FrankEV

The good news. The replacement WEN 4212T arrived today (10/18/23) and putting it together for the second time was a snap. Even the table up/down crank seems to be less sloppy than the one I returned. Again, I’m very happy, everything is working well, and it runs quiet and smoothly at all speeds. I built a fixed, 32” high, mini bench in the corner of my shop for the drill press. Although I had to rearrange some wall hanging tools and dust collector hoses, it fits like a glove. And although the shop is getting a little more cramped, its location does not interfere with any of my operations. Only my trash bucket had to be moved closer to the Scroll Saw. Now the bad news. I wanted to bolt down the DP with some 1/2” dia. bolts as recommended in the instructions. Well as I tightened them down, I obviously cinched down too much, and the cheap thin sand-casted base cracked/broke in half. I salvaged the situation by removing the base and using four 3/8” Dia. x 4” long bolts, I mounted the collum directly to the bench top. I like it better as the base just got in the way anyhow and now there is room to lay down bits and tools as needed. So here are a bunch of pics that show the DP installation and my shop. Most were taken standing in one spot and just turning around for each pic as I don’t have very much room to walk very far. Close up of DP Broken base Feel free to snicker all you want!

The same paste wax you use on your scroll saw table should work. The speed handle is changing belt engagement. The DP must be running while changing speed. I would not atempt to mske it easier to operate. Might mess up the internal changing mechanism.

Well done. Taking nothing away from your work, however, when you use all CAPS of a somewhat Script Font it can be a little hard to read. I think if you had used both upper and lower case letters the names would have read better, or, a more simple block style font may have worked better if they needed to be all caps..

if you have access to some axle grease, pack it with some. it will help somewhat.

That was not the problem. I know how to seat a chuck onto a tapered shaft. Something inside the body that feeds the rotating shaft down or up, is not engaged. Feels like a drift pin, or key was not installed and the horisontal shaft, that the 3 handles turn, just goes around and around and did not do anything. Motor ran fairly quite and smooth, speed changing worked and the table cranks up and down, altough quite a sloppy fit that will require require some heavy grease. UPS picked it up for return today. The replacemnet will be here tomorrow.

Quick update: The WEN 4212T Drill Press arrived yesterday (10/16/23). Piece of cake to assemble. Not too heavy to put the head on. The DP size is perfect and it will fit in the space I planned nicely with out protruding too far into my tiny walk-around area. Only one problem...the drill feed on the one I received did not work. The feed mechanism just goes round and round with out the chuck shaft moving. I called WEN, and they said I have to send it back to Amazon. Amazon approved the return and my account will be credited the cost. So it is all packed up and ready to have UPS pick it up later today. I already ordered a new one and it will be here tomorrow (10/18/23). Lets hope this one in not defective.

Cute! Well done.

No, I did not care for, or find, the font he used.

I saw this Eagle Welcome Plaque by S. Good in one of his emails a while back and thought it would be a nice piece to make and add to my Eagle Collection. I modified his pattern slightly to make it as large as possible and still be able to fit on a the 12” wide precut panels I use. This resulted is the 1/4” thick Solid Core Red Oak ply cut panel being a nominal 14” x 11” mounted to a 1/2” thick painted premium ply backer being a nominal 15” x 12”. I rounded the perimeter top edge of the backer with a 1/4" round-over bit in tmy Router table. I also did away with his “WELCOME” third layer and cut the letters directly into the now single top layer. I use Pegas #3 MGT R to cut pattern and the perimeter of the backer. I would prefer using a spiral blade, but for this type of cutting, and as everyone knows, the regular blade produces a much nicer looking clean-cut edge. Just had to be a lot more careful keeping the blade from walking off track and to be extra careful making my sharp inside and outside corners. The backer was primed and then painted rattle can Brick Red. I then masked off the plaque to allow me to paint the area under the word “WELCOME”, white. After assembly I gave the entire plaque multiple coats of Clear Gloss Lacquer. Comments and critiques always welcome.

Well done and kodo's to the better half. Holly leaves are Greeen. Being very picky, I only wish the Gold color of the bells were a little brighter/shinnyer(sp?). A matalic paint may have been a better choice.

I think I will be able to handle putting this one together...only 57 lbs all together. I will not be using this DP to do my blade holes, I have a dremel DP setup for that that I use and works well. I needed this new DP for larger drilling using Fostner Bits and the like. It won't be getting a lot of use, but when needed, it will be there. I've cursed not having one more than once. Not sure exactly how I will set it up. Will not go on my WB. I'll build a stand (fixed or movable still TBD) that will allow me to use it while tucked away in the corner. Seat height or standing height, again, stil TBD. I'm thinking a semi-fixed stand connected to the wall, but could be detached and would allow me to move it out if needed for driling a long piece. Got to be creative, again becae of my very limited space. After I get it all setup I post some follow up pics. PS; Virgina Beach? Heck that is only about 12 hours away. We were up there last year for a family Vacation. Your welcome to come down anytime for a visit. We have a Guest Bedroom.

