PinBlock Drill Press

[Farrell]

For you rebuilder types:

I am going to plug a square grand pinblock while the pinblock is in the
piano. I need to modify an 8" drill press (mounted/riding on a board clamped
to the piano rim) to do the job (please don't tell me to do it by hand - I
have first hand experience with my steady hand in precision drilling
situations). The pinblock top is 3-3/4" below the rim (about the same for
any grand). My press has a 2" throw. With a pinblock drill bit in the chuck,
the bottom of the drill bit (tip) is about 17" above the pinblock (my 2"
travel doesn't quite reach ;-). If I cut the vertical pipe support of the
drill press as much as possible (so that the drill press body rests directly
upon the base flange) I will lower it about 15". That still leaves the drill
bit tip 2" from the pinblock. At best I can nick the pinblock top and wish
it would go further.

I know this is a popular approach to this task. How has anyone else modified
a drill press to reach down that far? Or are the incremental drill bit sizes
available in 6" (or there abouts) lengths?

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com