Call for a name...

[Skiprat]

Rolly, it is called the quil. If you have a cheap drill press like me, then you can make it better until you can afford a better one.

There should be a screw ( normally on the left side ) that you can tighten a little. It should have a locking nut to hold it's position.
If you are like me and can't afford a new drill then I have another solution, but it is pretty drastic and you will need to strip your machine down. I have a photo somewhere and will see if I can find it.

[Arc Light]

The project I am currently busy on called for some very accurate small holes to be drilled. I wanted to use Brad point drill bits, but they don't make them small enough,  I decided to attempt the holes with a regular round point bit.  I started the hole and immediately watched the drill bend and start to walk.  I gave up quickly on the round point and decided to increase the hole size so that I could use a brad point bit.  Accuracy was more of a concern than hole size!

I would love to hear how others increase there accuracy with drill presses

Rolly I am far from getting perfect accuracy in my creations so that the pieces can be swapped. but that's half the fun, and I hope one day to get to that stage

[Skiprat]

OK, here is a pic I found.
The red arrow shows the adjustment to get rid of some of the slop in the quil. Loosen the locknut, tighten the screw until the handle just still moves, tighten the locknut.
The yellow arrows show what I eventually did to this machine. I took the quil out and put a bent aluminium plate inside the free space. I drilled and tapped two holes in the corners of the body. I just hand tighten these to press the aluminium against the quil.
The problem with cheap drills like this is that the quil does not travel in bearings or good sleeves and therefore only has two points of contact with the body while it is going up or down. The screws pressing on the plate add at least one more point of contact.
When you make very small holes and want to drill at an angle maybe you can make a small start with a awl (bradawl) before you drill.
Hope this helps

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[rolly_wood]

Oh thank you very much, tonight I will check my drill and try to modify it or, at least, tighten it a little, the problem that I had a look but there is no a screw for locking it I will post some pic.

Peter there is a compromize, there are bit for drilling metal (by B&D) with the point like this.

They work on wood better than regular point and you find them thin as you want

[rolly_wood]

This is my drilling jig for this puzzle..  the vertical "slot" above the word "icosian" is for the holes in the piece's head

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[rolly_wood]

This is the head of my drill press without screw..... more a toy than a tool 

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[Canuck]

I tried to post a reply in this topic yesterday but my internet connection has been patchy at best, not sure why

For drilling holes, I would try to use a 'guide bushing' like these if you can get them in the size needed...



Here's a link to Lee Valley's description of the item, sizes available are; 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" :

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&cat=1,180&p=40089



With one of these and a jig to reference location on the piece being drilled you wouldn't even need to use a drill press, a hand drill would work fine...

[Skiprat]

Rolly, you may still be able to adjust it. Turn the handle to lower the chuck/ quill. Look for the slot in the quill. I would guess that on your machine the adjustment is on the same screw as the return spring. If the slot lines up with this then you should be lucky.
Don't take the round black cover off or the spring will fly out.  
If you give me the name and model of your machine I may be able to find a manual for it.

[rolly_wood]

you are giving me very helpful hints
I will look for the bushing, I actually tried with something like that but I had not the correct diameter. The piece of wood in which enters the bit in the pic above was meant working with this aim... but it is wood and the hole becomes bigger of course.
hmmm guide bushing I do not know the right name in italian suppose bussole or boccole di foratura but you cannot helping me on this 
Steven, I am not at home now, it is a Kinzo european brand for import PRC made products, I do not know if it is known in Wales. I will give you the model name tonight, I assembled it by myself and probably I will still be capable of disassembling it... hoping so. The chuck is on conical shaft. How can I remove it? a right hit by hammer? I will let you know where the slot is....
thank you again

EDIT bussole: http://www.bohrbuechsen.ch/cms/index.php?id=16&L=4 found in switzerland with metric size... but I will find also here.

[rolly_wood]

Do not you laugh  , that is what I could afford at the time I bought it: Kinzo 8E104...

Attached: pieces of vertigon, and a rough stamp obtained by a copper tube to impress my initials: rp

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[Canuck]

Very nice Rolly!

[rolly_wood]

Look for the slot in the quill. If the slot lines up with this then you should be lucky.

Steven, thank you again but there is not any slot in the quill, only the rack for lowering on the back side....