Inexpensive Mini Wood turning Drill Press Adapter

Drill press adapter

Parts for construction:

1- A ball bearing with an inner diameter of 1/2 inch mounted on a two screw flange. $8.00-$16.00 approximately depending on the manufacturer.

The ball bearing is the base for the adapter.

2- A hole saw for wood applications with safety bolts. Any other simpler model that will allow the removal of the center drill bit will do fine. The shaft diameter must be compatible with the ball bearing. $15.00 Approximately

3- Two flat wood boring bits 3/8 inch. $2.00 each


Total for the parts: $27.00-$35.00

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Getting the parts ready for the assembly

There are several models of wood cutting hole saws. The models that have no safety bolts can also be used for this project as long as the shaft diameter is equal to the ball bearing internal diameter. I use the one with safety bolts because it was the only one I had available in my shop.
:S

First, the hole saw arbor must be disassembled.
To do so you must remove the pilot drill bit "arrow C" by loosening the Allen or blade screw like is the case of this photo. Then remove the pressure wheel "arrow "A" and the safety bolts "arrow B" will exit out the back.
Second with a Dremel tool and with a cutting disc cut approximately 1/2" of the arbor shaft so it does not protrude to the bottom of the ball bearing flange.

Note: Maybe it is unnecessary to cut the shaft if your using an arbor model different from the one I used. Also in my case I used a 5/8 ball bearing and the arbor's thread had the correct diameter for the ball bearing not the shaft. The photo above is lacking the hole cutting saw


These are the leftover pieces after the disassembly. Even if they are not used, it's always good to save them for a future project.
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The drive center is to be built with flat drill bit 3/8 inch.



The tip of these drill bits must be cut off with a Dremel tool and with a cutting disc a new center tip with an angled edge must be shaped.
The drill bit at the bottom of the above picture is complete.


Use a small "L square" to find the center of the drill bit. In this model I had a small circle in the middle that gave me an idea of where the center was located. Using the factory angle of the drill bit (red area) cut off the edge of the drill bit at a 90-degree angle. Do the same on both sides of the drill bit. The overall length of the shaft must also be cut to 2 7/8". See the finished drill bit above.

Finished Adapter


The hole saw arbor is held in place with the allen screws "arrows A". The allen screw "arrow B" serves to set the drive center (modified flat drill bit ) in place.
Every once in a while the ball bearing must be greased so that the constant use do not damage it. With a grease gun connect the gun terminal to the grease terminal in the ball bearing flange "arrow C".


The drill press with the Mini Wood turning adapter.



In this picture you can see the drill press vise holding the ball bearing flange "arrow A ". The base of the hole saw arbor "arrow C" the modified flat drill bit (drive center) "arrow B". The second drive center "arrow D" is on the drill press chuck. In my version, this second drive center is 1/2 inch because I did not have two 3/8 bits available when I built my adapter.

The picture also shows a nylon cord tying the lever to the base of the press. This is to prevent the spring lever mechanism to return the drill chuck to the natural "up" position. A friend recommended to remove the spring for this type of application but reinstalling it is a tedious process and handling may damaged the spring.

I use this wood turning adapter for miniatures and light works like making dowels or so. The working space between the two drive centers is more or less 3 inches. Something longer than that can't be fitted in this small drill press.


The End