Pump drill press

[Pitchy]

Got to watching vids of primitive things after Old Ironsights posted a video of such things and seen one of these old pump drill presses.
I`ll shoot a vid later.

[AmBraCol]

That's a newfangled, complicated version.

A friend of mine in Brazil used one with a bit that cut both directions. It was basically just the bow, the shaft, the counter weight and the chuck. Although the chuck didn't look as modern as yours. He did amazing things in his shop with nary a powertool, much less the electricity to run them. Brazing and welding on a charcoal forge. He did some amazing work. It's good to see others have an interest in the old ways and tools.

[Pitchy]

Thanks pard, ya take a flywheel from a old sewing machine, a chuck from a burned out drill and some scrap iron from a old baler and there it is.

[Old No7]

Related to this -- I think -- I once saw an interesting video of an Indian (far east, not American west) using a lathe that he held with his toes and that freed his 2 hands to operate the tooling. I'm thinking they work off the same principles.

Old No7

[Pitchy]

I`ve seen those lathes very cool, here`s a vid of the pump drill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCpe4k1zYY4

[Old No7]

I`ve seen those lathes very cool, here`s a vid of the pump drill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCpe4k1zYY4

Pretty cool Lenn -- that works great!

I actually have a "Loon Call" that works in the same way; a sound chamber that revolves around the cord pulled between 2 handles and simulates their unique calls. I never thought about drilling a hole with it, but maybe it could help spin a wood dowel to start a fire the old-fashioned way -- while calling in Loons!!!

Old No7

[AmBraCol]

Thanks pard, ya take a flywheel from a old sewing machine, a chuck from a burned out drill and some scrap iron from a old baler and there it is.

Yep, that's the kind of the way it worked. What kind of bit are you using? He would hammer a piece of steel flat on the sides, file the end then harden in the forge/quench. Then he'd clamp the work piece in the vice, mark the spot to drill, place the bit there and start pumping the bow up and down, adding an occasional drop of oil to lubricate the bit. It'd take him a while but he'd get the job done. Sure wish I could remember what he used for a chuck. IIRC it was something along the lines of an old auger chuck, but I'd not swear to it. He could do amazing work. What he COULDN'T do was talk and work at the same time. So if company showed up that was it. I'd sit there and try to keep my mouth shut, hoping he'd get what ever it was done that I needed doing. He could make just about anything but a cylinder for a revolver or rifle a barrel - and all self taught, trial and error and educated guess (the education for that guessing coming from the school of hard knocks).

Thanks for the memories! He'd have gotten a kick out of your version and would possibly have built something similar.

[Pitchy]

Thanks again, i`m just using a regular modern drill bit in it now but have made drill bits like you described .
I built it just to build one probably won`t use it much but ya never know.

Here`s a neat video ya might enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D__A2gK2_o&t=138s

[piller]

That is cool.

[AmBraCol]

OK, Pitchy. You sent me on what at first I thought was a wild goose chase. But finally found a fascinating video on the building of a hand pump drill instead of the pump drill press you built. It's very similar to the one my friend used, down to the type of bits. The chuck, however, is more primitive as it doesn't allow for the changing of bits but rather you've got to change the whole chuck. This one is much more intricate than the one used by my friend, but it fascinating to watch for those of us who like the old things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtWVA7_9Rik

And here's his video on making precision drill bits from mild steel that are capable of cutting through a wide variety of metals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1aj_3tlQhU

Most of what I found on a quick scan of youtube was for drilling wood or starting fires. This series is about recreating the Antikythera mechanism and I see myself investing some time watching the process later on. (should be getting other things done today instead), but the two above relate to the ability of ancient technology to produce such a delicate instrument by allowing the drilling of precise holes bronze. I think you'll get a kick out of seeing it, I know I did.

And again, thanks for starting this path down memory lane.

[Pitchy]

The link i posted should of took ya to a old craftsman using pump drills ?

