Chuck Seiler

I can't seem to find anything about a brass sleeve in this particular one.
 
Mini Drill Press
 
The one that Ron Burns posted about, and got me started on this does talk about a brass spindle and sleeve..
 
 

I missed your comment about the rods on Amazon.  I'll check them out.

No worries. thanks.  The posts I have mic out at .508"/12.9mm x 12".  Would it fit?

Were you able to determine if the vertical post could be removed/replaced?

Bob,
 
    Agree with all.  I may check with Larry to see what collar options he has.  Alternatively, I may just mount my older corded Dremel (I recently found while cleaning) that is symmetric.  But, since one can never have too many tools, I am still eyeing the set--up Gregory is trying out.

I have a Dremel drill press from Vanda-Lay (MSW sponsor).  It is a great piece of equipment but is designed for older models of Dremel that were more symmetric.  I am having trouble ensuring accurate alignment when I change out the drill.  Most times it works fine, but with real precision, even 'a little off' is not good enough.. 
 
I got extended posts for my Vanda-Lay press.  I believe they are 1/2" diameter.  12mm is .47"  That may be an option.  Larry at Vanda=lay sells those separately.

If this was made of wood, no problem.  Metal is not my forte.  Where would one get one?
 
What is the diameter of the post?

I missed your comment about the rods on Amazon.  I'll check them out.

There is a bearing with a very tight fit, so I think 12.9 could be a problem.
 

 
 
 

My recollection is that Olah's maritime archeologist husband Khorum (sp?) mentioned the yard in his review of the kit. 
 
 

Those open rails were perfect for securing lines around.

Definitely, now that you asked.
Want to kick me now, or later?

I could have got almost 2" of elevation by removing that plastic cap and moving the head up on the post.
There are scads of 12mm chrome rods at Amazon.
Here is a 23" for $18.99.  A 12" would do it for my purposes..
Edit:  Now I see you can choose from 200 to 1000mm.
 
Standby  for super mini drill V2.0
 
Forget you saw that melamine crap, and thanks for the wake-up call.
 
 
 

Were you able to determine if the vertical post could be removed/replaced?

Bob,
 
    Agree with all.  I may check with Larry to see what collar options he has.  Alternatively, I may just mount my older corded Dremel (I recently found while cleaning) that is symmetric.  But, since one can never have too many tools, I am still eyeing the set--up Gregory is trying out.

Were you able to determine if the vertical post could be removed/replaced?

A #76 drill bit is .02" and #70 is .028".  If those are too small for the chuck, I believe there are mini chucks availabe with 1/8" shaft that can be chucked into the drill,  IIRC they go down to 0.

It's not really intended for anything but light work.
 
The head moves up and down as smooth as can be.  The spindle and motor are very quiet.  I believe the spindle uses some type of roller or ball bearings.
Is their any way to tell without taking it apart?

I have a Vanda-Lay Dremel mototool drill press stand also. I agree, it's far better than the version made by Dremel and the best option out there short of a dedicated benchtop drill press or mill. I have a dedicated new-style Dremel tool mounted in it and haven't noticed any mounting problems. I believe Vanda-Lay may offer different mounting collars for the old-style and new-style Dremel mototools. I gave them a call some time back to ask if they had a mounting collar that would fit a one-inch Foredom handpiece and they said that indeed they did and could provide one on special order. I've never gotten around to ordering one since I have another small combination drill press and milling machine. I'm presently musing about buying the additional parts and turning my Vanda-Lay drill press stand into the full-blown Vanda-Lay combo drill press and X-Y-Z milling machine to use with my Foredom flex shaft machine. I'm curious about the rigidity and accuracy of their new mill/drill and I expect its milling ability is somewhat limited by the power source options. If anybody has one, I'd like to know their thoughts.
 
The entire Vanda-Lay line, which keeps growing, seems extremely clever and reasonably priced. The fit and finish of the entire system, which is entirely CNC-machined aluminum and stainless steel (I think the support post rods are, as I recall.) is perfectly executed. Their system keeps growing. After expanding their milling stand to include a Z-axis, they now have accessories that turn it into a wood turning lathe, a grinding stand, a table router, circular cut-off saw, and grinding and buffing mandrel. Over the years I've acquired more dedicated small power tools than I have time to use and hardly need any of the Vanda-Lay system products because I already have dedicated machines to do all this combination system does, but I still want one because they are just so darn neat.  I would say that, regrettably, their main limitation is their dependence upon the Dremel mototool as a primary power source. The option of using the Foredom flex-shaft instead would, I anticipate, be a great improvement. Beyond that, if Vanda-Lay can ever develop their own foot-controlled variable-speed and reversible higher-powered and more compact and balanced power source, they'd be on their way to having an excellent candidate for the model engineering power tool niche once occupied by the venerable Unimat system which has been vacant for decades now.

12mm
I think extending it with a dowel or metal rod using a good coupling would be relatively simple, but I am going to start with rotating the head and elevating the table.
 
I am waiting for delivery of my rotary table today.  Hope to have update today or tomorrow.

A new sprit has been made, and I've started thinking about a crew.
 
The sprit (yard) has taken a bit of time and a new piece of kit - a mini bench-top disk sander & belt (this one).
From a task that was failing after a week of effort, the sprit was made in a couple of days - including setting up and learning the new equipment.


 

If, as I plan, I'll put a sail on this boat, it will need a crew.
It took me a while, but I remembered that I have some Historex figures in my spares box.
Historex figures are 54mm soldiers, mostly French Napoleonic.

These fellows volunteered for the job:


I feel that there is a better sense of scale with these two on board.
 
The guy at the back (tiller) started like this:

 
And now looks like this

 
A little more animated, if 'armless.

The man standing up will take a bit more thought - maybe something like this would work?


For clothing and 'fashion' inspiration, I'll use David Teniers the elder's paintings.
Another Dutch artist, Teniers was about 25 at the time of John Smith's expedition.

The vertical shaft (?) on the original press is only 8.66 inches.  At 5.31 inches in height, will this rotary table fit?

Did you attach a vice to it, or s all your work free standing?

TWO WEEKS LATER...  Have you had opportunity to use the press more since last posting?  Any further revelations?

The vertical shaft (?) on the original press is only 8.66 inches.  At 5.31 inches in height, will this rotary table fit?

I will be making a platform to raise the drill press to a working height for the table..
 
Stay tuned..