On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:04:52 -0600, "Guy LaRochelle"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>How important is variable speed in a drill press?
What's "variable speed" ? A 3-step cone pulley ? 48 combinations of
belt drive you can't understand ? Some huge geared-head from the
1950s?
Drill press gearing is like bicycles. You'd like to have 30
closely-spaced gears so that you're always in exactly the right one.
But what you really need most is _range_, from slow speeds to high
speeds.
For woodworking, make sure you have some slow speeds - especially when
using Forstner bits. If it's a small drill press and intended for
metalworking, you may find that it doesn't go slow enough
(metalworking bits rarely exceed their shank diameter)
--
Klein bottle for rent. Apply within.
>How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that you
>will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because Delta
>has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide if
>variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
It just so happens that I did a ton of research on this recently because I was
in the market for a drill press. I discovered that the Delta variable speed
drill presses are absolutely riddled with problems. In addition to frequent
failures of the pulley system, you have to do routine maintenance all the time
just to keep it running. And even then it's still prone to breaking down often.
If you want additional opinions check out the reviews on Amazon.com and also
ask around on woodnet.com and woodworking.com forums. This has been a topic
several times recently and the overwhelming majority of people with experience
have had almost nothing good to say about the Delta variable speed drill
presses.
In case you were wondering, I ended up buying a Grizzly 16-speed floor model
drill press and I could not be happier with it. Yeah you have to move the belts
to change the speed, but it's easy to do. Plus, the mechanics of it are
infinitely simpler than the Delta variable speed drills, so there's not much
that can go wrong.
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:04:52 -0600, "Guy LaRochelle" <[email protected]> wrote:
>How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that you
>will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because Delta
>has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide if
>variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
>
>
I adjust the speed on my drill press almost every time that I use it. It's
really easy to change the speed on mine because it's basically a 2 (mechanical)
speed drill press driven by a 3 phase motor with the speed controlled by a VFD.
Mine was built that way but it shouldn't be too hard to put something similar
together while avoiding the mechanical complexity of the variable pulley systems.
I hardly ever change the speed range though.
Bob S
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:04:52 -0600, "Guy LaRochelle"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that you
>will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because Delta
>has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide if
>variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
>
I have 16 speeds, but need to change the belt position on either or
both pulleys. It is not a big deal to change speeds, maybe takes less
than a minute. You need slow speeds for hole cutting, metal boring,
mortising attachment and larger bits. I usually keep it at 900 rpm
80% of the time. Faster speeds for sanding, buffing, polishing.
Having a variable speed would be nice, but it has not crossed my mind
too many times in the past 15 years of drill press use.
In article <[email protected]>,
Guy LaRochelle <[email protected]> wrote:
>How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that you
>will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because Delta
>has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide if
>variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
>
>
The theory:
For cutting in any particular material, there is an optimum "rim speed"
for a drill bit, Bigger bits -> slower RPM. Depending on the bit size,
you adjust the RPM to hit that 'optimum' rim speed.
The practice:
In _wood_, there is a fairly wide _range_ of rim speeds that produces
"acceptable" (albeit _not_ 'optimum') results. And, you can "mostly"
ignore the issue of the type/species of wood. Extremes -- e.g., balsa
vs. lignum vitae -- however, *do* require compensation.
If you set the speed to the 'high end' of the 'acceptable' range, when
figured for the largest bit you regularly use, you can probably go down
to 1/4 (or somewhat less) the bit diameter, without getting to a rim speed
that is 'unacceptably' low.
When working in materials _other_ than wood the acceptable variance in
tool 'rim speed' is much smaller. And the material involved is also much
more significant. The 'right speed' for steel is different than the 'right
speed' for aluminum, or for Plexiglas, etc.
On 2003/12/29 8:21 PM, "The Davenports" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> How important is variable speed in a drill press?
>>
>> What's "variable speed" ? A 3-step cone pulley ? 48 combinations of
>> belt drive you can't understand ? Some huge geared-head from the
>> 1950s?
