21
TROUBLESHOOTING
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY, ALWAYS TURN OFF AND UNPLUG THE MACHINE
BEFORE CARRYING OUT ANY TROUBLESHOOTING.
PROBLEM
PROBABLE CAUSE
REMEDY
Noisy operation
1. Excessive machine vibration
2. Dry spindle
3. Loose pulleys
4. Noisy motor
1. Tighten any loose parts. Secure drill
press to the floor or plywood base
2. Lubricate spindle, quill, etc.
3. Make needed corrections
4. Check motor bearings and fan
Drill bit binds in the work
piece
1. Work piece is pinching the drill bit
2. Excessive feed rate
3. Chuck jaws are not holding bit tight
1. Support or clamp down the work piece
2. Slow down the feed rate
3. Tighten the chuck jaws on the bit
Drill bit or material smokes
or burns
1. Drilling speed is too fast
2. Chips are not clearing out of hole
3. Dull drill bit
4. Feeding bit is too slow
5. Bit is not lubricated
1. Reduce drilling speed
2. Retract drill bit frequently to clear chips
3. Change or sharpen drill bit
4. Increase feed speed
5. Lubricate bit. Make sure bit and flutes
are clean of rust, resin build-up, etc.
Quill returns too slow or
too fast
1. Spindle return spring has improper
tension
1. Adjust spindle return spring tension
Work piece turns loose
during drilling
1. Work piece is not supported or
clamped securely to the table
1. Support the work piece or clamp it
securely to the drill press table
Wood splinters on the
underside of work piece
1. No supporting ‘back up material’ under
the work piece
1. Use scrap board or plywood under the
work piece for support when the drill bit
bores through the work
Drill bit slips
1. Bit not installed securely in the chuck
1. Re-install the bit tightly in the chuck
Drill bit wanders or
wobbles
1. Bit not installed correctly in the chuck
2. Bit sharpened incorrectly
3. Bit is bent or shank is damaged
1. Re-install bit in chuck jaws correctly
2. Sharpen bit correctly or replace bit
3. Replace bit
Chuck will not stay
attached to the spindle
1. Grease, oil or dirt is on the inside taper
of the chuck or on the spindle taper
1. Clean the tapered surfaces of the
chuck and spindle to remove residue
NOTES
