Drill press bits

VW mick

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My good lady bought me a drill press for christmas. And I've been making some Ali brackets I've drilled a row of holes and want to form a slot

Question. The normal twist drill bits don't really want to be used on there side so to speak. Is there such a thing as a bit that will work like a milling bit I suppose

Hope this makes sense. I know what I mean lol
 
I bought a cheapy Draper set of "cobalt" bits that I use for most things, including wood. Tend not to bind up and aren't phased by anything ridiculous I decide to drill a hole in.
 
I've got plenty of drill bits. Think what I'm looking for is something more like a router bit that could be used horizontally
 
To drag the piece about for sort of carving? It's early on a Sunday, I'm struggling.
 
VW MICK said:
My good lady bought me a drill press for christmas. And I've been making some Ali brackets I've drilled a row of holes and want to form a slot

Question. The normal twist drill bits don't really want to be used on there side so to speak. Is there such a thing as a bit that will work like a milling bit I suppose

Hope this makes sense. I know what I mean lol
Not something that is easy to do on a drill press. Better to use a router if you've got one.
 
Spiral upcut bits (carbide) but they are router bits. I'm not sure if they would function will with a drill press where the cutting speed is lower. I don't understand what you are trying to do with the drill press.
 
grbmds said:
Spiral upcut bits (carbide) but they are router bits. I'm not sure if they would function will with a drill press where the cutting speed is lower. I don't understand what you are trying to do with the drill press.
They would work for holes, but the OP want to make a slot in Ali and that isn't something to do on a drill press as you can't easily lock the workpiece down and move it across the cutter.
 
As others have said, a router is the better tool for making a slot.  If you really want to do it in a drill press then you can drill a series of holes the length of your slot and then use a chisel to clean out the extra wood in between the holes.
 
Use Forstner bits. Just make sure your board is clamped firmly to the drill press table. Then clean up any ridges/bumps with sandpaper wrapped around a dowel.
 
Whoops...I missed the word aluminum. Dismiss my previous post.  [embarassed]
 
VW MICK said:
My good lady bought me a drill press for christmas. And I've been making some Ali brackets I've drilled a row of holes and want to form a slot

Question. The normal twist drill bits don't really want to be used on there side so to speak. Is there such a thing as a bit that will work like a milling bit I suppose

Hope this makes sense. I know what I mean lol

Probably now's the time to get out the round metal files. The ones you use to sharpen chain saws. I know its a slow process, but depending upon the size of the holes, how much material you left between the holes and the thickness of the aluminum, it can be accomplished.
 
I use my drill press to mill aluminum.  Buy regular milling cutters for metal as the bits for wood don't have the proper geometry for cutting metal.  Use a slow speed, a light cut, and WD-40 for cutting for aluminum.  I do store front aluminum work and we buy WD by the gallon, for our chop saws and milling.
 
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