O/T - Easy DRILL PRESS Question...?

[BLAKE]

Just bought a floor standing drill press (Harbor Freight 38144) - put it together, but not so sure about the chuck/arbor shaft assembly since the instructions are vague. Basically, the instructions say to slide the chuck on one end of the arbor shaft, then slide the arbor shaft up into the slotted drive shaft (line up the shaft slots), then press them together "until they seat". I expected a 'snap' or other indication that they were locked together, but nothing. I've pressed the sh*t out of the assembly, but no 'snap'.

QUESTION - is that it? Do these pieces just press together via interference fit? Wanna make sure since this is the business end of this thing and I don't want it flying off. Seen lotsa posts on drill press opinions and such, so figure a few of you have fooled with this before - I haven't. Thoughts?

[NealinCA]

That drill press should have a #2 Morse Taper spindle. The arbor does just press in and friction on the taper holds it in place. The chuck should be held onto the arbor in a similar manner, but using a Jacobs Taper.

There will not be any noticible "snap". Just press them together firmly as they have stated.

Just make sure both halves are clean and you shouldn't have any problems.

Neal...inCA

[Digger_Dave]

Yes the arbours are an "interference" fit.

Just make sure they are clean on both the chuck end and the spindle end.

The reason for lining up the "slot" on the arbour end, is when you need to remove the chuck, the tapered "tool" fits through the slot; and LIGHT tap with a hammer will knock the assembly loose.

[Mart]

Yeah, I'd concur the above, if all is clean, the taper locks it, but I tend to line up the tang and the slot then sort of slam it home to make sure it seats well. I made a taper drift as one of my apprenticeship projects.
Mart.

[BLAKE]

Cool - that's what I wanted to hear. Just used it to drill the top plate holes in the body of one of my 97s so's I can Helicoil them - much better than the hand drill/vice method I woulda used otherwise. Now I got two more carbs to do.

Thanks for the responses.