>>
>> Drill press gearing is like bicycles. You'd like to have 30
>> closely-spaced gears so that you're always in exactly the right one.
>> But what you really need most is _range_, from slow speeds to high
>> speeds.
>
> No, there are true variable speed drill presses out there...Delta is just
> the first to bring it to the home-owner price range. Just two pulleys that
> are adjustable. It's called a Reeves Drive. Turn on the motor and turn the
> crank and it will change the spindle speed.
What you are talking about is called "continuously variable", like a CVT
transmission used in some vehicles. Both that and the type with fixed ratios
are variable. The difference is whether you are limited to a discrete set of
pre-defined ratios, or if you can pick any ratio in the range.
Continuously variable sounds nice, but I would be satisfied with a
reasonable number of fixed speeds spread over a wide range. I cannot see
that there is much difference two very close speeds - say 600 RPM and 601
RPM or even 610 RPM.
For me, the ability to change speeds easily is MUCH more important than
having a large or infinite number of speeds available.
>>>> How important is variable speed in a drill press?
>>>
>>> What's "variable speed" ? A 3-step cone pulley ? 48 combinations of
>>> belt drive you can't understand ? Some huge geared-head from the
>>> 1950s?
>>>
>>> Drill press gearing is like bicycles. You'd like to have 30
>>> closely-spaced gears so that you're always in exactly the right one.
>>> But what you really need most is _range_, from slow speeds to high
>>> speeds.
>>
>> No, there are true variable speed drill presses out there...Delta is just
>> the first to bring it to the home-owner price range. Just two pulleys that
>> are adjustable. It's called a Reeves Drive. Turn on the motor and turn the
>> crank and it will change the spindle speed.
>
>What you are talking about is called "continuously variable", like a CVT
>transmission used in some vehicles. Both that and the type with fixed ratios
>are variable. The difference is whether you are limited to a discrete set of
>pre-defined ratios, or if you can pick any ratio in the range.
>
>Continuously variable sounds nice, but I would be satisfied with a
>reasonable number of fixed speeds spread over a wide range. I cannot see
>that there is much difference two very close speeds - say 600 RPM and 601
>RPM or even 610 RPM.
>
>For me, the ability to change speeds easily is MUCH more important than
>having a large or infinite number of speeds available.
Shopsmith has had a truly variable speed drillpress out since the 1950s. It is
variable between 700 and about 5200 RPMs (you can get a speed reducer to take
it down to 100 RPM). 1-1/8 HP moter. It has a nice big table with a fence and
miter slots that is tiltable and moves in and out on a rack & pinion system.
Oh yeah, it is also a horizontal borer, lathe, 12" disk sander and a tablesaw.
Other attachments available :)
Dave Hall
I recently changed my Jet 4 speed drill press to one that is infinitely
variable by taking off the old motor and adding a DC motor and controller I
bought from Surplus center. It's controlled by a power supply with a speed
control that goes from 0-top speed (can't remember what it is but it's
fast). I can slow this down to near 0 when when drilling metal etc. Very
handy. I don't remember the cost but it was under $100.
"Guy LaRochelle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that
you
> will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because
Delta
> has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide
if
> variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
>
>
I'm not saying this is right, but since you asked... I have a 12 or 16
speed DP and even though it's easy to change speeds I think I last changed
the speed back in '94. Wow, coming up to ten years, maybe I should run it
through a few more speeds so I don't forget how to do it. I personally
would find minimal value in variable speed. YMMV
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"Guy LaRochelle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that
you
> will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because
Delta
> has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide
if
> variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
>
>
"The Davenports" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
It's called a Reeves Drive. Turn on the motor and turn the
crank and it will change the spindle speed.
My Oliver 159 lathe Has that system .It works quite well.
Thanks, Tony D.
