<HTML> <TT>Hi Ed,</TT><TT></TT> <TT>We've got a little 5-speed ValueCraft drill press. It is made in Taiwan, and it has a 50mm throw. We have two bases for it, so one is semi-permanently mounted on a sled - a 2'x1' plywood board with the back end of the base raised on a shim to make the angle.</TT><TT></TT> <TT>The long throw allows us to drill the block in the piano with the plate screwed in place, drilling the bushings (if there are any) at the same time. Placing a door across the width of the piano makes a flat, sturdy table that the drill-press sled can rest on (if it's an upright, the keybed and cheeks are removed first). We also run compressed air aimed right at the drill-bit which helps to keep the bit from burning and also clears the waste.</TT><TT></TT> <TT>It is not quite a portable milling machine with automatic feed, but it has done a lot of blocks.</TT><TT></TT> <TT>Hope this is helpful,</TT><TT></TT> <TT>Clark Panaccione</TT></HTML>