Scott Cole asked:
Which leads to a related topic:And a new thread topic? (hint, hint!)
I'm thinking of acquiring a drill press. Any suggestion on what or what not to get?-Any minimum size or features for general piano work? 8, 10, 12, 15"?-Will a tabletop model do instead of a free-standing?I have absolutely NO doutbt that a large, free-standing, high-quality drill press would be an optimal choice. That being said, when I started my shop 20-some years ago I bought the smallest tabletop Sears drill press they had - 8-inch I think - I think I paid $75 for it. The one thing I did do was buy a high quality aftermarket chuck for it - I think I might have paid upwards of $100 for the chuck - but now I have near-zero runout. I've drilled a gazillion pinblocks with it and just about anything else I could fit under it. It has always met my needs. That is until the motor stopped turning - but I learned that all I need to do is give the chuck a hand-twist and it starts doing its thing, so I still use it to this day. I keep that press mounted on my overhead drill press and use it for pinblocks, bridges and plates - and whatever else won't fit under my other drill press. Shortly after the motor ceased to start on its own, I found a used drill press at a garage sale - a little bigger than my tiny one, but still benchtop size. Works like a charm. I move my high-quality chuck to whichever drill press I am using at the time.
-I'm assuming a variable speed is worth paying for? Yes, but I don't think you have to pay for it. Even my 20 year old Sears $75 press has six or so speeds. I think they pretty much all do. But yes, you do want a variety of speeds.
-Do those laser guides work, or are they a gimmick?IMHO, mostly gimmick. My garage-sale drill press does have a laser guide. However, I never really used it - the alignment was off a bit. And then the main on-off switch died, so I rewired it to use the on-off switch for the laser guide!
Not for any heavy-duty rebuilding at this point.Then a small drill press will likely meet all your needs. If not drilling pinblocks and the like, the $2 chuck that comes with the press will likely work for you. However, if you do any drilling where precise hole diameters are needed, measure your runout and perhaps consider upgrading to a better chuck.
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Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com813-684-3505
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-14-2018 17:11
From: Scott Cole
Subject: 4-in1 hammer filing tool?
David,
Thanks, that worked. Don't see it on the website though. Maybe I'll give him a call.
Which leads to a related topic:
I'm thinking of acquiring a drill press. Any suggestion on what or what not to get?
-Any minimum size or features for general piano work? 8, 10, 12, 15"?
-Will a tabletop model do instead of a free-standing?
-I'm assuming a variable speed is worth paying for? A rheostat can't be used unless the motor is DC.
-Do those laser guides work, or are they a gimmick?
Not for any heavy-duty rebuilding at this point.
thanks again everyone
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Scott Cole
Talent OR
541-601-9033
Original Message:
Sent: 05-14-2018 10:56
From: David Skolnik
Subject: 4-in1 hammer filing tool?
Try this:
http://mothergoosetools.org/
If you have trouble, there's this:
Telephone: 208-278-5257
E-mail: imatunr@gmail.com
Address: Joe Goss, 410 Ada Road, New Plymouth, ID 83655, USA
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David Skolnik
Hastings-on-Hudson NY
914-231-7565
Original Message:
Sent: 05-14-2018 10:52
From: Scott Cole
Subject: 4-in1 hammer filing tool?
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, Joe's website is down again...
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Scott Cole
Talent OR
541-601-9033
Original Message:
Sent: 05-13-2018 13:27
From: Jon Page
Subject: 4-in1 hammer filing tool?
The tool was originally made by Chris Gregg. If you can't find one, you can make it with a Forstner bit, a block of wood and a saw. Stick on some PSA sandpaper and you're good to go.
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Regards,
Jon Page
Original Message:
Sent: 05-13-2018 11:13
From: Scott Cole
Subject: 4-in1 hammer filing tool?
At Westpac recently I saw a "4-in-1" hammer filing tool used. It's got several round cutouts, each with thin strips of sandpaper mounted in configurations that allow one to selectively file each side or middle of the hammer for mating to the strings. I've looked around but haven't seen it for sale. Does anyone know where to get these? I don't think it was a one-off custom tool. I could probably make something like it--eventually, when I have a proper wood shop setup. I'm still gathering information about what power tools will be the best investment for me.
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Scott Cole
Talent OR
541-601-9033
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