Cheater bar aids drill-press belt tensioning
Using one reader's tip to alleviate hurting hands. Make a few small adjustments to your drill press and you won't feel any pain.
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After changing speeds on my drill press, my hand kept hurting whenever I would retension the belt with the small tension handle. The solution was to make an old-fashioned "cheater" bar to extend the handle. To make it, cut a 6" piece from a 1" hardwood dowel.
Drill a 2"-deep hole into one end to slide over the handle, and round the other end to make it more comfortable. The extra 4" of length provides more leverage, and my hand doesn't hurt anymore.
—Raymond Ky, Rosemead, Calif.