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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Eliot & Rob -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I use a 36" solid core door for =
the "deck
plank" and find that it doesn't seem to bow at all. For the press, I =
bought an
old Rockwell floor unit (heavy), removed the base and replaced the =
column with a
shorter one of the same diameter that I bought at a local scrap metal =
dealer. I
made a 3/4" plywood base somewhat bigger than the drill-press table, =
with
a 3/4"x3" hardwood frame glued to one side. It's this frame that =
actually
rides on top of the solid-core door, and with both the frame and door =
liberally
coated with teflon, there's less friction than there would be had I used =
he
plywood base alone. I then mounted the drill-press table upside-down on =
my
frame, using 4 suitably sized carriage bolts that come up through the =
bottom of
the plywood and through the existing holes in the press table. The table =
actually rests on nuts (with washers) on these bolts, with another nut =
and
washer on each to lock it in place. Because I can alter the height of =
the nuts,
the table is adjustable to whatever angle I want. Then I installed the =
short
column, and slid the drill head all the way down until it sits on the =
underside
of the table. I have to use the slightly longer drill bits from =
Pianotek, or the
throw wouldn't quite allow the bit to break through the bottom of the =
new
pinblock. To keep the bit cool, I constrict the flow of my shop-vac by =
covering
most of the hose-end with duct tape. This pulls a fast stream of air =
past the
bit, instead of pushing air past like a compressor would, and has the =
added
advantage that is sucks up the wood chips at the same time.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mark </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob Goodale wrote:<BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>>Eliot,<BR>>I recommend a radial =
drill press
made by Delta. I'm not certain of the exact<BR>>model number =
but it is
specialized enough that I doubt that there are more than<BR>>a couple =
models
at most, (I'll see if I can get the number). I just =
purchased<BR>>a new
one for the university. I used the exact same machine when I ran
the<BR>>rebuilding shop for a dealer. The advantage is an extra =
long
throat which will<BR>>extend out over the block without upsetting the =
balance
of the machine. It<BR>>also give you plenty of room to =
work. It
must be modified via shortening the<BR>>main pillar to the very =
bottom but
this is not a big deal. You will then need<BR>>to set the 7 =
degree
angle. To do this simply mount the machine on a piece =
of<BR>>3/4"
plywood and install wedges under the back end. You will need to
construct<BR>>a deck plank, (for lack of a better name), which lays =
across
the piano as a<BR>>table for the machine. Make absolutely =
certain you
reinforce this structure<BR>>from below, (angle iron or similar =
arrangement),
so that it does not bow under<BR>>the weight of the machine. =
You can
sand it smooth and wax the surface so that<BR>>the machine is easy to =
slide
along as you work. Do it up pretty and it will<BR>>all work
fantastic. Unfortunately this type of drill press is VERY
expensive,<BR>>(I think the one I just bought was around $300.00), =
but it is
a one time<BR>>purchase. It will easily outlast your
career.<BR><BR>>Happy block boring!<BR><BR>>Rob Goodale, =
RPT<BR>>Las
Vegas, NV<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>