drill press slicking

[tazzmann]

FYI you can buy a descent drill press at Harbor Freight for 30-40 bucks!.

LOL, that is where I got my latest one. It works great and for $42 you can't beat it. Now for a bandsaw.....

[Srigs]

Tazzman,

I went through probably three of the Weaver models. The plastic melts or deforms. The wooden ones eventually chip out from the chuck on the spindle and get out of round before they eventually break off at the spindle. In their defense, they do have a space above the three provided grooves to add a wider groove. Turn it on and hold a round file there until you get the depth and profile you want. I had Norm Lynds make me up one a few years ago with the grooves I needed and a metal spindle. It has held up well. Pretty sure Norm is a member here. He makes some other handy tools also. I am attaching a photo of my Weaver one with the added groove, and Norm's below that.

I would buy one. I even have the drill press already.

[Shorts]

Has anyone converted a bench grinder to hold an edge slicker? Seems it would work as well. Remove the safety shield so you have room to work. You can put the slicker on one side, the horse hair on the other and end up with beautiful edges in one quick station.

[tazzmann]

As an update, I found some wooden thread spindles at Michael's craft store. I took them home and put a bolt through the middle with a nut to hold the bolt in place. I chucked up the end of the bolt into my drill press and proceeded to take a piece of 80 grit sandpaper and true it up. I then tested with a scrap piece of leather and it worked GREAT! I went back to Michael's and picked up a couple more of various sizes and worked through the process again of bolting and truing them up. Best part was they were about $.89 a piece and I didn't have to put hardly any side pressure on them. This means it won't hurt the drill and I have a fast, efficient way of slicking the edges. I tired both water and Gum Trgacanth and they both came out beautifully. Slick and shiney!

Thanks for the tip Jordan!

[JAM]

How long or how much has anyone here run a drill press mounted slicker like this? My concern would be for the quill bearings. Drill press bearings aren't built for side thrust. I doubt that it would ever be an issue for a slicker a couple of inches long or so, but would think it might be on a longer spindle due to the increased leverage.

Bill

Lee Valley Tools - www.leevalley.com - sells a drum sander support system that turns a drill press into a drum sander with a bearing support at the bottom. One could probably either use or modify that tool, or make something similar.

[esantoro]

Tazzman,

I went through probably three of the Weaver models. The plastic melts or deforms. The wooden ones eventually chip out from the chuck on the spindle and get out of round before they eventually break off at the spindle. In their defense, they do have a space above the three provided grooves to add a wider groove. Turn it on and hold a round file there until you get the depth and profile you want. I had Norm Lynds make me up one a few years ago with the grooves I needed and a metal spindle. It has held up well. Pretty sure Norm is a member here. He makes some other handy tools also. I am attaching a photo of my Weaver one with the added groove, and Norm's below that.

I need to get one of these wood slickers from Weaver. In anticipation of the spindle breaking off, how difficult would it be to fix by cutting off the spindle flush with the base, drilling a hole down the center, and gluing in place? Is there a special type of spindle I should get?

Ed

[moriver]

I make all of my slickers, folders etc, from Iron wood, it is very hard, actually sinks in water it is so heavy, it works nicely on a lathe or sander. I have yet to wear one out, some are 10+ yrs old and get used daily. You can get it from any specialty wood shop, very expensive but you don't need much. I have one peice that is about 4 inches long, I turned it in a lathe and just started making concave cuts of different sizes, some roucded and some squared off at the edges, different depths etc. So far I have not seen anything thaht beats it.

[esantoro]

I make all of my slickers, folders etc, from Iron wood, it is very hard, actually sinks in water it is so heavy, it works nicely on a lathe or sander. I have yet to wear one out, some are 10+ yrs old and get used daily. You can get it from any specialty wood shop, very expensive but you don't need much. I have one peice that is about 4 inches long, I turned it in a lathe and just started making concave cuts of different sizes, some roucded and some squared off at the edges, different depths etc. So far I have not seen anything thaht beats it.

Thanks, moriver. would you be interested in making one or more for purchase? I would be interested in something that can be chucked in a drill press, something like Norm Lynds', as well as something like a tandy slicker that can be either hand-held or chucked.

You got me interested now in ironwood. I did some checking and found lignum vitae, which has been discussed around this forum.

http://www.lignum-vitae.com/hardness.htm

I started looking around this site, and now I want to get into woodworking.

ed

[esantoro]

Thanks, moriver. would you be interested in making one or more for purchase? I would be interested in something that can be chucked in a drill press, something like Norm Lynds', as well as something like a tandy slicker that can be either hand-held or chucked.

You got me interested now in ironwood. I did some checking and found lignum vitae, which has been discussed around this forum.

http://www.lignum-vitae.com/hardness.htm

I started looking around this site, and now I want to get into woodworking.

ed

Twenty minutes on Google is a dangerous thing. Now I want a lathe.

ed

[King's X]

Tazzman

If you get a chance, I would like to see a picture of your new drill press slicker. I am in the market for one. I have seen the plastic one on ebay that looks like the Weaver model. I am glad I read this thread before I purchased the plastic one.

Thanks, ATX