Lessons in stupidity, Why not to use a drill press as a mill Options

[TonyAKAVW]

So I have been stuck at home with the chicken pox the last week and a half getting stir crazy when I decide to work on a project. I have this large round piece of aluminum that I need to turn down a bit. Lacking a large enough lathe I decided to mimic a milling machine and turn it down with a half inch end-mill. I fixed up a suitable clamping arrangement and was about half way through the job when the chuck in the drill perss decided to come loose. The exceeedingly sharp half-ich end mill in the now falling (and spinning) chuck found its way to my hand. Many foul words and a decent amount of blood followed. As well as trip to urgent care. So, several stiches later I no longer have a gaping hole between my index and middle fingers, and the two other cuts on my index finger are under control as well.

So the morale of the story is, dont use a drill press as a milling machine. As tempting as it looks, there are some KEY differences. I did get lucky, this thing coulod have hit my hand much worse and caused much worse injury.

I have a renewed respect for sharp hardened steel spinning things.


-Tony (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[ChrisFoley]

I bought a "collet chuck with holding collar" from Sears a long time ago that attaches to a drill press and hlods up to a 3/8" shank. It eliminates the problem you experienced, but the quill of a drill press just isn't up to the side loads of milling.
I had one of the Mill/Drill units that MSC (and others) sell for about $1200. It worked pretty good, but the lack of a "knee" makes it very difficult to do plunge cuts.
Nothin' beats a good used Bridgeport for allaround general metal working, including using it as a small lathe.
I suppose you'd have trouble carrying one into an apartment though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)