Drill Press Table?

[Danny Thompson]

With all the new drill press owners out there, I figure I'm not the only one who needs a good drill press table. Anyone have a table, or table design they would recommend?

[Bert Johansen]

Danny, here is a photo of my table, which might help. The most important design elements of this table (in my opinion) are the T-track and the replaceable insert. I don't use the fence very often. I prefer to just clamp a long board where I need it. And I don't use the hold-down shown in the photo. Instead I purchased two hold-downs (from Lee Valley, I think) that work with the T-track.

[Mike Wilkins]

Rockler and Woodworkers Supply have ready-made units if you don't want to construct your own.
T-tracks with hold-downs with replaceable inserts are the most important parts of mine.
Some of the big hitters in the drill press market (Delta/Powermatic) are just now beginning to see the benefit of larger tables.

[Brad Sperr]

Woodpecker also has a couple of ready-made tables that you might want to check out.

[Steven Wilson]

I use the Rockler table and made my own fence out of Incra track

[Jim Becker]

Mine is similar to Burt's, although I routed the tee-slots in the table. It's 18" deep and 24" wide and made from scrap sheet goods with a piece of oak scrap for the fence.

[Mark Mazzo]

Danny,

I just did a simple table upgrade for my drill press. Nothing real fancy, but it works very well. I now wonder just what exactly took me so long to do it! I wrote about the construction process here (http://thecraftsmanspath.com/2007/10/07/super-simple-drill-press-table-upgrade/) on my blog.

74447

[Matt Meiser]

I'm just finishing up one which has some ideas I found in a thread someone alerted me to over on Woodnet. Some of the nice features are a simple fence made from aluminum angle and an offset round replaceable insert instead of a square one, which allows you to get many uses out of it before replacing.

I just need to finish up a few details on it which I was thinking about doing tonight. I'll try to remember to take some pictures and post them.

[Danny Thompson]

Bert,

I'm interested in learning more about your hold-downs that work with the T-track. Could you describe them in a little more detail?

Jim,

Do you use t-bolts in your routed slot for hold-downs and to hold your fence in place?

[Gary Keedwell]

I'm just finishing up one which has some ideas I found in a thread someone alerted me to over on Woodnet. Some of the nice features are a simple fence made from aluminum angle and an offset round replaceable insert instead of a square one, which allows you to get many uses out of it before replacing.

I just need to finish up a few details on it which I was thinking about doing tonight. I'll try to remember to take some pictures and post them.
I hope you do post them, Matt....I could use a few ideas. The round insert thing sounds interesting.
Gary

[Cary Swoveland]

I bought the Rockler table and am disappointed with it. The fence flexes, the dust collection is generally blocked by the material being drilled, the T-tracks are too far from the drill to use hold-down clamps with short stock, T-tracks are not adequately secured to the table and the table is unnecessarily deep (eating up shop space). I do like the thickness of the table and the color of the fence.

I've modified it considerably, reducing its depth, replacing the fence and changing the dust collection, but I'm still not happy with what I have. When I have the time, I plan to make a table with the following characteristics:

- wider but shallower (i.e., front-to-back) dimensions;
- solid fence with T-track for movable stops; and
- multiple T-tracks in table (say 4), for hold-down clamps (or possibly the X-type T-tracks that have one track crossing another at 90 degrees, with the ability to slide clamps from one to the other).

Dust collection will be independent of the table.

Cary

[Dan Forman]

Here's mine, inspired by one I saw on Woodnet, posted by Photog. If you look that up, there are a series of pics of the build.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/P1010665.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/P1010664.jpg

Top is double thickness of 3/4" melamine particle board, fencde is 1/4" aluminum angle, held with cam lock levers.

Works great, only downside is the weight, I usually releive some of it with my left hand while cranking it up or down, which in no big deal. Definately consider the round, off centered insert, which are easy to make with a bandsaw circle jig. I hadn't made mine yet when I took the pic.

Dan

[Rob Diz]

I would save your money and make your own.

I took two pieces of scrap 3/4 ply, and laminated them together with Some t-nuts in the middle to secure to the CI table. Before I laminated them, I cut out stepped down rectangles for the cut-out (one for insert to sit on).Then I laminated the top with some formica I had laying around (although it was really necessary), routed out a 3/4 dado and installed some of the t-track they are always selling at Rockler for $10. I made a fence with two pieces of 3/4 ply with a T nut through the body, but don't really need it. I also cut out a rectangular area under the chuck which was offset, so I can move the insert 4 times before I have to replace it. Insert was made with 3/4 ply, and leveled with brass screws.

Assuming that my new DP arrives, I may make a larger table, or I may simply use this smaller one. We will see.

