Tilting Table on Porter Cable Drill Press Question

[Mark R Webster]

Does anyone have experience working with the tilting table feature on the Porter Cable PCB660DP 15” floor model drill press. I just finished a project where I needed to tilt the table. Is it just me or is this a poorly designed system? I had to take the 90º set pin out before the table would tilt. Once out there seems to be a large amount of play and it was difficult to accurately adjust and set. When the job was done, I tried to reinsert the pin but getting it to realign is a nightmare. I was considering tapering the end of the pin to get is started. For those of you who tilt your tables, have you just not replaced the pin…. it just seem to be more trouble than is worth. Thanks

[glenn bradley]

Its not you. It is a very common and poor design. The heritage of most entry level drill presses works against them. There are a few designed with woodworking as their focus. Even those have some disappointing quality issues although the tables are improved. Unfortunately, the left/right tilt design survives even on the improved tables.

[Bradley Gray]

I have a drill press with a tilting quill but I generally band saw a pitch block instead. This allows going back and forth between 90 degrees and the bevel.

[Mark R Webster]

Thanks Glenn and Bradley ;) Glenn do you know if people who use this feature (with some frequency/and level of quality) generally just leave the pin out for convenience or is slippage an issue?
Bradley, I generally make ramps also but this project was a challenge :)