clamping workpiece when using drill press

[tprowood]

Looking for advice on methods to clamp workpiece to the table when in drill press mode. On my old non-shopsmith drill press the table had slots all the way thru, so I mounted a hold down vise-grip like clamp, or, its table was small enough that a c-clamp would do the job. My SS is a 500, so the mitre slots are not T slots. What are you using ? Should I get some deep C clamps? Should I swap out for a 510 table?

[chapmanruss]

Clamping stock down on the table will vary by the size of the stock and any angles used. That said you can use the Rip Fence and/or the Miter, which can lock into the Miter Slot, as needed. Other clamps can be helpful too. A very useful resource for different drilling with a Mark V is the book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone. The section on Drilling has tips for drilling in lots of different positions and holding stock.

It is true that upgrading to the Mark V 510/505 or the 520 Table/Fence system would give you more options having the "T" Track Miter and Fence slots. Upgrading from a 500/original Table system means not only the new tables (main, extension and adding floating tables for the 510 & 520) but also the Carriage, Saw Blade Guard, Arbors and more. It could be cheaper to find a good used 510 or 520, if the Pro Fence is desired, than buying even used parts needed to upgrade.

There is a Rip Fence upgrade P/N 555646 (below) that gives the Mark V 500 a "T" Track Fence. Unfortunately, it is currently out of stock.

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500 rip fence upgrade.jpg (9.07 KiB) Viewed 12198 times

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A word of caution is always protect the Main Table from the Drill Bits contacting it. Don't let your table end up looking like the one below.

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IMG_0040r.jpg (160.78 KiB) Viewed 12198 times

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That Main Table is from a 1982 Mark V I restored which the Table and Insert had to be replaced.

[tprowood]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[chapmanruss]

If you haven't seen it yet check out the DIY DRILL PRESS TABLES? topic in Woodworking Tool Review section. You may find some inspiration there with last post from Swiley3362 and the table addition. It is at the link below. Although his is on a Mark V 520/Mark 7 Main Table it could be set up to attach to a Mark V 500 Main Table. The wood table could be attached to a Miter Bar with a hole to access the locking set screw. Without the "T" Track Washer it could be used for any Mark table or with the "T" Track Washer for the 510/505, 520, M7 & M4 main tables.

viewtopic.php?t=37210

[IdahoEd]

tprowood;

With my 500 table, what I do is place a 1x4 under the table, since the table casting really doesn't give you any good places to clamp. With the 1x4 to clamp against, I can then secure the workpiece to the table with a couple of quick clamps. Hope that makes sense and is helpful