[Cary Falk]

I just finished my Table this weekend. I got the inspriation for the same place Matt did.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0005a.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0006a.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/caryincamas/DSC_0007a.jpg

[Art Mann]

Here is a link to a free plan from Popular Woodworking magazine. I haven't built it, but it looks pretty nice.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projectplans_display/?planid=11095

[lou sansone]

although not a home made drill press table, I always like to introduce the RAM type of wood working drill press to furniture builders. WT / rockwell really did think it through

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=18970

lou

[Danny Thompson]

Great examples and ideas, everyone. What type of hold-downs do you recommend? Links or pix would be greatly appreciated.

Love the drawers, Dan & Cary. I tried the post at Woodnet, but the pics seem to be gone. Is that true for you?

[Scott Hubl]

The previous owner of this DP made this one out of Oak.http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/AmericanAndProud/Leigh%20Gloat/Drill-Press-1.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/AmericanAndProud/Leigh%20Gloat/DP-Tilted-table.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/AmericanAndProud/Leigh%20Gloat/DP-rear-tilt.jpg

[Cary Swoveland]

From one Cary to another, very nice job!

[Paul Girouard]

Radial drill press, some old cut off GLB and 1 1/8 Plywood for a table .

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/sept17035.jpg

"Slip- on" table ,

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/sept17036.jpg

Simple slotted wood fence, mostly used for boring for euro hinges. the table / fence system.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/Dec302.jpg

The rest of the stuff was Christmas gifts from last year.

[Dan Wilt]

Here's a pic of mine
Make sure you have the t tracks close enough for small items
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dpemily95/IMG_2583.jpg

[Dan Forman]

Great examples and ideas, everyone. What type of hold-downs do you recommend? Links or pix would be greatly appreciated.

Love the drawers, Dan & Cary. I tried the post at Woodnet, but the pics seem to be gone. Is that true for you?

I think someone just resurected them within the last few weeks, if I can find it, will post to this thread.

Dan

[glenn bradley]

I have built a couple. I was going to build for my newer DP but after adding up the cost of the parts to do it the way I wanted to, I just got this: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=57826&page=2

[Dan Forman]

I think someone just resurected them within the last few weeks, if I can find it, will post to this thread.

Dan

Ok, I found it. I wish I could post the direct link, but go to Woodnet, to the Power Tool forum, do an advanced search "drill press table" (use the " " marks, and make sure you tell it how far back to search), go to the response from arw01 on 10/21/07 at 9:27 PM. In that post he created a link which will let you download the original post of photog including the pics on building his table.

Dan

[Todd Hoppe]

Here is a link to another page with a dP table I built

http://www.woodworking.com/dcforum/DCForumID17/279.html

[Steve Mellott]

This is mine. I've built the Incra track into the back of the fence which can be used as a stop. The table is 3/4" MDF covered by 3/4" plywood.

Steve

[John Buzzurro]

Danny, I have the Woodpecker's Quick-Stop LP table (http://www.woodpeck.com/quickstoplpdptable.html), and I've been happy with it.

[Aaron Beaver]

Anyone ever built one of these, the vertical drilling has intrigued me. Looks like a good idea?

http://www.ttrackusa.com/Drill_Press_%20Kit.html

[Matt Meiser]

Here's mine. I didn't want a drawer because I'll be taking this on and off regularly. However, you need to do something to space it up if you want to be able to raise and lower the table without having to remove the auxillary table because of the throw of the crank. I plan to cover the ends of the box to add the ability to connect a dust hose to draw air under the table if I use sanding drums.

I really like the round insert idea because you get a lot of uses. I made up about 5 extra inserts which should last me a long time.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

Anyone ever built one of these, the vertical drilling has intrigued me. Looks like a good idea?

http://www.ttrackusa.com/Drill_Press_%20Kit.html

Aaron...Looking at this design, I'm wondering if there's a lot of flex. The center of the metal table on the drill press is way off to the side and thus relying on plywood or MDF to act as a rigid lever arm. I've tried something similar in the past, and it invited bit walking.

I've often thought about a special table to do vertical boring that rests on the base of the drill press with the drill press table completely swung out of the way. Currently, I use wood jigs to hold the part on-end which can be a pain to set up. Many moons ago, I posted an inquiry on how best to do this drilling operation. There weren't many replies.

-Jeff :)

[Bob Waddell]

Wood magazine had plans for a versatile drill press table some yrs ago. It even had a side that allowed you to do vertical drilling. I made the table and have used it a fair amount. Only complaint is that it is a fairly large table. Bob

[Alex Berkovsky]

Wood magazine had plans for a versatile drill press table some yrs ago. It even had a side that allowed you to do vertical drilling. I made the table and have used it a fair amount. Only complaint is that it is a fairly large table. BobI purchased the same plan a while back and will probably build the table for my new Craftsman 17" DP. There was also a nice extendable table in ShopNotes issue 74 where the wings slide on steel rails to accomodate long stock.

[John Shuk]

I like the woodpeckers table.

[Danny Thompson]

Here is a link to the thread where I posted the final product:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=751006#post751006

Thanks all.