+1.
I was at Balls one year, walking down the flight line. Saw a couple of guys holding a 54mm case with a plugged fwd closure, and they were driving a tap into it with a hand drill. I said "You need a tap handle and some oil." One of them rsponded with a remark I'm not allowed to type here, so I just took two steps back, and watched. 15 seconds later, I heard that tell-tale "tink!" Then I said "Yeah. 30 years in a machine shop, and I don't know what I'm talking about." And walked away.
Yes, a drill press can be used as a tapping fixture without an expensive tapping head. Unplug the drill first, turn the chuck only by hand. In one turn, out one half turn, and repeat. Helps keep the tapped hole square to the work piece. Be careful. Break that tap, and the price of a good broken tap removal tool will make you cry.
Wilson, best bet is to buy yourself a tap handle. Cost is less than a G motor. Turn the tap in one turn, then back out a half turn. In a turn, out a half. Tapping 1/8" Al won't need cutting oil. But if you have a job that would require it, for lack of anything else, plain old kerosene works great for cutting aluminum.
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