Slowing down a drillpress....motor swap or pulley swap??

[Greg72]

I've got a floorstanding drillpress that was mostly for wood drilling duty, but over the years has become more of a metalworking drill.

It's currently set-up with the stock 3/4HP 1720RPM motor and with the various pulley combinations turns between 215RPM and 2750RPM.

I have a set of new metal cutting holesaws that should be run in the 60RPM range, so I'm trying to figure out a simple, cost-effective way to slow this machine down. I thought that a motor swap or larger pulley might do the trick, but was wondering if anyone's alreadly solved this issue???

I thought about putting the entire drillpress on a dimmer switch, but I figure that will remove all the torque by the time I get it to an RPM that I want...

 

[dheavychevy38]

At our shop we have always changed the pulley. Slow it down as much as you can and use lots of oil.

 

[79chevyk10]

I've never done the modification before, mainly because my drill press goes as low as 50 rpm. And it is all done with pully combo's and a belt with a tensioner. I'm sure yours is the same way, just with pullies that are "geared" that low. I figure add another set of pullies to increase the options would be the best way. I agree that a dimmer would just remove all the torque.

 

[apache]

The cheapest way will be pullys,basic off the shelf motors dont go much below 550 RPM if that, a VFD would cost big bucks like a new motor. Look at Grainger or Mcmaster Carr`s website where motors are listed to see the cost. Either should also have pulleys and sheaves for the speed change.

 

[dremu]

IIRC, your basic light dimmer will explode with an inductive load like a motor.

Get you a set of stepped pulleys and off you go. Or maybe use a Mog portal =))

-- A

 

[4X4HIGH]

Pulleys are what you're going to need. Then again maybe you should spend a little of that upcoming Christmas bonus on a nice new Variable speed drill press.

Wait, Aaron has a good idea except i think you need to use a doubler backwards instead.