Drill press table

[Salem Ganzhorn]

<full metal jacket> This is my drill press table. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My drill press table is my best friend. It is my life </full metal jacket>

http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/MG_8010.sized.jpg

This table is similar to many out there but instead of using T-track I routed grooves in two pieces of MDF and laminated them together to make T-slots. The outside track is for the fence and the inside track is for hold downs.

To attach it to the DP's metal table I routed a slot lengthwise to receive two T-bolts. This allows adjustment in the XY plane by loosening two knobs.

Original table:
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/69CG6045.thumb.jpg

Bottom piece of MDF with 5/8" tracks routed for the top T-tracks and a lengthwise track routed to attach to the original table.
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/69CG6046.thumb.jpg

Dropping a T-bolt into the track. The knob is attached below and clamps the two tables together (note this is before laminating the top to the table and is just for demonstration. I can still drop these bolts into the track after it is laminated through the rectangle used for replaceable inserts):
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/69CG6047.thumb.jpg

Here is one of the two attachment knobs (I had to use an MDF spacer that is not pictured to avoid interfering with the ribs of the casting):
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/69CG6051.thumb.jpg

After routing all the channels on the bottom piece of MDF I laminated a 1/2" piece to the top.

http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/69CG6048.thumb.jpg

I also cut out a rectangle out of the top piece before gluing to allow for zero clearance inserts.

Finally I edge banded it with maple and put some BLO on it. I will probably finish later with a thin varnish.
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/MG_8008.thumb.jpg

Of course there is no reason to dovetail the railing but I have been practicing hand-cut dovetails and these are the first ones I have ever actually glued :)
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/MG_8009.thumb.jpg

I bandsaw'd some hold downs out of scraps of cherry:
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/MG_8012.thumb.jpg

http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/MG_8011.thumb.jpg

I also made a very simple fence that is held on with T-bolts:
http://photos.ganzhorn.org/albums/album773/MG_8013.thumb.jpg

I have not used it much yet but it is a vast improvement over the original small metal table :)

High res pictures can be found here: http://photos.ganzhorn.org/album773?page=1

Thanks for looking!
Salem

[Chuck Tringo]

Great looking DP Table, truly quality shop 'furniture' with the dovetails and hardwood hold downs.

[Paul Ryan]

I like the table and especially the Full Metal Jacket Reference.

[Roy Hess]

Nicely done - great explanation and pictures !! I am in the middle of doing the same thing, only using metal T track. Yours looks much nicer :o

[Salem Ganzhorn]

Nicely done - great explanation and pictures !! I am in the middle of doing the same thing, only using metal T track. Yours looks much nicer :o

But your's may last longer :). I am hoping the 1/2" thick MDF will be ok under the compression of the T-bolt. I actually undersized the top dado's to be 1/64th over the width of the bolt to give it as much material as possible to grab onto. I have not needed to clamp anything too tightly yet but we will see!

[Bill White]

Send the practice one to me, then build your second one which will not have all the mistakes. :D:D:D
Bill

[glenn bradley]

Nicely done and a great example of using shop fixtures to practice our skills.

[Todd Franks]

Salem,

A DP table is on my list of things to do. I've bookmarked your for reference, thanks for sharing. The dovetails are a nice touch.

I didn't realize there was anything from Full Metal Jacket that you could quote in a family forum such as this.

[Chuck Isaacson]

This is a little off topic, but what kind of camera did you use to take those pics?

[Salem Ganzhorn]

This is a little off topic, but what kind of camera did you use to take those pics?

It is a Canon 5D with a Tamron 28-75. But really you can get the same results with any DSLR.