Drill Press Problem!!!

[texasfootball21]

I have a Ryobi 10 inch drill press. It is a very cheap 100 dollar, basic tabletop drill press.
I use it to drill wood pieces to make pens. I went to make a pen kit that I hadn't tried before. I ordered about 10 of the kits, they cost me between 13-20 dollars depending on the material they were made of. The pen blanks need to be drilled with a 10.5 mm and 12.5 mm bit. I went to put the bit into the chuck and IT DOESN'T FIT. The chuck's 1/2 inch capacity is way too small to hold the bit.

So heres the question: Do they have replacement chucks that fit my drill press, a bigger chuck that would hold the bit? Where, in SA, would I get it, and how much does it cost? (I don't want to spend a ton to fix up a $100 drill press.) Would home depot have something? I would prefer buying it locally as opposed to online because I need to make about 10 pens over about 3 weeks and they can take me between 3-6 hours a pen (depending on material).

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...3+90401+501991

Thanks.

[caferacermike]

A machine shop could easily cut the bits down to fit in your drill press. Since you'll just be drilling wood, they will still be strong enough not to break. Much cheaper than buying a new chuck. Should be able to buy a machinist's lunch for a project like that.

[texasfootball21]

A machine shop could easily cut the bits down to fit in your drill press. Since you'll just be drilling wood, they will still be strong enough not to break. Much cheaper than buying a new chuck. Should be able to buy a machinist's lunch for a project like that.

Never even thought about that. Are there any places in San Antonio, preferably as close to Boerne as possible, that would do this? Would they also be strong enough to drill through axis deer horn? I have been making pens out of deer horn lately.

Thanks!

[texasfootball21]

If I do decide to buy a new chuck, what will it cost me? And can I get it at Home Depot or Lowes? Where do you find one?

[LoneStar]

Its odd that the shanks on those metric bits are larger than 1/2" dia when both are under half inch. Eitherway, if you want to change your chuck out, take the one you have out now and see how it attaches. Then you will determine if that press can handle a larger chuck or not. Your best bet is to order it from a industrial supply catalog:

McMaster-Carr
www.mcmaster.com

MSC
www.mscdirect.com

Rex Supply
www.rex-supply.com

Mike had a very good idea on getting the shanks of the bits turned down on a lathe. If you can find a contact that would do it, its pretty quick to do. Other than that, I'd look at buying the same size bits with a different shank diameter so it would match your chuck on your drill press right now.

[texasfootball21]

Thanks a lot caferacermike and LoneStar, I appreciate it. I think I will go to a machine shop and have them turn it down a bit. It is only a tiny bit too large, so I hope it won't cost much.

I looked at the chucks on those sites, LoneStar, but for a $100 drill press that I only need for one small part in the pen process, I don't think it is worth it to buy a new chuck.

I found a shop very close to me, and am trying to get ahold of them now.

Here's the shop: http://www.iceprototyping.com/index.html

Thanks again guys.

[bdls]

Hey texasfootball21
If you never drilled into deer antlers I suggest you do it outside cause there will be one awfull smell if you do in your shop that will hang around for days. I'm also a pen turner. easy way to relax after a long day at work.
Bobby D.

[texasfootball21]

Hey texasfootball21
If you never drilled into deer antlers I suggest you do it outside cause there will be one awfull smell if you do in your shop that will hang around for days. I'm also a pen turner. easy way to relax after a long day at work.
Bobby D.

Probably a good idea to do it outside, I've done it before but never in my shop. The shop I worked deer antlers in was huge and the smell went away quickly. Where do you get your horns? I found the ones I am using now, but am quickly running out. I like working axis horns much more then white tailed deer horns.

Great to have another pen turner on here, how long have you been doing it? Do you sell your pens?

I agree it is an excellent way to relax. Except of course when your drill bit won't fit your chuck, then its a pain.

Thanks.

[jroescher]

Check with some other hardware stores that sell brands different than Lowes or HD. You should be able to find bits that have 1/4" or 1/2" shanks. I have some, but I don't know what brand they are.

[bdls]

I get mine from hunters that just want the deer meat, garage sale's etc. I've been turning pens off and on for the last 10 yrs or so. Believe me I went through alot of pen blanks before figuring out how to turn them. I tried selling them but you have to make so many just to come out even. I had people tell me they can go to wal-mart and get a pack of 10 for under 2 bucks that will do the same thing,(kinda make's it hard to sell a pen set when people think like that). I was selling my pen & pencil sets for $65.00 which I don't think was to bad. Just the pen alone I was selling for 30 bucks depending on the wood I used. My black ebony pens were going for 45 bucks, but the ebony so expensive now days. I think right now it's going for $65.00 A POUND.

Bobby D