Drill Press Table Lift Assist for10ER

[rpd]

One of my 10ERs is permanently in drill press mode, it works great but the table was hard to adjust up and down.
Last year I picked up a gas lift support at Princess Auto (like Harbour Freight), reg. $9.99, on sale $6.99 , and wedged it between the base and the carriage. Gas Shock

This has worked well, it will hold the table in place with the lock released and can be moved up or down quite easily.

I'm not sure if any one noticed but it actually showed up in a photo I posted last week, Clamp on base for my work lamp.(first post third photo).
I'll re-post it here.

lightstand3.JPG (109.12 KiB) Viewed 9345 times

This weekends project was to mount it permanently.

Here is what I started with.

drill table lift parts1.JPG (75.88 KiB) Viewed 9345 times

Mounting brackets made:

drill table lift parts2.JPG (71.04 KiB) Viewed 9345 times

left to right
3/8" x16 UNC bolt and nut - this one is too long , 3" would be better
lower bracket - 1 1/2" of 1 1/2"x1 1/2"x1/8" aluminum angle with 3/8" hole and 13/16 hole threaded 1/4-16. edit: should read 13/64 hole threaded 1/4-20.
upper bracket - 2 1/4" of 1"x1/8" aluminum bar with 1/2" hole and 13/16 hole threaded 1/4-16. edit: should read 13/64 hole threaded 1/4-20.
1/2"x13 UNC 1" bolt
lift support (30lb lift)

Upper bracket assembled

drill table lift upper assembly.JPG (83.32 KiB) Viewed 9345 times

Lower bracket assembled

drill table lift lwr assembly.JPG (74.33 KiB) Viewed 9345 times

drill table lift lwr assembly.JPG (74.33 KiB) Viewed 9345 times

continued on next post

[rpd]

Here it is installed

drill table lift installed no table.JPG (179.91 KiB) Viewed 9341 times

With the table at its lowest

drill table lift with table lowest.JPG (168.1 KiB) Viewed 9341 times

And the table at its highest

drill table lift with table highest.JPG (159.63 KiB) Viewed 9341 times

[B B Baby]

rpd,
I am new here and have 2 Ers one is a dedicated DP. which I struggle with to change table height. Thanks for the idea!!! I have a couple questions, what is the length of the lifter both retracted and extended? Are you sure you used the 13/16 diam bit for the tap hole for a 1/4" tap? Maybe a 13/64?
BB Baby

[JPG]

rpd,
I am new here and have 2 Ers one is a dedicated DP. which I struggle with to change table height. Thanks for the idea!!! I have a couple questions, what is the length of the lifter both retracted and extended? Are you sure you used the 13/16 diam bit for the tap hole for a 1/4" tap? Maybe a 13/64?
BB Baby

Worry not, he is putting that 3/8-16 screw into the 1/4-16(sic) tapped hole. 13/16 will allow more than enough clearance. Makes turning the tap handle easier also.

We be laughing at ourselves here. BTDT


Good idea! Cast iron has a greater attraction for the ground. I assume you do not raise/lower the headstock.

[B B Baby]

I dont move the head stock unless in the inverted position!!!!LOL Plus that one has the coveted speed changer on it. Love to get another one of those for the other ER.
I was surprised no one commented so far on what a great idea he came up with and on the cheap besides. Maybe they have the mother ship model on there ERs.
B B Baby

[rpd]

rpd,
I am new here and have 2 Ers one is a dedicated DP. which I struggle with to change table height. Thanks for the idea!!! I have a couple questions, what is the length of the lifter both retracted and extended? Are you sure you used the 13/16 diam bit for the tap hole for a 1/4" tap? Maybe a 13/64?
BB Baby

Welcome aboard.

Of course you are correct , it should be 13/64" or a #7 drill. I will add a correction to the original post. Thanks.

The specs. on the lift are 19 7/8" pin to pin, 7 7/8" travel,
When I first tried it out I was using a bit smaller one that I had picked up from the same store that is 17" pin to pin with 6 1/4 travel and that worked about the same so the dimensions are not that critical.

[rpd]

Good idea! Cast iron has a greater attraction for the ground. I assume you do not raise/lower the headstock.

I don't often have need to raise/lower the headstock but it is not that difficult if necessary.

The procedure to raise the headstock is
- put a block of scrap wood on the table
- raise the carriage so wood is a bit lower that the quill shaft and apply carriage lock
- loosen headstock lock and advance the quill to lift the headstock
- apply headstock lock
- repeat if necessary

[rpd]

For those of us with dedicated 10er drill presses here are a couple videos.

I posted this one by Carl Holmgren last year in a different thread.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IErSBgATkQo[/youtube]

and this is the follow up he has just posted

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEl4ghRIwbs[/youtube]

[B B Baby]

Thanks Ron for the info and the second video, I have seen the first a while back, but the new one was interesting also. Soon as it warms up I will be doing your install, since one Er is in the garage.