Originally Posted by
John Coloccia
re: quill locks
It's funny. Some time ago I complained that nothing comes with a real quill lock anymore, in particular the DP we happened to be talking about. At least not anything less than a big Clausing or something like that. I got a PM from someone saying that they worked for so-and-so a company (a popular woodworking tool company we all know), and the "quill lock" design they use is same kind of mechanism used on Bridgeport mills. Yah, the DEPTH STOP is similar to a Bridgeport, and a million other drill presses for that matter, but it's not a quill lock. Yes, technically you can snug up the nuts on both sides and hold the quill in one position, but a quill lock clamps down on the quill and prevents any movement whatsoever, including vibration. Very useful not just for setup work, but also when running something like a drum sander. Just try and mill something on a Bridgeport just using the depth stop without engaging the actual QUILL LOCK. Good luck. Makes me think that the engineers designing these things have collectively forgotten how to design a decent drill press, hence split heads and quill locks have all but disappeared. Instead, they concentrate on nonsense like part trays, lasers, built in lights and other garbage that has absolutely nothing to do with a functional drill press.
My drill press has the depth stop collar thing on it. I know some people like it, but I find it to be the most incredibly annoying thing to use. Number one, it's on the wrong side of the drill press and it's hard to get to because the spokes are in the way. Just how are you supposed to conveniently set this thing with your arms crossing your body, completely blocking your view of the work and forcing you to contort yourself to avoid the spokes? Then they put this stupid little set screw on it that is again very difficult to get to, and sometimes practically impossible because a spoke just happens to end up in just the wrong place. I find the screw is always getting stuck too. If I tighten it enough that it doesn't move, I have a heck of a time getting it back off. You can't "fine adjust" the design in any way...you have to hold the quill in the exact position with one hand and fumble with the twisty thing with the other hand. The design is an absolute abomination and shows a complete and utter lack of ANY actual drill press design knowledge beyond "Move this turning thingamabobber up and down, and make sure there's at least a couple of lights on it". I don't understand how manufacturers could possibly be so detached from the actual use of their products that they can come up with stuff like this. It would be 10 times better if it were at least on opposite side of the drill press. At least then it would be somewhat ergonomic and comfortable to use, and though I still like the traditional method better then it would just be a matter of my personal taste vs. a terrible design.
It's also interesting to note how many traditional depth stops have the nuts on the same side of the rod. Not only does that mean that you can't hold the quill in the down position at all on newer designs, but you also loose the ability to fine adjust the position by setting the bottom nut and then snugging up the top nut (not a big deal, but convenient and an easy mod if you want). In addition, when you try to lock the jam nut you ALWAYS turn the other nut on the new designs because, you know, that's what happens when you turn one metal thing against another metal thing. You get friction, and it makes it seriously frustrating to do such a simple task as set the depth stop. The older designs were designed for this...a little washer with anti-rotation features between the nuts. The newer ones are just two flat nuts half the time and it doesn't work well. I had a DP like that once and the first thing I did before I even turned it on is I took the mechanism apart and put the nuts where the belong. I really like the design on the new Delta with those quick release nuts. Too bad it's not a split head and has no quill lock...LOL.
It's interesting to note in the OP's pictures that all of the DPs with this stupid rotary depth stop design, even the older one, are also missing a split head and a quill lock. No surprises here.