Drill press Laser - what a joke!

[RodKirby]

I should have thought about this more - before I blew US$80 (incl. ship to Oz).

Easy to set up. Works perfectly -FOR THAT SPECIFIC TABLE HEIGHT! You raise or LOWER lower the DP table, you have to reset it! Yeah, I know - of course.

Edit: Good news and bad news...
Good: Finally worked out out to set it correctly - left side set perfectly
Bad: Right side stopped working altogether while I was setting it
Worse: Not worth the Oz shipping to send it back for replacement

[Uncle Cracker]

The one that came on my Craftsman works pretty good...

[RickT]

Rod,
I'm surprised you had trouble with this laser guide. You're exceptional with tool selection and setup. I bought the same laser from Woodcraft for $39 for my Delta drill press, and it works perfectly. You'll need to align the two lasers using the supplied alignment pin. If the intersection of the two lasers changes with the height of the drill press table, it's because they need to be adjusted so the beams align with the line on the supplied pin. The second adjustment is to set the lasers to cross at the center of a hole made in scrap stock using the point end of the alignment pin. Once adjusted, the lasers will cross at the exact same point independent of table height and stock thickness. I'd recommend it.


Thanks,
Rick

[RodKirby]

Rod,
I'm surprised you had trouble with this laser guide. You're exceptional with tool selection and setup. I bought the same laser from Woodcraft for $39 for my Delta drill press, and it works perfectly. You'll need to align the two lasers using the supplied alignment pin. If the intersection of the two lasers changes with the height of the drill press table, it's because they need to be adjusted so the beams align with the line on the supplied pin. The second adjustment is to set the lasers to cross at the center of a hole made in scrap stock using the point end of the alignment pin. Once adjusted, the lasers will cross at the exact same point independent of table height and stock thickness. I'd recommend it.


Thanks,
Rick

OOps - thanks Rick - back to manual..

[TB Roye]

Ain't that the way. Either back to the manual or use a bigger hammer. Reading a manual is what you do in the evening while watching TV, isn't it? LOML says so after seeing all the manuals on the table by my recliner.

Tom

[Uncle Cracker]

Reading the manual is something you do when it's already FUBAR...

[LinuxRandal]

Make my own drill press....

Without the drill, but laser powered.

http://www.instructables.com/id/EWM4...1LQ2/?ALLSTEPS

Thought that was cool.

[jspelbring]

Danger

I've seen this too. If anyone decides to try it, please, please, be careful! As Mom would say "you can put an eye out with that thing!". Seriously, the laser used in DVD burners is powerful enough to do permanent eye damage before you can even blink.

Without the drill, but laser powered.

http://www.instructables.com/id/EWM4...1LQ2/?ALLSTEPS

Thought that was cool.

[Hoakie]

I can't remember if I picked it up here or elsewhere but...

~The manual is just another man's (or woman's...as to get flamed) opinion on how it should work~

I agree with others, mine works at all heights, however I rarely rely on it when I need to be extremely accurate and precise.

[ragswl4]

I can't remember if I picked it up here or elsewhere but...

~The manual is just another man's (or woman's...as to get flamed) opinion on how it should work~

I agree with others, mine works at all heights, however I rarely rely on it when I need to be extremely accurate and precise.

I am waiting for Rod to come back with a go or no/go on this but in the meantime is this device practical and accurate to warrant purchasing? It does not break the bank but $40 is $40.

In what case is it not accurate enough? Thanks.

[Slik Geek]

I found it to be "nice to have", but wouldn't rate it as "must have".

When I'm doing repetitive, free-hand positioning, I can work faster with the laser, in that I can position the work with both hands before lowering the drill. I find that positioning the piece with one hand while lowering the drill with the other is not as convenient or quick.

[cgallery]

I have one. The projected laser lines are pretty "thick."

First I align the lasers to the vertical line on the supplied setup bit. Next I use the same bit to finely "dimple" a piece of wood (use a lighter wood like pine or BB ply, no dark woods here). I darken this dimple w/ a mechanical pencil. Finally, I adjust the two lasers so the pencil mark is right in the middle of each beam.

To mark wood I'm drilling, I use an awl to dimple the wood, and darken that dimple with the pencil. It seems much easier to align this single point to the middle of the laser cross-hair than an "X" (for example).

Of course, this level of precision isn't always required. But when called for, it is nice to have.

[RodKirby]

See my updated first post...

[bthere]

Gosh, Rod. You aren't much of a salesman for these things. I had been toying with the idea of getting one, but you have just about single-handedly talked me out of it.

[JSCOOK]

I bought the SteelCity version which they had for $49 ... added a 4" hose clamp @ $1.25 to push it over $50 and saved $15 off.

As for the laser itself, the SC seems to maybe be built a little better than the one Rod bought and seems to work fine for me so far ... set up takes a little bit of patience, but so far so good ... YMMV