Milling lowers

[Wannabewoodsman]

I'm considering buying a benchtop drill press and using it as a makeshift mill. I know it's no where near as ideal as a mill, even a benchtop but I want to decide whether to save up and bite the bullet at $1k or spend around $200. A full size is out of the question right now no matter what the price is. As far as skill with a mill: none

What do I want to do with it?: 80% lowers and light duty machining.. basically use it as a mill.

For the guys who use drill presses, have you modded them in anyway? What did you do for workarounds?

 

[BobM]

I'm considering buying a benchtop drill press and using it as a makeshift mill. I know it's no where near as ideal as a mill, even a benchtop but I want to decide whether to save up and bite the bullet at $1k or spend around $200. A full size is out of the question right now no matter what the price is. As far as skill with a mill: none

What do I want to do with it?: 80% lowers and light duty machining.. basically use it as a mill.

For the guys who use drill presses, have you modded them in anyway? What did you do for workarounds?

There's many good youtube videos on doing the very thing you're asking about.
A good video may be worth a thousand words?

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=using+a+drill+press+as+a+milling+machine

 

[xdman]

Just go slow, when you are cutting don’t rush trying to “mill” too much.

 

[BobM]

Just go slow, when you are cutting don’t rush trying to “mill” too much.

Basically, let the bit or blade do the work when it progresses, you progress with it. Is called "feeding."
Sharp bits do best work, cut faster and do more precise work. Dull bits can cause accidents and poor results.