Free Standing SS Drill press

[masonsailor2]

One of the best things about this forum is seeing how everyone adapts the machinery and the shop to attain the end result of fine woodworking.
Paul

[tomsalwasser]

One of the best things about this forum is seeing how everyone adapts the machinery and the shop to attain the end result of fine woodworking. Paul

Paul, thank you for providing the inspiration and idea for the design of my wall mounted drill press. As soon as I finish the kitchen cabinet project I started ages ago for my long-suffering wife I am going to do it! Like all good ideas, it seems obvious now, after the fact. Just curious, how did you come up with the design of your rolling drill press mount?

Tom

[tomsalwasser]

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. .

Great points all Francis...thank you for your thoughts! The one neat thing about how I'm doing this wall mounted drill press is that it is simple, non-destructive and inexpensive. I can give it a try and if I don't like it, my scrap 2x4 pile will be a bit larger but I won't be out much. For the last 5 years my craigslist SS has not left drill press mode and has not moved except once or twice in a frenzy of cleaning, I rolled it out and swept and vacuumed the floor where it stands. If the location of the wall mount ever causes a drilling problem on a project I can always roll out and raise my main SS into drill press mode.

Tom

[robinson46176]

in a frenzy of cleaning,
Tom

I sometimes have those but they usually pass in about 2 minutes.


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[Bruce]

I don't have a second machine (only a spare headstock), but I kind of agree with rjent. What about building a workbench that the SS in drill press mode rolls under from the end? That way the base isn't taking up usable floor space. I don't fault anyone for mounting one on the wall. That is also a good space saving idea. And my idea wouldn't work if you don't have the space for the workbench.

[rjent]

OK, this is what I am going to do ....

When I get my shop into final configuration (hopefully by early spring) I am going to do my take on this ... The machine will be left intact, but be mounted vertically. I will prevail, just need some time to get my s__ my stuff together

BTW, Dennis, I have decided to cut the building in half and wind up with a 20x30 instead of 40x30. I want to increase my music studio and enlarge the bathroom.

Besides I was feeling bad about having so much excess. Small shops matter you know ....

BTW, thanks Bruce and JPG .....

[jsburger]

in a frenzy of cleaning,
Tom

I sometimes have those but they usually pass in about 2 minutes.


.

[ERLover]

I clean/dedust my shop more then my house!!!!!

[cooch366]

There are thousands of us on this forum and no two of us have the same shop, working habits, goals, what we enjoy, wallets and on and on... That is part of what is so great about this hobby / craft.

Some of us are forced to admit from time to time that we are more about the shop and tools than about woodworking.

I am guilty.

After following this thread a some thinking about the shop, I came up with the following with some spare parts. Not because I had to, but because I could.

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[tomsalwasser]

After following this thread a some thinking about the shop, I came up with the following with some spare parts. Not because I had to, but because I could.

Nice work cooch, thanks for sharing this! I would really like to see more pictures and details of your black frame. I like how you attach the base castings directly to it. I was concerned about the strength of the casting in this position so I was not planning to do it this way, but perhaps I should reconsider based on your results. It's sleek.

Tom