In article ,
Rob Mitchell wrote:
I have inherited a 30 yr old (but high quality) drill press. I am
repairing some of the easy things, like the belt and the motor mount.
However, the chuck galls, and comes off if the press is heavily loaded,
and I'm using a 'stepped' bit (which cuts big holes in aluminum and
sheet metal. There is no obvious wear on the inside of the chuck or the
arbor.

Does anyone have a pointer to drill press repair? Should I replace the
chuck, and/or the arbor? I guess that the arbor has a taper and the
chuck just seems to be friction fit onto it. Are there special tools
that are needed to attach the chuck? I have tried tapping it with a mallet.

Thanks
Rob


From your description it appears the chuck is coming off of the short
jacobs taper at the bottom of the drill press spindle. (Since you
referred to the "inside" of the chuck.) The first thing to do is clean
everything up thoroughly. Use a drying solvent like automotive
Brakleen or (God forbid the EPA should hear) MEK. Check closely for
any burrs on both the male & female surfaces. If necessary remove them
with a file or fine sandpaper. Remove only the minimum amount of metal
necessary. With everything clean and dry, press the chuck up onto the
spindle. I like to hold a block of wood against the jaw end of the
chuck and give it a few whacks with a 2 or 3 lb hammer. (Contrary to
intuition, for the typical jacobs chuck, the jaws should be extended
slightly out of the adjustment sleeve, and the jaws struck, rather
than the sleeve.)


Usually this will take care of the problem. If not post again, let us
know if your press has a mandrel or morse taper arbor adapter.
--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland