Where to find a 'short' drill rod for runout measurements ?

[Michael Wildt]

Hi,

I've so far been unable to find a place that carries short drill rods so I can check my drill press for run out. All metal supply places carries 36" length in different hardening types. I'm guessing a O-1 would do but 4" is probably easier to use than 36".

Any ideas on where to find this ?

Michael

[Glenn Clabo]

Have you thought about using a drill bit?

[Chris Padilla]

Have you thought about using a drill bit?

:D That was my thought as I read the post.

To calibrate my Woodpeckers fence set up on my DP, they tell you to use a 1/4" drill bit. Works like a charm!

[pat warner]

"Precision machined dowels", ubiquitous, nearly any machine shop supply house.
Lots of sizes, many <1".

Routers (http://www.patwarner.com)

[Bill Houghton]

Lots of places sell the router centering bits - 1/4" on one end, 1/2" on the other, each end pointed - that would work; and, if you have a router, serve to test your router as well.

[Jules Dominguez]

Check Woodhaven for "The Know Bit".

[Joe Scharle]

Chuck a bit upside down.

[Clifford Mescher]

Chuck a bit upside down.
You do not want to chuck a drill bit by it's flutes. Machine shop suppliers sell reamer blanks that are ground true and not very expensive.Clifford.

[Joe Chritz]

Shorten a drill bit and just use the shank or go with Clifford's idea of a reamer blank. They should be available at any supply house.

Joe

[Peter Quinn]

Go to Mcmaster.com, type in search for part number 6061K426, costs $4.11. It is a precise shaft, precision ground. They have them in different diameters, lengths from 3" and up, numerous other choices. That should do it.

[Myk Rian]

Find a junk printer or scanner and tear that apart. All kinds of hardened rods in them.
I use a 3/8" rod from a scanner as a burnishing tool for my card scrapers.

[Michael Wildt]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. I did try the drill bit trick, but I wanted something that I could trust and knew was straight. I totally forgot about McMaster.

Thanks
Michael

[Clifford Mescher]

Yep Mc master 3023A232 (http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.ASP?tab=find&context=psrchDtlLink&fasttrack=False&searchstring=3023A232) 5/16 X 4 1/2" long, round to .0002. Clifford.

[Chris Padilla]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. I did try the drill bit trick, but I wanted something that I could trust and knew was straight. I totally forgot about McMaster.

Thanks
Michael

Chuck up any drill bit and spin it. You'll know pretty quickly if it is running true or not or just buy a new drill bit. Drill rod is typically dead nuts on....

[Ken Garlock]

Good morning good people.

I am glad that the question of drill press run-out has surfaced. I have always wondered about it. In particular, what is an acceptable run-out value. Certainly zero run-out is the goal, but for non machinists is .002 OK, or even .005?

I just ordered the precision 1/2" rod from M&C.(good people.)



Drink more coffee.:) Do stupid things quicker with more energy.:D