27 Oct
2015
27 Oct
'15
11:05 a.m.
On 10/27/2015 10:52 AM, Jon Elson wrote:
You CAN use an end mill in a drill press if you are
careful. You get
no self-centering, so the work must be **SECURELY** clamped, as the
cutter may try to walk. But, you'll get perfectly round, smooth
holes. Twist drills tend to wander and make triangular and slightly
helical holes.
Obviously, you can only do this with small size end mills in a drill
press.
A good sharp forstner bit, by its very construction guarantees perfectly
round holes--and it's not self-feeding, so you can cut as slowly as
you'd like.
Awhile back, I made a tape lubrication jig consisting of several pieces
of 5/8" OD brass tube with small holes drilled (think #70 drill) mounted
in 3/8" acrylic with a second 3/8" piece to form a bottom. Absolutely
water-tight fit with no adhesives--the tube was simply press-fitted into
the round holes. The bottom was attached to the upper piece using
stainless 4-40 machine screws. It worked fairly well.
--Chuck