Free Standing SS Drill press

[RobertTaylor]

I made one like jsburger but used a 510. I used 18" tubes left from making a shorty and find that the front leg is always in my way. I plan to shorten the tubes again to 10" as Dusty did for his. As far as cutting the tubes I wrap a shop rag around the tube and put it in a vise and use a pipe cutter.

[ERLover]

Francis, why the double drill press set up? I know if doing a multiple drill of 2 different bits it may be nice for convenience.

[JPG]

I made one like jsburger but used a 510. I used 18" tubes left from making a shorty and find that the front leg is always in my way. I plan to shorten the tubes again to 10" as Dusty did for his. As far as cutting the tubes I wrap a shop rag around the tube and put it in a vise and use a pipe cutter.

I did mine without the vise. Hence the abrasive cutoff next time.

[tomsalwasser]

I managed to get the drill press finished yesterday while waiting for the turkey. I acquired the 510 a couple of weeks ago expressly for this purpose. The frame is made of KD 2X4's from HD using grabbers and PL400. Paul

Paul, I'm THIS CLOSE to dismantling my dedicated SS drill press and mounting it to the wall. It's non-destructive and won't cost me anything but lumber and bolts. I'm looking forward to giving it a try. I can always change it back if it doesn't work out. I will make the tall 2x4 frame as shown in your pics but the frame will sit on the floor and be attached to 3/4" tongue and groove pine walls via a lot of pocket screws.

Are those lag bolts or thru-bolts on your shop-built the bench tube clamps? What are grabbers? Did you have a someone help you slide the headstock and table up the way tubes as the last steps of the project?

Thanks for your help!

Tom

[JPG]

I would think it was mounted while horizontal, then the whole shebang tipped up.

[tomsalwasser]

I would think it was mounted while horizontal, then the whole shebang tipped up.

That may be the ticket JP.

[robinson46176]

If I can complicate your design thoughts...
If you mount it to a post out in the floor you will have a lot more flexibility in where you might point the loose end when drilling a longer piece. That is one reason most of the old hand cranked blacksmith's drill presses were called "post" drills. Now I understand that such a location often just doesn't exist and in some shops anything on a post (if you have any) would just be in the way.
If that is the case I would suggest mounting your drill press to the wall with some kind of lockable hinge mounting that would allow you to swing the drill press to either side for odd access flexibility. The best example of such pivoting I can think of right now is the swing hinge on the main arm of a backhoe (but a lot lighter and simpler). Or think of the swinging arm on a RAS but an upper and a lower... Even if it only pivoted one direction it would be much more flexible.
Just a thought.

.

[masonsailor2]

Tom I use the term grabbers for coarse threaded dry wall screws. As far as putting it on the wall I think that would be far more stable but limit my versatility. The casters definitely do not work. It is not stable enough for my taste. I have it sandwiched between my router table and table saw for the moment. All of my tables ( work table, router and table saw) are exactly the same height. With this arrangement I can set the drill press table to the same height as the two other tables to support long pieces. I am going to install four levelers using 5/8 bolts to raise off the casters which will allow me to level it and give me better stability. Last night I played with adding the telescopic legs from the table to the top of the forward feet which worked very well. The bolts are though bolted and not lags.
Paul

[masonsailor2]

Also JPG is correct. I built the whole thing horizontally and the tilted it up.
Paul

[rjent]

I have a dumb question. I know ... noob.

Why all the gnashing of teeth over a drill press that becomes permanent? Isn't the SS "going vertical" an asset? I just don't get the dedicated machine mentality ....

I mean, if you have 3 shopsmiths, then you have three of everything ... right, why relegate it to just one process .... kind of defeats the purpose?!?!?

Anyway, can someone enlighten me ....