Drill press: going from floor to benchtop model

[Monte Milanuk]

Just kind of curious if there is anyone out there that has gone from a floor-mounted drill press to a benchtop model and been happy with the change?

Years ago I stumbled across a pretty good deal on a Delta 16" floor-mounted drill press at the local Lowe's. It's done about everything I've needed, but the area under the table has always kind of bugged me as a waste of space; it's not like I find myself needing to drill a hole in the end of a stick/board very often (or ever), or wouldn't be able to come up with a different way of doing it if I did.

I've been considering building a small roll-around cabinet to go under the table, and over the base, to hold various tools/accessories for the machine... but I've also started thinking about just selling this one and getting a bench-top model to sit right *on* the roll-around cabinet.

Space isn't going to a big concern in the new shop... but the ability to move the drill press around would be nice. I've had a mobile base under the floor model I have now, but it's been more scary than useful, truth be told.

[justin sherriff]

I am not sure how your drill press is put together but the older crafstman I have could be cut down into a benchtop with out much work.

[David Buchhauser]

Hi Monte,

Here are a few photos of two drill presses that I have owned for over 30 years. When I purchased the bench model drill press on the right, I build a small table/cart to set it on so I could roll it around. It has not moved from its current location in many years, but it is handy to have the additional work area/storage space for drill bits, etc. I use these two drill presses pretty much exclusively for metal work. I do have another floor model drill press in the wood shop.

The Dayton drill press on the left could easily be converted to a "bench model" by shortening the upright tube and remounting the drill press head.

If your current drill press is of good quality - I think that you would be better off to modify it (convert to bench model) as most of the drill presses I have seen lately are lacking in quality compared to the older drill presses.

Thanks,
David


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[Gary Ragatz]

I haven't switched from floor to bench-top, but I do have a bench-top unit that does everything I need it to do. I have a fairly small shop, and only need a drill press occasionally. I have a Wen 4214 mounted on a small mobile base (probably 30"x24" footprint) that is very stable. Most of the time, it's pushed out of the way, in a corner of my shop. When I need it, I pull it out where I have easy access and the lighting is good.

[Monte Milanuk]

What all would be involved in the conversion? Shorten the column, and the associated toothed strip for raising/lowering the table?

[Martin Siebert]

When you say, "it seems like wasted space" I understand, but if you don't use it much anyway it would seem like to me that having one take up workbench space would be even more used up space. The foot print of most floor type drill presses is less than that section required of a workbench. I have a big floor type in my shop and it seems like to me it is the easiest machine to tuck someplace because it has the smallest footprint. The table saw has to be the worst, followed by a crosscut station be it a miter saw or radial arm. That can eat up a whole wall, but a floor type or freestanding drill press can almost go anywhere and not use up too much area. As far as use, the only thing the floor model will get you beside extra height is that it might be a little more user friendly because you can work/stand closer to it. Bench types will only let you get as close as the bench...some might not be too bad, but some will have you bending towards them the whole time. The other problem with the bench type is that if there is extra flat space, like the top of a work bench it seems like stuff just always gets piled on and every time you do need to use it there has to be a major clean up first. You can only pile so much stuff on the table of a floor model.

[justin sherriff]

What all would be involved in the conversion? Shorten the column, and the associated toothed strip for raising/lowering the table?
Yes cut down the column. look and see how the head is mounted or the base. On mine the column goes all the way threw and is held in place by 1 bolt that clamps it to the column I could slide it down and just cut off the extra. the toothed strip do the same thing pick your size and cut off the extra.

[David Buchhauser]

Yes - shorten the column, and if equipped with the gear rack for raising and lowering - then shorten that as well. Most of the drill press racks have a flat at each end of the rack that slips under the retaining collars. The retaining collar has a matching step (rabbet in wood worker's terms) around the inner diameter. This allows the rack to rotate around the support tube when the table is rotated around the support tube. So - after you cut off the end of the rack you will need to machine or grind the flat to duplicate the one on the other end of the gear rack.

[glenn bradley]

Yes - shorten the column, and if equipped with the gear rack for raising and lowering - then shorten that as well.

Or go hybrid :)

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I have grown to expect to be able to make a given swing and so would be more tempted to go larger, versus smaller. If most of your drilling is near the edge, this becomes less important.

[Frederick Skelly]

Or go hybrid :)

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My setup is much like Glenn's. It works very well for me.

[George Yetka]

My setup is much like Glenn's. It works very well for me.

I started this but basically just screwed casters to a piece of 3/4 ply and notched it to fit around the column and stacked bins on top.

[Charles Lent]

I presently own three Delta drill presses, two bench mount and one floor standing, but many years ago I only had one bench mounted drill press and occasionally needed a floor mounted. I ended up mounting the bench mount drill press base backwards on the bench so the head and table hung off the front of the bench. For a low table needed when drilling something long, like lamp parts, I would build a temporary table up from the floor using a stack of parts bins upside down, adding or removing parts bins to change the height. For smaller height adjustments, I just added or removed a few pieces of wood to the stack of bins. It worked, but wasn't as convenient as having a true floor standing drill press.

