They said it wouldn’t work. But here we are…

[BrooklynBravest]

After 3 years I finally milled something on my drill press.

For $145 XY I did not have higher expectations than what I got, but it worked.

I think i took incredibly small cuts, maybe a heavy 1/32” at a time with the cheapest 3/8” end mill on Amazon.

I also used a 4 flute, instead of 2 flute for aluminum.

But, I got the job I needed to done even if it took 2 hours to do all 4.

By no means is this practical but it got the job done.

[mrmikey]

Glad it worked out for you.
Question, did you ever consider using a table saw instead or did you want to see if the drill press would do it?.........Mike

[BrooklynBravest]

Glad it worked out for you.
Question, did you ever consider using a table saw instead or did you want to see if the drill press would do it?.........Mike

I considered a table saw and my sliding miter saw. Half was I wanted to see if I could do it, the other half was using those tools on aluminum without a proper work holding solution can sometimes be a bit dangerous.

[SweetMK]

I have made LOTS of parts like that,,, using my metal cutting bandsaw, even out of steel.

If it is a straight cut, the bandsaw can surprise you.

In your case, the bandsaw could take out 90% of the material in minutes, then drill/mill the remainder,, best of both worlds,,,

[Oldiron2]

I have made LOTS of parts like that,,, using my metal cutting bandsaw, even out of steel.

If it is a straight cut, the bandsaw can surprise you.

In your case, the bandsaw could take out 90% of the material in minutes, then drill/mill the remainder,, best of both worlds,,,

If you don't have or trust a bandsaw, even a hacksaw can remove much if the material, allowing the milling to just clean the surfaces and give precise dimensions. I did lots of work entirely by hand, long before I had any machinery.

[Freebirdwelds]

Nice, sometimes you do what you gotta do and sometimes you do cause you gotta see.

[Lis2323]

Nice, sometimes you do what you gotta do and sometimes you do cause you gotta see.

*as long as no long term traumatization to goats occur

[123weld]

nice u made it work, but what is it (whats it do) ? they got endmills w/ radius corners too if u want

[tapwelder]

That a drill press? Or a drill/mill? Does not look like an average drill press.

After the first 1/32” pass, I would have thought it works. Then hogged off some metal with other tools. Probably would take 2 plus hours finding the best tool, but the second one would take 15 min.

[farmersammm]

Drill press......................... Good for bragin' rights, but it's just aluminum.

[Brand X]

Drill press......................... Good for bragin' rights, but it's just aluminum.

Correct, but your mill is a bit closer to a drill press than a old school real Milling machine,,,

[BrooklynBravest]

nice u made it work, but what is it (whats it do) ? they got endmills w/ radius corners too if u want

It’s an antenna mount for a FEMA USAR team I’m making a couple duplicates of. It’s going to have a 1/2” piece of plate bolt onto it.

That a drill press? Or a drill/mill? Does not look like an average drill press.

After the first 1/32” pass, I would have thought it works. Then hogged off some metal with other tools. Probably would take 2 plus hours finding the best tool, but the second one would take 15 min.

It’s just a geared head drill press. Same headstock platform all these Chinese machines use as their foundation but it doesn’t have the proper table etc to really be a mill. The R8 spindle just makes it possible I guess.

[vwguy3]

How are you retaining the cutter in respect to side loads?

[455dan]

Correct, but your mill is a bit closer to a drill press than a old school real Milling machine,,,

I resemble that remark as well. So far I do not regret buying the HF 1/2 mill that is
670 lb with "Rong Fu" heritage.

Glad the Op made it work

ps. Darn it Guys I still don't have a band saw of any type, -now I will have to go get that new Bauer HF unit.

[NotaVegetarian]

Looks like it works well to me. You make do with what you have.