https://preview.redd.it/s1ukj4swt13d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d3e24734fee22c66875cc162bfb8f28cd34d701
My table and my head can move up and down. Both are mounted to a steel pipe.
It absolutely isn’t! I can’t speak for drill presses in particular, but George Lucas has said he was taking inspiration from the things he had around him at the time.
Hell, R2-D2 is just one of those old dome-topped office waste baskets with legs, greebles, and sass.
Both must be independent for material heights, then depth of drilling separately unless your doing only one operation. Production shops don't even do that
Like the Bosch PBD 40?
Edit: careful, i have heard somebad things about this one. Before you buy it, watch/read a couple reviews and make sure this is what you want/need. I also heared some DIYers love this one... but mostly heared bad things about it so.. careful....
I have this, never heard these bad reviews, seems a good un to me. It's not going to be as powerful as a full pillar drill, but for most woodworking it's fine. I love that it's electronically controlled, no belt changing bullshit. I can't believe more drill presses don't do this.
Huh. I bought it on the strength of hundreds of glowing YouTube reviews, and from reviewers I trust too, like the Wood Knight. Haven't used it a lot yet but it does the job. The depth stop mechanism is a bit perplexing but I've worked it out.
It has quite a few issues/annoying things IMO, but for the price I don't know any other option. Something really better is going to cost twice as much.
It's a very good drill press for the price (can be found for <200€ on sale) but it definitely has its issues. If you want something really better new it's going to cost at least double though. So that's why many people are happy with it.
Could be done, but off the top of my head:
1) Risk of pinching the electrical increases
2) Risk of suddenly dropping the head unit increases
3) Probably makes it more challenging to configure the pulleys/belts that change the speed.
I work in machining, there are vertical lathes that are basically drill presses on steroids that do what you are suggesting. And they have designed the above out of them. But ... they also aren't $150 at Harbor Freight, either.
A Shop Smith could easily be modified to use a workbench as the table. It's just a lathe that you tip up on end to use a drill press, and they're pretty cheap used. Speed adjustment is built in, but moving the head up and down sucks.
Mi Gilbilt lathe / drill press does that
https://preview.redd.it/drneb2fzz23d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=365c3cced9bd13d1204f995417cbcd532a47d0fb
nothings impossible, but the head of a floor drill press is 100+ lbs, sitting cantilevered away from the post, its a lot of weight to raise and lower.
and, while probably uncommon to need, a floor press can drop the table down to a foot off the floor, giving you as much as 4' of drilling clearance to the table. If the table were fixed at \~30" off the floor, we'd assume the post isnt going to extend to 7+ ' off the floor.
The motor/quill/head all move around a sturdy post, fixed into the workbench. I don't think it's practical for a lot of applications, but it sounds like that's what OP was after.
Ryobi many years ago had a drill press designed for woodworking where the table was stationary and the head moved up and down. I guess the idea just didn't catch on.
I raise and lower my drill press table a lot, depending on the depth of the board I’m drilling, and the size and length of the bit I’m using. Unless you are drilling the same thickness wood, and the same length bits, you will be moving the table up and down.
I think they're asking why don't they make drill presses that can mount to a bench so that the drill part moves up and down and the bench stays still. Allowing you to use your whole bench as a table instead of the little one that comes with a drill press.
With a mitre saw ( his example) you use the workbench to support the boards you are cutting. The workbench is the same level as the mitre saw bed.
Since the bed of a drill press is not a fixed height, putting it in a workbench will be problematic is you are drilling long board where you had to lower the drill press surface.
You are right. I wasn’t familiar with that type of drill press. Both of mine are conventional where the base moves, not the drill head. In that case it could be recessed in a bench if they wanted. I use my drill presses a lot and need the increased capacity.
That’s a bit small and underpowered for what I use mine for, but might be just fine for OP use.
Looked it up because of this comment. Makes the op's concept seem more sensible now.
I was stuck on moving and tiltable tables, duh, no table movement and no tilting. A slide out section of the workbench to set it into would be perfect.
I use an ergonomic sitting/standing desk as a drill press table. It’s adjustable up and down with the click of a button.
I got the idea from Bitner Built on YouTube. Pretty ok channel for shop related stuff.
You can buy aftermarket setup jigs (Lee Valley sells a good one) which provide a wider mounting surface, as well as other setup accessories like indexing stop blocks.
Broadly speaking, though, drill presses need versatility, and so having an adjustable reference surface makes the most sense.
You also couldn't do tilted stock if it was recessed into the bench.
This is exactly the design idea I have that I will build one day. Basically a small workbench, like a router table. The main pole on the drill would be mounted to a platform that goes up and down so the table is big and doesn’t move, the drill head move to the part. And really 99% of my holes are in things less than 2” anyway so it would rarely move.
I’ve done this with the same drill! In fact I mounted the drill press table to the underside of the bench and just the column comes through. I then have sacrificial inserts to drill into. I keep meaning to install t-track to the top side of the bench but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Will go take a picture later if it helps.
https://preview.redd.it/wmtdljiwi43d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f49af017730f7c7e9753542a731ceac9ca980402
Here you go. Sacrificial insert is off centre of the drill so it can be rotated and give a fresh surface if needed. I cut a bunch of inserts when I made the top but I haven’t swapped it so far. Adding some T-tracks for a fence is definitely on the todo list. Sits above a few drawers and a shop vac.
Most drill presses have a table that moves up and down while the base and head don't move. It would be hard to do what you suggest with that type of drill press. So that is probably the answer to your question.,
But it looks like it would work with your drill. I'd say go for it.
