So my old drill press is having issues;

high pitch bearing whine at top speed (which I use a lot for drilling scrollsaw fretwork patterns),

40+ years old off brand (bought used 40 years ago),

chuck just failed, one tooth lower than the other two, can't center a bit. don't know if I can get the morse taper out now (had to use loctite, lowest strength, to get the chuck to stay in the machine) at the time, 30 years ago, I was using a drum sander in the press and any side pressure would make the chuck fall out. loctite fixed it and it has not been removed since.

So fix or replace?

Brand recommendations for a chuck would be nice.

This is not a production machine just general usage and holes for fretwork.

If I replace it I want a press that has the same type of table that I currently have, i.e. round table  with a round mount/clamp. Tractor Supply has a low end model for $269. All the higher end models I've seen have the square/cantilevered tables, don't really want that style.

Thoughts?

Rikon has a variable speed  12" for reason able price,I know a person who has one and really likes it.

https://www.amazon.com/RIKON-30-120-13-Inch-Drill-Press/dp/B002FB74WO

 

Also Wen has a good one out at reasonable price too, also variable speed.

 

https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4214-12-Inch-Variable-Speed/dp/B00HQONFY6/ref=pd_cp_469_1/146-0898126-7272253?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00HQONFY6&pd_rd_r=ba28467e-4bfe-4470-8204-23a7ac410194&pd_rd_w=SAkYK&pd_rd_wg=aIHVE&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=RKG934RHAKNRPC3QV4M2&psc=1&refRID=RKG934RHAKNRPC3QV4M2

 

Herb

It's been a few years, but one of the magazines had a DP review and actually rated the HF DP as the best value (!). It would probably pay to at least give them a looksee. I'd wait and seee how the chuck you get with the press works, then consider whether it needs replacing.

I am sure that your existing chuck will come out, Loctite isn't forever.  The only name brand of chuck that I am familiar with is Jacobs, I am sure there are others but I am not familiar with them.

Usually some heat will break the Loctite bond.

I’m with Fred.  If it was blue Loctite, a gentle persuasion should suffice.  You have a known entity with your current drill press. Bearings are a pretty cheap fix.

There should be a slot in the quill for tapered key to be driven in to push the chuck out.  Extend the quill and look for the slot.  A key can be made from a sturdy piece of metal with a taper ground on one side.

 

 

@Wichman3,

Can you post a photo of the drill press? 

It might use standard off the shelf bearings.

My friend replaced the Jacops chuck that came with his new Rikon with a keyless chuck, like this one:

 

https://www.amazon.com/KIPA-Super-Keyless-MT2-JT33-High-Precision/dp/B07PMCLPWM/ref=pd_cp_469_1/147-1417600-2489907?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07PMCLPWM&pd_rd_r=c0114724-0f2c-48c8-a92b-0682adcd71d2&pd_rd_w=joNpe&pd_rd_wg=cTaKI&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=Q5HFG60NFC3N5KS5NXXX&psc=1&refRID=Q5HFG60NFC3N5KS5NXXX

 

Herb

Edited October 24, 20196 yr by Dadio

It sounds like you have a small piece of shavings that got caught inside the chuck..  Take it off the drill press and with solvent of some kind, paint thinner, and a good blow gun with lots of air pressure you should be able to blow out the problem...… especially before you invest in another chuck...

19 hours ago, Dadio said:

Rikon has a variable speed  12" for reason able price,I know a person who has one and really likes it.

https://www.amazon.com/RIKON-30-120-13-Inch-Drill-Press/dp/B002FB74WO

Impressive machine, and I have been thinking of  upgrading my 8 inch Delta to a bigger 12 inch.  

My approach would be to first remove the drill chuck to see if it still squeals when turned on.  It may be that the morse taper is rubbing while at high speed.  I then would clean it as someone suggested.  If that fails, then browse eBay and Craigslist for a replacement.  This may take some time, but save those pennies.  Unless you just want a new machine.  I would look at Craigslist or some other ad like that.  There may be a paper in your area of ads of items people are selling.  But, like Ron said, bearings are inexpensive and affordable.  Often not too hard to replace.  Just my 2 cents.

So I made a drift key out of some bar stock I had, worked like a charm. tried to make the chuck work with solvent, lube and air; no dice. Found a replacement at the local HF $12; works great, it's a smaller chuck but it works and I got the holes drilled. I'll replace it with a better chuck later.

As for the bearing; the multi step pully is on top of the bearing. I need a spanner wrench (or some real careful punch work) to get it loose. More on that later. :?)

 

But it sounds like your back in business which is a good thing!