Drill Press Nut: Bug or Feature?

A second nut, tightened against the one shown, could be used to lock the nut in place.

Or you could place a flat washer and a lock washer (spring washer) under the nut shown, so that when you tighten the nut down it is tightened against the lock washer. But if it were me, I'd figure that 2 nuts are better than one.

I don't think this is a bug or a feature; just a missing part.

Put the nut on your anvil and LIGHTLY tap the side of the nut with a hammer. Once. Check for fit. Tap gently again as needed.

Have spare nut standing by. It's hard to undo an over tapped nut. OK you could chase the threads, if you have a thread tap.

I'm tapped out now.

I wouldn't have thought a drill press that locks down was a very good idea - especially if the drill bit was in your finger at the time!

Since you're drilling tiny parts anyway, you could drill a tiny hole under where the nut needs to be positioned and put a tiny cotter pin in it.

Or is the entire spring back mechanism not working?

If so, maybe just a short bungee cord hooked to the handle to give you the return feature.

The spring back mechanism works - granted it could use a little oil - but only after I stop the drill and spin the nut back up to the top.

Basically, the top nut spins when the drill is running so it follows the thread as the handle is pulled to bring the drill down. Then I have to turn off the drill, and move the nut back up to get it to release. Bungee would not help.

I was actually wondering whether this is why my bits are not grabbing and breaking. Or whether there would be more chance of grabbing on the upswing, if the spring back was enthusiastic... trying to look on the bright side since I don't have the necessary part to fix it.

Although in fact, I could probably fix it with a bit of tape. So many things can be fixed with tape (if not a bungee ).

Re drill bits catching/breaking on the return stroke - just keep it under control! You're the one with the handle, just release it gently. You should be able to feel when it's not going quite right. If you can't feel it, I'd say the spring's too strong. It(the Dremel)'s not exactly a big load - the spring should just be acting as a counterbalance, so it doesn't drop under it's own weight.

(But if your workpiece is clamped down properly [like we all do - every time {as if}] it shouldn't catch anyway ).

Yeah, I did have a piece that tore loose from its tether and went for a spin once. It's enough to make a person be careful. Or at minimum, don't be tempted to reuse old tape...

Drilling through several pieces of sheet metal at one time, you can always feel when it breaks through. But there's not enough 'grab' to break a bit.. so far. I must admit I love the drill press for this work. I would not want to do it freehand.

Are you sure its in the right place? It seems to me it would serve a better purpose as an adjustable depth stop, like on the big full size drill presses, and not a lift stop.

You'd still need to whack it with a hammer to keep it from turning down and moving the stop position.

I believe the second nut seen below it is the depth stop. For setting the depth, the whole drill assembly is lowered or raised on the stand.

Not that I wouldn't be prone to put something together backwards or upside down.

Now that you mention it, what if I removed the nut altogether. If there's no need for a lift stop at all? I will check it out.

Have you thought of using a nylon insert stop nut for the existing thumb nut? This would avoid having to alter the existing thumb nut (in case alterations to it were to fail) and would provide a nut that would not slip or vibrate from where you positioned it. They are available at the big box stores in the most common sizes and also from McMaster-Carr in about any size conceivable.

You can quickly change its position with a spin-tight (nut driver) or make small adjustments with a wrench.

Good Luck- old salt

Try an O-ring under the nut.

An adjustable stop that does not stay in place to located tool depth or height does not seem like a true feature that anyone would purposely design into a piece of equipment. Or maybe that is why they were on special someone for got to include them in the assembly when packaged. I would imagine there was a thumb nut that"s come up missing that would lock it into position. Check McMaster Carr for a replacement.

Thanks guys, I'm going with the 'missing part' consensus and will get something to do the job and fix it in place.

If you have the model number, try google and see if there may be a manual somewhere...or a picture.