Milling table for drill press - XY adjustable (1 Viewer)

GenghisKhan

Full House
Joined
Nov 7, 2014
Messages
2,897
Reaction score
4,696
Location
NB Canada - Maine's next door neighbour
So I have 8 different molds to mill, and they're all a different circumference by the tinyest margin.

The jig I created by following @Eloe2000 's guide is awesome. But I thought it would be nice to be able to move the jig back and forth a mm or so to account for this size difference.

(To be clear, If I were only milling 1 mold, I wouldn't need this milling table add-on for my drill press).

Enter this milling table I found on Amazon for $66 CAD (about $50 US).

While there is a video or two out there showing negative reviews, I read many reviews stating they did not adjust the table and tighten it correctly.

I just milled a barrel of chips and this thing came out the box ready to go. It was solid, table was not wobbly at all. Even though it was fine, I still used the included allen key to tighten the 3 black screws that lock the left-right axis in place. I just placed the rubber mat and jig on top of the table and locked it in place with 2 bolts. And used the other 2 bolts supplied to attach it all to the drill press.

So far I've tried swapping in a few different molds, and can easily adjust in/out with a quick turn of the dial. If my 1st side milled is off by a hair after eyeballing it, I can adjust and easily get it right on center without fear of setting things off too much like I did before.

*I will update after milling a few racks with different molds, and using the adjustments more. To see if they stay as solid as they are now.*

20200605_151309.jpg
20200605_151134.jpg


Still using duck tape to hold my shopvac in place. I moved it closer to the chip and it removes 99% of the shavings.
20200605_151359.jpg


After swapping molds and having it all aligned for something different, I took out some Nevada molds. 1st side after eyeballing it: too high

20200605_151851.jpg


Side 2 after adjusting the table back a bit with a turn of the dial:
20200605_151907.jpg


These 3 screws lock the left-right axis from moving. I locked them down.
20200605_152015.jpg

Each stack here is 6 chips. I photographed chip #6, #12 #18 to show there's no movement from one chip to another and no wobbling during milling.
20200605_160843.jpg
 
Fantastic write up. I am probably going to pick one up when I have my next batch to mill. It’s cheap enough to give it a go. Thanks for posting.
 
Great info! Have you (or anyone else for that matter) tried milling flower molds?
 
Update: after milling about 1200 chips with this milling table, I can confirm it does NOT move whatsoever.

You can lock in both axis once you've aligned the table for your chip size/mold. Then you're good to go.

For me having to mill multiple molds of different sizes, it was well worth the investment.

I'd share pics of the results, but we have renovations that started so I had to clean my poker room / workshop and put everything away.

I did get more chips in though. About 1100 HHR I need to mill.

Not even sure what to do with so many green. Red quarters and Green $1s for a limit set?

20200723_203005.jpg
 
Update: after milling about 1200 chips with this milling table, I can confirm it does NOT move whatsoever.

You can lock in both axis once you've aligned the table for your chip size/mold. Then you're good to go.

For me having to mill multiple molds of different sizes, it was well worth the investment.

I'd share pics of the results, but we have renovations that started so I had to clean my poker room / workshop and put everything away.

I did get more chips in though. About 1100 HHR I need to mill.

Not even sure what to do with so many green. Red quarters and Green $1s for a limit set?

View attachment 496948

$2 chips are often green.
 

Attachments

  • 20200721_155329.jpg
    20200721_155329.jpg
    77 KB · Views: 148
  • 20200721_155315.jpg
    20200721_155315.jpg
    105.3 KB · Views: 116
OK, it works. It took a while to get the X-Y axis locked down in the correct position, but otherwise pretty good.
My drill press worked well with very little wobble. Dead center and consistent depth !!

20200803_145434.jpg
20200803_145503_HDR.jpg
 
I've picked up this table as well as the Magnate bit and other necessary odds & ends. Now I just need to clear enough space in the garage to set up my drill press! :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:
 
And oh yeah. Go slow on the drill speed and down pressure.
I did these at about 700 rpm. That's the slowest setting I can get on my old belt drive press.
Harder the chip, the more you need to heed this. Paulsons are pretty forgiving. Older ASMs, you will snap chips if you don't follow those rules. Slow and even pressure.
 
Others have had better success with lowest speed but with mine it just wasn't working out.

On my King drill press, I had to move from lowest speed to 2nd lowest. On lowest it would spin a chip now and then. Even though it was jammed into the jig and I had a piece of wood to put extra pressure on the chip. This was on Nevada molds and ASM CSQ mostly.
 
Others have had better success with lowest speed but with mine it just wasn't working out.

On my King drill press, I had to move from lowest speed to 2nd lowest. On lowest it would spin a chip now and then. Even though it was jammed into the jig and I had a piece of wood to put extra pressure on the chip. This was on Nevada molds and ASM CSQ mostly.
I added felt pads to the bottom so the chip has something to grip on.... It's helped alot
 
I'm using those neoprene looking cooking sheets. It works great. And it was rare that a chip spun on lowest setting. But would still slip from time to time at. Figured it would happen a few times per rack and was not comfortable with that.

Edit: @Schmendr1ck just made me realize it's silicone lol, not neoprene.
As recommended by @Eloe2000 ;)
 
Last edited:
I have been away from the chip scene for a few years, but always watching and seeing what is new. One thing I noticed was how pricey these things have gotten over the last few years. Wanting to get back into the scene again, I decided to mill and label some Paulsons as my first jump back into a fun hobby. Paulson make one sweet chip and I'd like to personalize this set.

Goofing around with some well used starbursts and a 7/8 flat bottom bit, I found by making a small back cut on the jig to hold the chip there is a bit more grip and less opportunity for spin.

One question I have is: How many chips can be milled before the bit begins to dull?
 
I have been away from the chip scene for a few years, but always watching and seeing what is new. One thing I noticed was how pricey these things have gotten over the last few years. Wanting to get back into the scene again, I decided to mill and label some Paulsons as my first jump back into a fun hobby. Paulson make one sweet chip and I'd like to personalize this set.

Goofing around with some well used starbursts and a 7/8 flat bottom bit, I found by making a small back cut on the jig to hold the chip there is a bit more grip and less opportunity for spin.

One question I have is: How many chips can be milled before the bit begins to dull?
You will most likely never dull the thing....

... And boy, would I know.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom