Drill Press anyone?

[randysmith]

Does anyone have a drill press they'd be willing to let me use to make a hole in a metal object? (Or, if you feel protective of your tools, willing to make such a hole for me?) I think I need more precision on this hole than I can get from a hand-held drill, and while my immediate instinct is to go out and buy a drill press, recent events are suggesting that care with spending may be in order :-}.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer (I'm not sure what to offer in return, but if you need something that I'm in a position to provide, don't hesitate to ask).

(Background, for the curious: I'm sorta semi becoming the go-to person for problems with the locks at psongster's church (at least, she's going to me :-}). The bar that goes through a mortise lock broke. The nice folks at Commonwealth lock in Porter found a replacement for me, but it needs to be cut shorter and have the pin hole re-drilled at a different location. I think I can substitute a dremel for a bandsaw for cutting it shorter, but the hole has to be right across the middle of the bar or the holding pin won't go through.)

Comments

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

eclecticmagpie might be the guy?

[motyl.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure darnok has one.

[frobzwiththingz.livejournal.com]

If you can get out to Westford, you can use my basement machine shop. [How much precision do you actually need? locating and spotting to .001" is easily doable with the equipment in there. you don't need more than that, do you?]

If you can get out there tommorow, you can be a helpful body for the aerial rig raising (http://frobzwiththingz.livejournal.com/34972.html) at the same time.

[randysmith]

I'm amused; I was kicking myself for not asking you folks when I was over there after sailing (I meant to, but forgot). If so, and if he's cool with my using it (I really understand being protective of tools) I'd love to come over and make the topological equivalent of a donut :-}.

[randysmith]

Looks like a neat person (I've filed away "freelance Mac Sysadmin" in my brain for a rainy day :-}) but I'm already feeling a little sheepish asking people that I know for the favor :-}. But hopefully I can presume on moytl/darnok.

Thanks for the pointer!

[randysmith]

Thanks! But it sounds like I'm going to be ok locally.

In terms of precision, this was me, in the locksmith thinking "Oh, I can do that with my drill" and me, a couple of hours later thinking "No, I need more precision than my hands are going to manage". 0.001" is way better than I need; to give you the idea, I rather not have the pin (a bit less than 1/5"in diameter) rattling around in the hole, but I don't think it ruins the repair if it is. OTOH, this is my first time doing this type of repair, so I want to be conservative.

[frotz.livejournal.com]

I've got a few drill presses and a bandsaw in residence if you turn out to need same.

[randysmith]

Chuckle (at the "a few"; I can imagine needs for more than one, but it's more hard core than I think I'm personally likely to get). Thanks! I may take you up on that, depending what happens with the current possibility).

[damselfrog.livejournal.com]

i've got a less-hard-core drill press you're welcome to borrow; basically it's a drill press frame into which you put your own drill, and you press that way. bonus is that it's relatively portable. (and that it's an excuse to see my cats. :)

[randysmith]

I think I'm all set for the drill press. But I'd love to see your cats; maybe I could skip the excuse and just come by? :-}

[randysmith]

frotz, did you get my email? I'd like to take you up on this offer, if it's still open.

[frotz.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a standard-duty drill press, a beefy mill-drill for precision work, a little portable one for site work (though that's on loan), at at least one of those combo "drill+stand=drill press" setups.