Very good reply, Bill. Second that! Best idea would be to try to tighten
up the drill press quill, as suggested. IMO, best adjustment would be
where
the quill would be tight enough to require withdrawal by the handles
rather
than returning via the spring. Be reminded a drill press is not
considered
to be a precision tool. Most any drill press will drill to the center of
a
proper "pop" mark regardless of how tight or loose the quill is. Drill
bits
prettty much align themselves to go straight if they are properly
sharpened.

Vertical alignment is more important than play in the quill. Consider the
drill press adventure as practice for your milling machine. The quill on
a
mill is not designed to return via spring action. The spring is there
only
to provide some counter weight against the heavy quill. When you get a
mill, you will then have a precision drilling machine as well. Then you
can
do very accurate hole location on your mill. Your drill press will soon
find its place in your shop as a non-precision machine tool and you will
be
proud of it becasue of the custom alignment you did on its quill.

Bob Swinney

Thanks! Great advice here -- you guys should write a book!
I really appreciate it!

Yeah - I *do* want to get into doing some milling sometime. I've always been
fascinated by it but just never have taken the plunge. I've been getting a
huge kick out of just tapping my own screw threads in the extrusions I've
been working with!

Thanks again !
JCD