Drill Press

The drill press is very powerful.  The most serious danger involved in operating this machine lies in drill seizure which causes the material to break loose from its clamping device.  The revolving material may inflict serious injury.

1. All work must be carefully secured on the drill press so that personal injury and damage are avoided.  Use a drill vice, C-clamp, or V-block whenever possible.

2. If you must drill thin metal, back up the material with a block of wood and clamp it securely.

3. Loose clothing and long hair are always dangerous around a drill press.  They must be arranged or confined and kept at a safe distance from moving parts.

4. Do not clean the spindle or other parts while they are in motion.  Rags may catch on the moving parts and pull your hand into the machine.

5. Be sure the chuck key is removed from the chuck before operating the drill.

6. Always center-punch the work and line up the center-punch mark with the drill before drilling.

7. Always select the proper speed and feed before drilling.  Remember, the larger the drill, the slower the speed.

8. Never shift belts or make other adjustments while a drill press is in motion.

9. If the twist or power bit drill catches on a piece of work, turn off the power.  Wait until it comes to a full stop before removing the work.

10. Decrease the feed pressure as the twist drill or speed bit emerges from the work.  This will greatly decrease the chance of injury to you, the tool, and the work.

11. When changing the position of the drill press table, be certain to have a firm hold on the table before releasing the table clamp.