THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TWO THINGS that bothered me about a drill press key. One, if you forget to remove it from the chuck, it’ll be launched like a missile when you start the motor; and, two, when you do remember to remove it from the chuck, there’s no convenient place to store it. I felt there had to be a solution to both problems. What was needed is a storage place for the key that will not permit the motor to run if the key is removed from storage.
My solution was built from parts I had on hand: a microswitch and a 11/2" square by 3" long maple block. The block is drilled lengthwise to accept the handle of the key. Drill through top to bottom, so that dust and wood chips can fall through and not get trapped as they would if it were a blind hole. That hole is centered 1/4" from one face. About halfway down that face (the actual position for the cross-hole is determined by the dimensions of the switch) a 1/2" hole was drilled to intersect the first hole. This is for the switch actuator.
To keep fingers away from the live electrical connection, I fashioned an enclosure from 1/8" Masonite. I attached the holder to the drill press next to the existing on/off toggle switch and I wired the new switch in series with the existing switch.
