can you use a drill press as a mill?

[jeepn4life]

Just for small things, Could I just buy some milling cutters and a cross slide vice for a drill press and do light machineing? I would like to be able to make elongated holes for tabs and brackets, no good way to do that without a mill. I have a plasma cutter but it doesnt make perfectly vertical cuts...

[frankenfab]

No you can't. The drill press is not designed for side loads. Also, the chuck is just a taper fit. Without a draw bar, the vibration will cause the chuck to come loose and go flying.

[cruzer75]

you can make elongated holes by drilling two holes next to each other and then cleaning out the stuff thats left in the middle with something like a file/cutoff wheel/ect. oh and yeah we used and old old buffulo bench top to mill a dove tail once using a cross feed and a dove tail cutter. It worked but it was slow goin and i wouldn't want to do it regulary

Stew

[Reflexx]

YES YOU CAN!

till it breaks. I will not say NO just like that, If you're milling plastics with good, sharp endmills. you might be able to get away with it. If it's steel or alum, I'd say no!

Reflexx

[MC]

hmmmmmmmmm Bootymilling....

[PAToyota]

I've seen it done, but it does put side load on the drill -- not something that it is designed for. If you were only doing a few things here and there and nothing too heavy, you might get away with it for awhile. Guess the question is whether it is worth screwing up your drillpress...

[maddog]

I have done light milling on a Drill Press before and what was said is right. Drill Press spindles/chucks do not like side load even on small work especially steel. It will mess up your vertical center eventually. Aluminum and plastics is all I'ed ever do again on the Press.