Portable Drill Press

Portable Drill Press FARM SHOP Miscellaneous 13-5-22 "We use it almost every day in our shop. It works so well we've started to manufacture it," says T.J. Shambaugh Jr., Cerro Gordo, Ill., who came up with a handy new portable "drill press" that makes it eaiser to drill precision holes in big pieces of equipment that can't be fitted to a stationary drill press. The Driller's Helper was one of the grand prize winners in a recent contest sponsored by Farm Journal for home-built shop ideas. "It sure beats using a chain and a 2 by 4 to put down pressure on a drill to force it through a piece of steel. That often ends up jerking and breaking the bit and it requires two people to do it," says Shambaugh. His portable press consists of a U-shaped metal bracket that goes over the top of the drill handle. It's got long lower legs for added stability. A length of chain is welded to the lower end of one of the legs. It's wrapped tightly around the piece being drilled and fastened to a hook on the other leg. A length of 1/2-in. dia. rod, with a T-type handle on top, was screwed through the top of the U-frame and against the handle of the drill in order to put the exact amount of pressure on the drill bit to keep it cutting smoothly. "It'll do drilling jobs that might otherwise require a commercial magnetic drill holder that could cost $900 or more," says Shambaugh, who sells the Driller's Helper for $25. He also sells a detailed do-it-yourself plan (Shambaugh is trained as an engineer) and description for $5. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, T.J. Shambaugh Jr., Shambaugh Unlimited, P.O. Box 895, Cerro Gordo, Ill. 61818 (ph 217 763-4541).

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