Yep making a chuck for different size bits is a challenge for sure and i`m finding that using smaller pump drills a standard modern bit likes to tighten up in the hole and stop the drill if ya try to big of bit.
If a person could make and shape a bit that has rake or clearance so not to do that, the vid you posted of the hand made bit may work better.
I just made a small push drill i`ll post a vid in a while.
Cool stuff

The video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUf9kXEl0P0

[AmBraCol]

The link i posted should of took ya to a old craftsman using pump drills ?

Indeed, but he was drilling wood. I was looking for someone drilling metal, especially steel. The video I posted is about drilling bronze and he mentions drilling mild steel. I don't recall off the top of my head what all I saw my friend drilling way back when, but it seems like he even managed to drill other than mild steel. He also brazed using flux and 22 shells, all in the forge. It's amazing what folks can do with less than modern tools - and often do even better than some folks do with the newer stuff. It all goes back to the craftsman and the skill learned from doing.

[Pitchy]

Drill steel ya say, here`s the hand drill for that.
I don`t use it often as ya can see by the dust but if i want to drill a hole through a saw blade she`s the one.

[OldWin]

That's cool buddy! I've never seen one of those. Pretty clever, Lenn.

[Griff]

[Bill in Oregon]

Amazing thread. I was thinking a spade-like bit would work best as it would cut in both directions -- as in those videos Pitchy and Paul linked to.

[Pitchy]

Thanks guys, yep i gotta try making some spade looking bits soon.

[AmBraCol]

Thanks guys, yep i gotta try making some spade looking bits soon.

I figure if I keep poking you about it, you might just up and do it.

[Pitchy]

Thanks guys, yep i gotta try making some spade looking bits soon.

I figure if I keep poking you about it, you might just up and do it.

Its been kinda hot and i haven`t felt real good so kinda lost interest, i ordered a small chuck i`m going to put on the last drill so i`ll have to make some soon or try too.
On a side note i took that wall drill down and hung it in a more open spot where i can use it more, cleaned it up a bit to and oiled her up.

[Pitchy]

Ok i made a spade type bit and it seems to work pretty good in wood.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy8-wJgQTo8

[OldWin]

Pretty slick Pitchy! It's neat how designs that are hundreds of years old can still work pretty well.

[Pitchy]

Thanks Jay.

[AmBraCol]

Is it the angle of the bit in the picture, or did you make it on a tapered shaft? I'd not seen that variation of the spade bit, looks interesting. Now we need a video of it in action!!!

[Pitchy]

Is it the angle of the bit in the picture, or did you make it on a tapered shaft? I'd not seen that variation of the spade bit, looks interesting. Now we need a video of it in action!!!

I hammered a shaft slightly flat to get the side clearance then ground it to shape with two angled sharp cutting surfaces.
There`s a link for a vid under the picture

[AmBraCol]

Is it the angle of the bit in the picture, or did you make it on a tapered shaft? I'd not seen that variation of the spade bit, looks interesting. Now we need a video of it in action!!!

I hammered a shaft slightly flat to get the side clearance then ground it to shape with two angled sharp cutting surfaces.
There`s a link for a vid under the picture

Yeah, I keep telling my wife I need new glasses, she keeps telling me I need to pay more attention!

[Pitchy]

Thanks for your interest i`ll probably give up on it for a while other things to do.

[TWHBC]

I like the point design of your spadebit! I f you need to countersink for a flush screw as is often done in wood projects, you can use the this bit just varying the depth after using a smaller bit for the threads.

[Pitchy]

I like the point design of your spadebit! I f you need to countersink for a flush screw as is often done in wood projects, you can use the this bit just varying the depth after using a smaller bit for the threads.

Say now thats a good idea

[HawkCreek]

Drill steel ya say, here`s the hand drill for that.
I don`t use it often as ya can see by the dust but if i want to drill a hole through a saw blade she`s the one.

That pump drill is neat, great work!

I've got one of those hand crank drill presses out in my shed waiting for me to mount it somewhere. Growing up we had one my step dad converted to electric out in the shop. It always scared the stuff out of me with it's belts and pulleys down by your hands and exposed gears clacking away. Absolutely no safety switches on that thing except the one between your ears!