February 21, 200818 yr On the end of my drills, i.e. on the metal shelves in the lean-to Presumably you mean something other than your garden variety hand or power drills here.
February 21, 200818 yr Author I meant the key that tightens the drill chuck to hold the drill. I had in mind either the hand held drill chuck key or the table top or stand drill chuck key. I will edit the title to correct things.
February 21, 200818 yr The key on my small press hangs on a string tied to the motor mount. All my small hand drills are key-less. My 1/2" big boy has a metal clip on the handle for the key. My Big press came with a 3/4" key chuck that I removed and put on a 1/2" key-less Jacobs clone that I got off E-pray.
February 21, 200818 yr If you use an Albrecht style keyless chuck you don't have to worry about it. One of the woodworking online suppliers have a spring loaded cable to hold the chuck key and it has a magnetic main part that will stick to your drill press, most anywhere. Some places and shops, use the drill chuck jaws to clamp the key hand tight in them so its there readily available for the next use. Also any strong magnet somewhere on the main drill press housing will hold a chuck key out of the way and from getting lost. Do any of you use a lazy susan bit holder on your drill presses?
February 21, 200818 yr I use a magnetic tray on both my...bench top drill press and my HUGE 21" Cincinnati (dinosaur) floor model. Used string before getting the trays.
February 21, 200818 yr When the drill press is not in use the "key" gets hand tightened "in" the drill chuck. During the use of the drill press the key gets put in my pocket so I can find it and so it is out of the way. I don't like strings/things hanging from the drill press because it could be a potential hazard. - JK
February 21, 200818 yr I have four drill presses in a row and a lorge magnet on the one on the right all the keys stcik to that,,and I do have a bit holder on the big one.
February 21, 200818 yr I have a keyless chuck on my ancient Delta drill press. Just hand tighten the chuck, turn on the press & hit the chuck with the palm of my hand.
February 21, 200818 yr Anywhere but in the chuck where it can get flung in your face when the drill is turned on. Preferably in the same place every time so it's easier to find. Generally I hang mine in one of the unused holes or slots in the drill table or on the head of the lathe right next to the drill press. I also have a magnet stuck to the wall of the Connex behind the drill press but it's inconvenient. My pocket works too. Once the new shop is in operation I'll hang the lazy susan with the key holder. Frosty
February 21, 200818 yr On my Drill Presses the key's hang on small chain from the motor mounts or the hand wheel. On all my hand drills they are zip tied to the cord next to the plug so they have to be unplugged to change bits. Been that way for years. Irnsrgn, The post drill I got last week has a real nice bit holder on it. John
February 21, 200818 yr On the hand drills it's taped to the cord(far enough down it has to be unplugged to tighten the chuck). On the drill presses(both benchtop), on one it's in a tupperware tray on the shelf below the press. And on the other there is a sliding tray built into the base.Like Frosty said, never in the chuck where it becomes a dangerous projectile if the press is turned on by mistake.
February 21, 200818 yr on my floor model drill press I mounted a 1"x1" angle iron with a hole to receive the key to the front of the belt guard painted orange so I can see it. on the drill motor I have a rubber thing thats made for the chuck key
February 22, 200818 yr I only have a hand drill. I keep the chuck key on the cord. It is heavily taped with electrical tape.
February 22, 200818 yr When my brother was an apprentice in a machine shop he flung a key across the shop that he left in a drill chuck. The shop foreman, an old time German tool maker, riveted the key to a short piece of chain around my brothers neck so he had to put his nose against the drill press to use the key. Paul said, that after wearing the key like that for a week he never left a key in the chuck again.
February 22, 200818 yr Mine's attached to a retracting key chain holder - I glued a magnet on the side of the holder then attached it to the side of my drill press. When I'm done with it, the key retracts up out of the way.
February 22, 200818 yr I attach mine to the end of the power cord, so when ever I have to change a bit, it makes me unplug it. Nice and safe! :D
February 22, 200818 yr mine lays on the bench next to the drill press. in the caddy that holds bits and accessories the chuck to my 1/2' Milwaukee is on the cord with a rubber tie the diamond core and rotary hammer dont use keys
February 22, 200818 yr we put a magnet on our drill press to stick the chuck too. However this was not fool proof being as that a few people in my shop dont put it back and even I am guilty of this. one of the best ideas that I saw was in my highschool shop. they had a retractable chain that pulled the chuck back up to it when you were done using it. The only problem with this was that some people would forget to take the chuck out and turn the drill on and wrap the chain around the drill, but this could be easily avoided if they would have just paid a little attention.
February 22, 200818 yr Piece of speaker magnet stuck to the top-front of the drill press holds my drill chuck in a handy spot.
February 22, 200818 yr About the safest method I've seen was making the chuck key the drill presses starter key. The key was hung on a chain and there was a clear plastic cover over the ON button with a hole just large enough for the key handle. It took a deliberate act to turn the press on with the key in the chuck which was grounds for immediate dismissal. The off button was uncovered and easy to hit for obvious safety reasons. Frosty
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