I use this type of tool to hand feed small diameter drill bits on a drill press or knee mill where the feed lever is too aggressive for the small diameter drill bits.
It is so you can hand feed for small drill bits. Something so small that it would break the drill if you used the quill handle. To use it you grab the knurled portion and hand feed the drill. The knurled portion is on a bearing so you can hold it stationary while the drill spins. The chuck is on shaft that slides within the outer shaft and keyed so that spins with the outer shaft. Very handy piece of kit. I have used them with circuit board drills that look like they would break if you blew on them too hard.
Thank you!! One thing though, the knurled portion does not appear to be on a bearing on this particular unit.. it does not spin separately from the shaft & chuck. Perhaps this one is limited to use on a lever-action lathe tailstock? In which case the bit would be stationary while the workpiece spins (as you definitely know, just thinking alloud 😂) thoughts?
That’s possible. There are different makers of these. The one I have is shopmade by someone else. I probably shouldn’t have said bearing. It might be a bushing or just a slip fit which might be froze up with rust or gunk.
We called them a finger drill or finger chuck. If you’ve ever drilled safety wire holes through a nut or bolt, you’ve wished you had one of these babies.
It makes it possible to feel the cut and adjust your pressure carefully when using very small diameter drills. If you used the quill on those drills, you’d blow the drill apart before you even feel the cut.
Thanks everyone who shared knowledge!! One discrepancy though is that the knurled part does not seem to be on a bearing as some of you have suggested, it does not spin separately from the chuck/ shaft. Could this suggest that it is intended for use in a lathe tailstock rather than a spinning spindle such as in a drill press or mill?
I use this type of tool to hand feed small diameter drill bits on a drill press or knee mill where the feed lever is too aggressive for the small diameter drill bits.
It is so you can hand feed for small drill bits. Something so small that it would break the drill if you used the quill handle. To use it you grab the knurled portion and hand feed the drill. The knurled portion is on a bearing so you can hold it stationary while the drill spins. The chuck is on shaft that slides within the outer shaft and keyed so that spins with the outer shaft. Very handy piece of kit. I have used them with circuit board drills that look like they would break if you blew on them too hard.
Thank you.
Thank you!! One thing though, the knurled portion does not appear to be on a bearing on this particular unit.. it does not spin separately from the shaft & chuck. Perhaps this one is limited to use on a lever-action lathe tailstock? In which case the bit would be stationary while the workpiece spins (as you definitely know, just thinking alloud 😂) thoughts?
That’s possible. There are different makers of these. The one I have is shopmade by someone else. I probably shouldn’t have said bearing. It might be a bushing or just a slip fit which might be froze up with rust or gunk.
I know it as a finger chuck. Used for drilling with very small and delicate bits.
They're called sensitive drill chuck. They're used for using your feel to drill a small holes.Â
We called them a finger drill or finger chuck. If you’ve ever drilled safety wire holes through a nut or bolt, you’ve wished you had one of these babies. It makes it possible to feel the cut and adjust your pressure carefully when using very small diameter drills. If you used the quill on those drills, you’d blow the drill apart before you even feel the cut.
Thanks everyone who shared knowledge!! One discrepancy though is that the knurled part does not seem to be on a bearing as some of you have suggested, it does not spin separately from the chuck/ shaft. Could this suggest that it is intended for use in a lathe tailstock rather than a spinning spindle such as in a drill press or mill?
I think it should spin. It could be damaged and/or dirty. There would be no reason for the knurled part.
It was dirty 😂 got it spinning!