Hi, so Ima trying to make a funky cash box thing for a friend. I am using a hinge, 3 holes each half. I wanted to recess/index the hinge. I got a very inexpensive CNC bit, 1/8 straight cut, and put it in my drill press. I set the belt up for an approximate 3500 RPM. I wore safety glasses. I thought it worked out well, annd was pretty easy. Are there negatives to this? Other than real woodworkers doing it with a chisel? I ask this because it was fairly easy, and I own a drill press, are there dangers/cautions I’m not aware of?

You should be okay the way you're doing it @Artie . However I find it far easier and nicer scribing the hinge outline with a knife, then a few light chisel chops, and finalizing with a hand router plane.

I’ve done pretty much the same thing but used a trim router and small diameter straight bit. I did use a chisel to square up the corners and finish out to the final size.

Not IMO Artie. In a sense you're just using similar to an overarm router. I'm assuming you're moving the workpiece under the bit? Since the drill press operates at much slower RPMs vs a router, your feed & speed rate of the material should be reduced. I would only be concerned it it was a total carbide router bit which might be more prone to breaking manually feeding the material vs machine control. A small diameter bit running at those reduced RPMs shouldn't grab the workpiece and pull it from your hands. I would just be cautious to make sure your work piece is always feeding to the leading, cutting, rotation edge of the bit and not fed into the "back side" of the bit. Think of using a router table and never feeding right to left.

Glad it worked for you. Good idea.

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Grandpadave52

Just make sure the Morris Taper is secure, that's the machined taper holding the chuck into the drill press. A drill press is not really designed to handle side loads, but occasional use should be fine.

When I got my drill press, used, about 45 years ago, the Morris Taper would fall out when I tried to use a sanding drum. I had to use Locktite blue to fix the issue (lasted until I had to replace the chuck, 30+ years later), I had to knock the shaft loose with the wedge, but it came loose easily.

Arties using his Shopsmith, and that's exactly how it's done Artie, good job man! And great to see ya putting her through its paces!

Artie, for butt hinges, I make a small jig tailored to the hinge length and us a trim router.

Danl

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Danl

I have a few milling machine bits I use in my DP. The only time I had a problem was when the chuck =fell out of the DP while I was use a cross vise to move the wood sideways. But I remounted the chuck and finished with no problems. I think what you did/are doing is fine.

15 hours ago, MrRick said:

You should be okay the way you're doing it @Artie . However I find it far easier and nicer scribing the hinge outline with a knife, then a few light chisel chops, and finalizing with a hand router plane.

I am VERY unsure about my talents with a chisel. LOLOL

13 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Not IMO Artie. In a sense you're just using similar to an overarm router. I'm assuming you're moving the workpiece under the bit? Since the drill press operates at much slower RPMs vs a router, your feed & speed rate of the material should be reduced. I would only be concerned it it was a total carbide router bit which might be more prone to breaking manually feeding the material vs machine control. A small diameter bit running at those reduced RPMs shouldn't grab the workpiece and pull it from your hands. I would just be cautious to make sure your work piece is always feeding to the leading, cutting, rotation edge of the bit and not fed into the "back side" of the bit. Think of using a router table and never feeding right to left.

Glad it worked for you. Good idea.

It kinda worked out better than I had hoped for, so I figured I must be doing something wrong LOLOL I liked that I had a clear view of where the bit was relative to the wood I wanted to remove.

6 hours ago, John Morris said:

Arties using his Shopsmith, and that's exactly how it's done Artie, good job man! And great to see ya putting her through its paces!

John actually using my Southbend drill press, which is what got me pursuing a small work shop. How are you, the Missus, and the kids doing?

2 hours ago, Artie said:

I am VERY unsure about my talents with a chisel. LOLOL

You never know until you push yourself. Skill is obtained by not saying "can't" and pushing forward until you "can".

2 hours ago, Artie said:

John actually using my Southbend drill press, which is what got me pursuing a small work shop. How are you, the Missus, and the kids doing?

Sorry bout the assumption Artie! I had no idea you had that Southbend.

We are doing fine sir, retired last Nov, kids are rocking and rolling, and life so far is uneventfully wonderful, as we all know, the hammer can drop any time as life goes, but we are just enjoying it for now. Glad to see ya posting up here again! Missed ya!

On 4/12/2026 at 7:12 AM, Danl said:

Artie, for butt hinges, I make a small jig tailored to the hinge length and us a trim router.

Danl

Exactly what I do too, right down to the pattern of bit.

On 4/12/2026 at 8:02 AM, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I have a few milling machine bits I use in my DP. The only time I had a problem was when the chuck =fell out of the DP while I was use a cross vise to move the wood sideways. But I remounted the chuck and finished with no problems. I think what you did/are doing is fine.

Jacobs tapers do not like side loads. I got away with it fine for years until a machinist friend told me that it works great, right up until it doesn't!

On 4/12/2026 at 6:00 PM, MrRick said:

You never know until you push yourself. Skill is obtained by not saying "can't" and pushing forward until you "can".

I have this VERY impatience streak, and didn’t want to have to make a 3’rd door cause I screwed it up with a chisel. LOL

Fair enough Artie!

My favorite material for shimming under hinges that I set too deep is the cardboard from a 6 pack of a nice bottled stout. Better yet a 4 pack, that's usually the really tasty stuff (and 4 costs the price of 6!). So the mistake is an excuse to go get some nice stout (or whatever flavor you prefer!) for the purpose of using the cardboard. Give me a bit and I'll think up a reason to not just save the cardboard for when you next need it. I'm sure there is one though 😀

My favorite is this

... and the cardboard is nice too lad! 😉

I do love a good Scotch ale too. I've not seen McEwans down here, but I do get one brewed in Colorado called Old Chub. Founders makes another I like. Beer with flavor!