Thread: What are you working on?

A couple of practise holes and something to mark the depth is a great plan.
I have had this set of aluminum scales for some time. I originally wanted to put my 49 in these scales but it did not fit, nor did any of my other project blades, the this Northfield needed some work and it is like a match made in heaven.

I think all drill presses have a limiting screw. So it will stop and a certain depth. You just have to test and set it. Also, a Forsner bit is not like standard. (I know, we all know this) you use the size needed. Trying to drill out wider with a larger bit doesn't work very well. Nothing to center the bit on. No material to grab but the sides of the hole. If using a vice to hold it would help, but grabbing the sides of the hole and not the center doesn't work too well.

Anytime I'm drilling something that chips easy, I run the bit backward's till I'm past the surface of what I'm drilling.

Say Rez! That Northfield looks sorta familiar?

I think it should. I think it was in a box of some good, some bad, and some garbage that you sorted for me. Although there has been a lot of goods that has gone from your shop to mine it could have been a project you sent me.

I thought it may be the one I handed you at Charlies....
Had a pit at the edge I thought was worse until you showed me it wasn't.
Figured that qualified you for ownership....

Oh I think you are correct!
I know it came home from Texas with me. It’s looking pretty nice now. I am hoping it makes it through the to be honed pile fairly soon, but I have a stack to shave test.

Okay awesome! Thanks guys for the tips.
I'll look for those specific bits, Rez. Also, perfect for those scales, I havent found a perfect fit for the two that I still have.
Tom, I'll find a way to set the depth, and practice first until perfect.
Outback, I hadn't thought of that, definitely going to run it in reverse first.

So, before your suggestions, I had thought about putting a thin wooden rod in my press. Then attaching sandpaper to the end, turning it on, and wittling/sanding that improvised bit down to the correct size.
This may sound silly, but I often don't have the extra funds for tools and have to make them.
This was going to only need to cut in a very small amount, but I was concerned about whether or not it would create a sharp enough edge.

I'll try to buy those special bits, sandwich the scale while drilling, go slow, and practice first on scraps of same scale material.
Thank you gentlemen!

You could use that method to clean up or oversized a hole but sand paper has a tendency to round. Reaching the bottom may be an issue, the paper may need to extend a hair past the wood and fold over just that teeny tiny amount and be glued very tight to the dowel rod, also keeping the rod short will help it be stiff. My drill press does not turn backwards. I have to spin it by hand.

Hey Guys-I don't know how I thought I had a 2x42" flat-bed belt grinder. That's what I "remember" ordering before, maybe a couple years ago. So I used up the last of my belts flattening bone, and ordered some more, 6 apiece of 36 and 60-grit from Red Label Adhesives on ebay (with the 36 grit only for major hogging duties).

So I go out to my shop a little while ago to put one on, and couldn't get it stretched on over the tensioner even with my son helping. We measured it, yep 42 inches, the right length-NOT! Finally I looked at the spec-plate on the motor: 2"x48." Much cursing ensued, though more just bemused shaking my head at my own stupidity some times. I'm clearly losing it, fellas.

Bottom line: If anybody needs this size belts, PM me and I'll send them to you. I really don't feel like sending them back to the company, trying to get a refund or store credit. Anyway, I've gotten way more out of this forum than I've put into it, so let me know if any of you can use these. I just locked my shop up for the day before I could do any more damage, and ordered the correct size just now.