Drill Press Advice

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi All,

I am looking to buy a drill press. I want to be able to drill holes
as well as mill wax. I am thoroughly confused by the choices. I would
like advice about the pros and cons of the following:

  1. Foredom DP-30
  2. Foredom DP-95
  3. Proxxon

Thanks for your help.

Elizabeth Kariotis
Designer, Elisaabet Ltd.
http//www.elisaabet.com

Note From Ganoksin Staff:
Looking for a small drill press tool for your jewelry projects? We recommend:

2 
I am looking to buy a drill press. I want to be able to drill
holes as well as mill wax.

Forgive me for my ignorance, but how do you drill holes and mill wax
with the same machine? I thought you mill with a milling machine such
as a cnc.

As for a drill press, I just bought an inexpensive table top Delta
from Home Depot and that allows me to drill all the holes I want. I
also use my #30 handpiece to drill holes, but I hold that in my hand.

Jennifer Friedman
Ventura, CA

3

Some generic advise - You can drill easily on a milling machine, it’s
not so easy to mill on a drill press. Of course, even a small milling
machine is another beast. But drill presses don’t mill very well, even
with an x-y table and stuff - they’re just not made for it.

http://www.donivanandmaggiora.com

4

the proxon is inexpensive but works quite well, the service from
foredom is outstanding but the product is not as versatile as the
proxon…check the warranties and start there…there is also a really
good micro mill drill press lathe combo that is in the grizzly tools
catalogue…i used to have one but it took a swim last year apres
hurricane katrina…i don’t remeber the brand off hand, exactly,but
it was great - had a small footprint and did way more than i dreamed
possible with one machine…The proxxon and foredom are both good
tools but have you considered the gravermax system…its versatile and
does all the things with wax you need as well as a bevy of other
important milling, drilling and fabricating operations…it can be
financed, as it is a major purchase, and check out metalweb news for
used equip. and tools.

if i had to chose right this second based on your list i’d go for
the proxxon - but the gravermax is something to keep in mind, or at
least take a look at.

5

Jennifer,

While it will never be as accurate as a “dedicated” manual milling
machine, yes - you can perform milling operations with a drill press.
We use both a “real” manual mini-mill and a converted drill press in
my wax modeling workshops.

You can make drill press do milling operations by truing the table
to the quill and adding an X/Y cross-slide vise. Ours is made from a
cheap Harbor Freight drill press and one of their smallest
cross-slide vises. Total cost for both items was around $70 ($39 +
$29 on “sale”) - plus about an hour to true up everything and tighten
the gibs on the cross-slide.

Works fine to square up wax blocks and slabs. Not as accurate as a
“real” mill, but accurate enough for those students who are on a
limited budget…

CNC stands for Computer Numerically Controlled. It refers to
computer guided milling, drilling and lathe operations. Before there
were computers to drive them there were (and still are) manually
controlled machine tools.

Brian P. Marshall
Stockton Jewelry Arts School
Stockton, CA USA
209-477-0550
www.jewelryartschool.com

6

Brian, you are right and I am glad you reminded me. I even have the
x/y cross-slide vise, but haven’t used it in quite awhile. Ideas
change and so do practices. I am now into the hydraulic press, my new
toy to take the stress of my body of fabrication and hollow ware
hammering. I am also into chasing/repousse and don’t have the need
for a mill, just good ole hand eye coordination with a hammer.

Jennifer Friedman
ventura, CA

Note From Ganoksin Staff:
Looking for a small drill press tool for your jewelry projects? We recommend: