
• TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE WORKPIECE, ALWAYS clamp work securely to the table if it is too short to contact the column or when using a hole saw or cutting tools larger than 1/2" diameter
• NEVER work on the drill press table while the drill is operating
• DO NOT wear gloves, neckties, or loose clothing when operating the drill press
• REFER to instruction manual for further information (see Studio Technician)

OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN USING THIS MACHINE:

• Remember to re-tighten the table lock lever before using the drill
• Always check the drill press speed chart to determine correct combination of material, bit size, and drilling speed
• Insert drill bits about 3/4" (and at least 1/4") into the chuck and tighten securely with the chuck key
• The chart is located on the wall behind the drill press
• Factors which determine the best speed:
  • Kind of material being worked (metal, acrylic, aluminum, wood, etc.)
  • Size of hole
  • Type of drill bit (see pictures below)
  • Quality of cut desired
• Typically, the smaller the drill bit, the greater the required RPM
• In soft materials, the speed should be higher than for hard materials
• To drill a through hole without splintering the bottom face, place the material on a scrap piece of wood. This also protects the point of the drill bit
• !!!IMPORTANT!!! Use a scrap piece of wood to also prevent drilling into the metal table surface
• Setting the depth stop can also avoid this problem. Drilling into the table not only damages the table, but also the drill bits
• To prevent rotation of the work piece, clamp the work secure to the table, either with a "C" clamp or the drill press clamp
• When using paddle/spade drill bits, you should always use a hold down clamp
• Paddle bits are not to be used on metal
• When drilling into metal, a cutting lubricant should be used. Cast iron and brass/bronze should be drilled dry
• Return bits to drawer when you are done and clean the area around the press

Auger Bit

• Use with hand drill only
• Do not use on metal

Paddle/Spade Bit

• Easier to use larger diameter bits on drill press, but hand drills can be used
• Do not use on metal

Wood-boring Bit

• Use with hand drill only
• Do not use on metal

Twist Bit with pilot tip

• Use with drill press or hand drill
• Do not use on metal

Twist Bit

• Use with drill press or hand drill
• Great for metal (use carbide tipped)
• Carbide tipped bits are usually black

Masonry Bit

• Use with hammer drill only
• Use only on masonry or plaster
• Note the "hammerhead" tip

Countersink bit

• Use with drill press or hand drill
• Do not use on metal

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