Charley

[Jim Becker]

What you use the press for will determine if the change to a smaller machine will work for you...throat depth and total throw are the general sacrifices. I don't use my drill press very much, but I don't believe I could downsize for some of the things I do with it where depth and distance matter.

[Steve Eure]

I have had a 12" Craftsman bench top for around 14 years and it has served me well. I have it mounted on a cabinet that I made with 5 drawers under it to hold bits and a large selection of other tools associated with drilling, etc. I have been looking at another press recently because, as Jim stated, the depth and throw are limited. I see some of the new floor models with throws of 5-6". Bench tops vary, but I haven't seen any with more than 3 1/2". Many times the column will get in the way on some projects.
I even considered a radial drill press for that reason, but the reviews are not too favorable as of yet.
Bench tops are great, but it will limit you in some instances.

[Monte Milanuk]

Or go hybrid :)

That or something very much like it, was the plan at one point... still on the table... but the mobile base I have (Delta, the one where they supply the corners w/ wheels, and you supply the 2x2 rails and 3/4" ply base, sized to suit) is extremely unstable when in mobile form. I don't really want to drill into the shop floor (especially with the new shop having a nice epoxy finish) if I can avoid it, but holy cow is that thing scary.

[Doug Garson]

Wonder if you could convert it to a bench top by moving the head down the column and leaving the excess column above the head? Maybe have to cut the track? This would make it easier to convert back to a floor unit if you change your mind in the future.

[Monte Milanuk]

Not really the way it works... at least on this model, the column nests up into a socket; it doesn't go 'through' the head. It'd be nice if it did!

[Doug Garson]

I guess you could have the socket in the head bored out to allow the post to go through and then drill a cross hole to accept a pin or bolt to hold it in place but it would be easier to just cut the column and weld it back together if you decided to convert back in the future. I checked my old Milwaukie Delta drill press and it appears the same as yours but I think my old cheapy Mastercraft had a thru hole.

[David Buchhauser]

Hi Monte,

I do have several other drill presses out in the machine shop that are mounted on mobile bases. These are Shop Fox mobile bases from Grizzly. They bolt together and I have installed 2 layers of 3/4" plywood (glued and screwed together to create 1 1/2" thick plywood) on each base for the drill press base to attach to. The plywood is also bolted to the mobile base for stability. These Shop Fox mobile bases have leveling feet at the front corners which also keep the base from rolling when they are actuated. The drill press on the left weighs around 650 lbs., and the other one is around 300+ lbs. They will roll around quite nicely and are very stable.

I also have a radial drill press (shown in the last photo) that I have mounted to a hydraulic lift table. This is easy to move around and the lift table (cart) makes it easy to move the entire drill press up or down as needed. This drill press weighs around 500 lbs.

I like the idea of using a stable mobile base (like the Shop Fox, or custom built) then building your storage cabinet to fit under the drill press and mounted to the drill press base or mobile base, so the entire assembly can be rolled around. Even though I don't move my drill presses often, I like the idea of the extra storage and/or work space under the drill press.

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[Randall J Cox]

I have an old 15" Delta floor model that I use frequently and love it. I totally rebuilt it. Anyway I have seen people who have built a box around the support tube and then put shelves in it to utilize the space. I have other stuff under mine so I can relate to what you are saying as I have a very small shop and need to use space very wisely. Randy

[Ole Anderson]

Wasted space? My DP base is the home to my 5 gallon pail I use as a waste basket. It has to go somewhere. Better than taking up valuable (and non-existent) bench space.

My DP is mounted on a piece of 1 1/8" particle board with felt tabs at the corner which makes it stable, yet movable by sliding around on my smooth Pergo floor.

[Monte Milanuk]

I like the idea of using a stable mobile base (like the Shop Fox, or custom built) then building your storage cabinet to fit under the drill press and mounted to the drill press base or mobile base, so the entire assembly can be rolled around. Even though I don't move my drill presses often, I like the idea of the extra storage and/or work space under the drill press.



Hello David,

Those ShopFox ones look quite a bit more stable than the setup I have now. I'm in the process of moving the house & shop right now; getting one of those set up on the drill press might be the first 'shop project' at the new place ;)

Thanks,

Monte

[David Buchhauser]

Hello David,

Those ShopFox ones look quite a bit more stable than the setup I have now. I'm in the process of moving the house & shop right now; getting one of those set up on the drill press might be the first 'shop project' at the new place ;)

Thanks,

Monte
Hi Monte,
This is the Shop Fox mobile base that I used for my 2 drill presses, thickness planer, and several other pieces of heavy equipment. It is adjustable in size from 20" x 20" to 29-1/2" x 29-1/2" and is rated for a 700 lb. load. I have been using these for several years and am very happy with them.
David

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Shop-Fox-Heavy-Duty-Mobile-Base/D2057A

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[Gary Ragatz]

Hello David,

Those ShopFox ones look quite a bit more stable than the setup I have now. I'm in the process of moving the house & shop right now; getting one of those set up on the drill press might be the first 'shop project' at the new place ;)

Thanks,

Monte

If the center of gravity still seems too high, lay a couple of 60 lb. bags of Sakrete on the base (< $3.00/bag at Farm & Fleet).