How scrupulous are you in changing drill press speeds?

[ear3]

Was prompted to ask this after watching one of the videos of [member=47215]woodman_412[/member] where towards the end of the video he discusses drill press speeds:http://festoolownersgroup.com/vario...pics/dp-shop-talk-videos/msg455017/#msg455017

When I'm using large diameter bits or cutting plugs I will certainly take the time to open up the top of the machine and change the belt configuration in order to slow it down, but generally -- maybe because of laziness, or the simple law of inertia -- I tend to default to the last setting even when I might gain some speed by using a faster RPM for a small diameter bit.

 

[RobNJ]

I tend to leave my press a little bit low on the speed to give up some time in exchange for safety.  I seldom drill metal, but I often use forstners and other larger diameter bits.  The lesson was definitely reinforced when  I accidentally ran a 6-inch adjustable circle cutter at too high a speed!  [scared]  Luckily, I realized almost instantly and no harm done, but now I tend to leave it somwhere on the slow side of the "wood range" most of the time.

 

[Bohdan]

My drill press has multiple belts and is a real PITA to change speed so as I do a lot of drilling with large drills in metal I tend to leave it running at the slow speed and as long as the drill bits are sharp the results in wood are usually OK. Will change speed if I have a lot of critical small holes. Would love a drill press with a gear box but even the used prices are a bit much.

 

[leakyroof]

I have a large [20"] Delta DP with a Reeves Variable speed drive, so I don't have an excuse anymore not to get the right or best speed for the bit I'm using...... [embarassed]
however, my '50's little Benchtop Delta DP that sits next to the 'bigun' brother, is a major pain to change speeds on, so I was totally guilty of not moving the belt to the right pulley step at times... [cool] [cool] [cool]

 

[Cheese]

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
Just curious what Delta VS model you have?

 

[ear3]

Ah-hah!  So I'm not the only one.

 

[chrisrosenb]

I have a VS Powermatic & a VS Rockwell. I hardly ever change speeds. 

 

[woodman_412]

It really depends on what I'm drilling and what kind of bit.  Sometimes if I'm just drilling a couple holes and the speed is close enough to what it should be I don't bother changing it but if I have a lot of holes to do I usually change the speed. It definitely makes the bit drill quicker and more efficient when the speed is set to what it should be.  I've found that speed chart that I showed in the video to be super helpful and eliminate the guess work when changing speeds.  I guess it just comes down to a judgement call with each application as to whether it's worth changing the speed or not.

 

[leakyroof]

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
Just curious what Delta VS model you have?

. 20-950. I believe Delta stopped making them after only a few years due to quality control issues with China production. I think mine is one of the factory 'rehabbed' units that Delta was struggling to make right with their owners once the Drill Presses were sold.
Not a super sturdy unit, but good enough for woodworking .
My little Delta puts it to shame for quill tightness and runout. That thing is a Cast Iron rock that is almost kid proof...... [eek]

 

[Acrobat]

[embarassed]
Oh my, I've haven't changed it for years now. My old damn drill press is a major hassle to open and change the belt so I've ignored it and left it. Shame.
Oops. [blink]