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:21:13 -0600, "The Davenports"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>No, there are true variable speed drill presses out there...Delta is just
>the first to bring it to the home-owner price range. Just two pulleys that
>are adjustable. It's called a Reeves Drive. Turn on the motor and turn the
>crank and it will change the spindle speed.
>
Not a new thing. I have a drill press that I inherited from my
grandfather - he died in 1974, so this is not a new drill press. It
is a 'Power Kraft' - which were marketed by Montgomery Wards - there
is a knob on the front of the drill press that allows me to adjust the
speed continuously.
"Ksu93dlv" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >How important is variable speed in a drill press?
> >Guy
>
> It just so happens that I did a ton of research on this recently because I
was
> in the market for a drill press. I discovered that the Delta variable
speed
> drill presses are absolutely riddled with problems. In addition to
frequent
> failures of the pulley system, you have to do routine maintenance all the
time
> just to keep it running. And even then it's still prone to breaking down
often.
Problems aside, the variable speed would be the best. You'd always use the
right speed for the operation you are performing. In reality, I rarely
change speeds, only when going from very small to very large.
Considering the comments about the VS above, I'd stick with belts until the
technology is improved.
Ed
It seems I'm one of the odd ones who actually changes speed on my
drill press. I have a chart near by that has speeds for various bits
and attachments and try to follow it pretty close. It probably takes
less than a minute to change pulleys and belts. I waste more time
trying to remember what I was going to do next.
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 08:04:52 -0600, "Guy LaRochelle"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>How important is variable speed in a drill press? Do you guys find that you
>will run them at one speed and never change it? I am wondering because Delta
>has a variable speed drill and a 16 speed drill and I am trying to decide if
>variable speed would be worth the extra money. Regards. -Guy
>
>
> >How important is variable speed in a drill press?
>
> What's "variable speed" ? A 3-step cone pulley ? 48 combinations of
> belt drive you can't understand ? Some huge geared-head from the
> 1950s?
>
> Drill press gearing is like bicycles. You'd like to have 30
> closely-spaced gears so that you're always in exactly the right one.
> But what you really need most is _range_, from slow speeds to high
> speeds.
No, there are true variable speed drill presses out there...Delta is just
the first to bring it to the home-owner price range. Just two pulleys that
are adjustable. It's called a Reeves Drive. Turn on the motor and turn the
crank and it will change the spindle speed.
My lathe...a Jet...has the same type of drive...the only real difference is
that on the lathe, the control lever locks into one of 6 or 7 speed
settings, rather than staying exactly where you put it.
Mike
> >>
> >>> How important is variable speed in a drill press?
> >>
> >> What's "variable speed" ? A 3-step cone pulley ? 48 combinations of
> >> belt drive you can't understand ? Some huge geared-head from the
> >> 1950s?
> >>
> >> Drill press gearing is like bicycles. You'd like to have 30
> >> closely-spaced gears so that you're always in exactly the right one.
> >> But what you really need most is _range_, from slow speeds to high
> >> speeds.
> >
> > No, there are true variable speed drill presses out there...Delta is
just
> > the first to bring it to the home-owner price range. Just two pulleys
that
> > are adjustable. It's called a Reeves Drive. Turn on the motor and turn
the
> > crank and it will change the spindle speed.
>
> What you are talking about is called "continuously variable", like a CVT
> transmission used in some vehicles. Both that and the type with fixed
ratios
> are variable. The difference is whether you are limited to a discrete set
of
> pre-defined ratios, or if you can pick any ratio in the range.
>
> Continuously variable sounds nice, but I would be satisfied with a
> reasonable number of fixed speeds spread over a wide range. I cannot see
> that there is much difference two very close speeds - say 600 RPM and 601
> RPM or even 610 RPM.
>
> For me, the ability to change speeds easily is MUCH more important than
> having a large or infinite number of speeds available.
>
I absolutely agree...the only true advantage to continuously variable is
that you don't need to be too picky about where you stop moving the speed
lever...a pretty minor nit to pick, I'll grant.
Mike