Well I made a decision so we can put this post to bed. First, however, let me say THANK YOU to all who replied with info and made recommendations. I liked the price of the WEN 4208T but did not like the need to change belt/pully combinations to change speed. I did a lot of research and would have purchased the WEN 4214T as a lot of you have done, but the size and weight was a concern. A drill press will need to be mounted on a movable base so it can be tucked in the corner of my small shop but be able to be pulled out when needed to use with larger material. I decided to buy the WEN 4212T which is a little smaller in size and about 30 lbs lighter but does have variable speed control and laser. It does not thave a work light but I can add a mag-light if needed. I ordered a Keyless chuck at the same time. It should arrive Monday. Thanks again to all.

True on both. Oh, what is that saying? That's right...practice makes perfect!

Your lineweight peoduced by Inkscape is actually .01" when a centerline trace was done. I use .005" red lines with a light grey (10% or 20%) fill. I prefer when I can cut away a grey waste area, but often the pattern forces me to cut the white waste area away. Here is my version of your pattern:

Only can say GREAT WORK. Beautiful..

Like Richard, I try to cut in a counterclockwise direction around a cutout area. Specifically, I will cut the inside of circle cut with the waste to the right of the blade using a large regular blade ( #3 or #5). Another thing that helps me. My pattern line work is very thin. I keep the blade cutting along the waste side edge of the line. Easier to control then trying to split a fat line.

Nice work. Yes, you are being too critical. While under the mag light, every little bugger will be seen. When checking how a piece looks view it from about 4 feet at eye level. If it looks good, it is. We all try for perfection, but none of us ever gets there.

Very nice work. I like the trick you gave in your reply to Marie.

Nice cutting.

I already use the Dremel tool in their drill press. I use my setup for dilling the blade holes in patterns and have posted a write up on my setup previously. I'm happy with my setup but I want a small Drill press for the more normal kind of drilling purposes. I would like to use larger bits to produce more true and accurate perpendicular holes in all kinds of projects. I would like to use Fosner bits, Spade bits as well as regular wood and metal Twist bits.

Believe it or not, after the cutting was finished, the fuzzies were all well sanded off and I even uesd a torch to get rid of those little fuzzies that hide in the small crevices. I have recently found that when using regular rattle can spray primer and paint, it tends to lift more fuzzies that are very difficult to see until the panel is glued to the backer...then it is too late to do anything about them. I found this happened on two different projects now. This dosn't seem to happen when I just apply Artist acrylics. I think I'm going to stop using the rattle can paint on these types of projects and go with the Artist Acrylic Air Brush paints. And, BTW, in real life, unless you get up real close, the fuzzies are not noticeable but I agree that is no excuse. When and where I found the image, there was no indication of who the artist/owner of the image was. Also, anyon can put the note 'Coyright' on sometning, but as you and I both know it is a very expensive to actually copyright something. I may be nieve, but when I find an image on-line that has no protections from being copied, I feel they are fair game to be used, with implied consent, to create a Scroll Saw Pattern from it. My work is a replica of the original Image and not a copy of the original used for some profit or gain. Yes, the Orangy flame color to the background is what I felt it needed. However, in the pic you included, the wings need some fill, like the grey I used, or, I would have to believe the wings and cut out parts of the body is made of clear glass or the like. Just dosn't make sense and dosn't work for me. Thanks for your coments and critique.

Anyone using a WEN 4208T 2.3-Amp 8-Inch 5-Speed Cast Iron Benchtop Drill Press about $110 on Amazon ( A little more at Lowes). I need a small drill press and the WEN would work. My shop is small and a DP can not take up a lot of room. I have found info on a Mini Drill Press that is even smaller then the WEN, at almost the same cost, but reviews were not too great with mfg QC being the major issue. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

Is this what you tried to make (3.5" dia). I think I could cut it using a Pegas #2/0 blade. I would probably use a #2/0 Spiral. May not be able to stack cut more than maybe 2. Christmas Snowflake Ornament Pattern .125 - Good.pdf I

My Box-O-Lanterns and a Hanging Halloween Lantern

Checking your Profile I see you live in Colorado. And given you were a High School athelete in 1958, makes you close to my age...OLD. Why the heck are you still in CO, you too could be a transplant to Florida. I'd welcome a Scoller Neighbor. I'd even bake you cookies at Christmas.