Andy wrote:

| Thanks for your quick reply! I'm sure that's ideal, but I'd really
| like to keep the DP table clean for use with wood. I know I can't
| have it both ways, so I suppose I just need another DP dedicated for
| metal...

I have a removable MDF table on my drill press for woodworking - and I
remove it for drilling metal (and I almost always use a drill press
vise for those operations). When I'm done drilling metal, I wipe down
the table and clean off the oil with acetone - and when I remember I
give it a light coat of paste wax before re-installing the MDF top.

| Interesting to hear the HF bits are working for you - maybe I'll get
| another set and just try to run them cooler. At their prices, I can
| get the bulk packs of 1/8" and 3/16" bits and call them disposable.

My metal drilling has been limited to aluminum, brass, and mild
steel - so my conditions have been different than yours. I have made a
point of not trying to "hurry" the drilling and raising the bit out of
the hole at intervals to allow it to cool while I brush aside the
"shavings" and add oil. I've heard that a bit of beeswax on the bit is
also a good lubricant, but have never tried it.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/