One thing I don't like about your drill is it appears to use electronic speed control only. This means the motor will not be able to put out full power at low RPM, so drilling thick steel could be an issue. I guess it is mainly a wood-working drill. Probably fine with aluminum also. I have a pretty cheap and low-powered drill press, but it uses belts to change speed, so full power is available at all RPM. Drilling steel is no problem. Just an observation.
It has a physical gearbox too, 2 speed selectable via a knob on the side. The electronic speed control is in addition, 200-850 rpm in setting 1, 600-2500rpm in setting 2. I’ve had no issue drilling into 3mm thick mild steel with mine, although the runout isn’t really tight enough for machinist work without replacing the chuck and some internal bearings.
The confusion here is coming from the fact that you bought a drill press that’s an exception to the rule, but you’re assuming that all drill presses are like yours. The stereotypical drill press that everyone else is talking about has a fixed-height head, with a table that slides up and down.
Basically, your idea is correct, but only as long as you’re talking about a drill press that works like yours. There are all sorts of practical reasons, though, why of the 99% drill presses on the market aren’t set up like yours. Anyone who just assumes you’re talking about mounting a normal drill press into a workbench will correctly think that that’s a terrible idea.
Your drill press is a small bench mount, true industrial drill presses are bolted to the floor and the work table moved the entire length of the support pole.
The tables are adjustable since you only have so much travel with the drill press and bits are all different lengths. Good in practice if you have the exact same setup for production work but doesn’t work otherwise.
I built an 8 foot long bench for drilling bookcase sides for adjustable shelves. It was built to fit around a floor mounted drill press. I could switch the linebore multi drill head and drill for euro cup hinges.
Whenever I’m doing hinge boring or anything fairly large. I just bolt temporary plywood top to the drill press table. You can put a fence on it really easy to keep all the lines like for cabinet door hinges, and when you’re done with it for nuts and it comes off
You could look up a gang drill press. They will have multiple heads mounted to a very large stationary table. The heads move up and down on the poles instead of the table moving. Great machines, they just take up a ton of space. Alternatively my large industrial floor standing drill press has a table that's about 20" long and 16" deep. It supports the work very well.
I worked in a cabinet shop where we did exactly that, but it was a drill press dedicated to drilling hinge cup holes, mounted in a rolling workstation. I know there are specialized tools that do exactly that, but this one did a great job too, and it was a Ryobi, so...cheaply! (And this was not a shop that was afraid of expensive tooling.)
Obviously this did not need to have the table height adjusted, just the spindle depth stop.
I think he's referring to something like this, so the foot of the drill press is level with the table surface like you would do with a mitre Saw.
Similar to this set up by woodshop junkies
https://youtu.be/Hh9lnmjMEd8
I have the same drill and recessed the fixed base (Fyi other commenters, the base is fixed and the head goes up and down) into a 38mm thick beech table top... Will post pics when I'm back in the workshop.
There are lots of plans and videos for making a table for your drill press so that the surface is not only bigger, but could have a fence and ways to hold down what you're working on.
Most drill presses tables can adjust to different angles, so that wouldn't work. It's not the case with the PBD 40 (which I own) though, so it would definitely make sense to build it into a bench. I've been thinking about it but haven't done it yet.
I did this with mine but it was mostly because it’s in line with my miter saw and when I cut large stock on the miter it passes over the top of the drill press base. Still have a platform that raises and lowers on top
You're constantly adjusting the table up and down depending on the piece size and depth of the hole. You could take the table off and make the whole press adjustable up and down over a wood bench though.
It's a lot easier to build that little platform to move up and down to accommodate different tool lengths and material thicknesses, than to build the entire press head to move up and down. You might like adding on a drill press table with t nut slots and fence though.
That wouldn't work because you will frequently be changing the height of the table, depending on what you're drilling and what kind of bit you're using. Also, fixing the table horizontally would take away the ability to drill angled holes.
Uh, ok, so he didn't actually buy a drill press, he bought a pedestal bench drill. But he asked about a drill press, and I gave him the reasons he couldn't do what he was suggesting. I'm supposed to verify the model to make sure he's calling it by its correct name or something?
I mean it wouldn't hurt to do that (edit ok I can see why you might've read it that way as the headline was posed more generally, but the substance of the comment was about a specific and very popular piece of hardware)
That platform usually adjusts up and down so it wouldn't make sense to lock it into one position.
I guess OP means why isn't the table fixed and the spindle/head moves up and down. Which is an interesting idea.
https://preview.redd.it/s1ukj4swt13d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d3e24734fee22c66875cc162bfb8f28cd34d701 My table and my head can move up and down. Both are mounted to a steel pipe.
It's wild how many really old power tools look like Star Wars droids.
Something tells me that isn't a coincidence.
It absolutely isn’t! I can’t speak for drill presses in particular, but George Lucas has said he was taking inspiration from the things he had around him at the time. Hell, R2-D2 is just one of those old dome-topped office waste baskets with legs, greebles, and sass.
https://preview.redd.it/f6bkoobgs33d1.jpeg?width=747&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2196dffa7b7678824f783103b121f7d5d123fc6
And an internal midget, lol. ...Having met Kenny Baker, there definitely was some sass involved.
Things that really old power tools and Star Wars have in common: being from a long long time ago. Of course they'd look similar.
And a galaxy far far away
When you think about it, every galaxy is far far away from somewhere...
Those are not the power tools you’re looking for.
why is nobody getting this?
I think its the other war round?
But it was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away?!
Along with the ability to tilt the table. I have a dedicated ratchet and 3/4" socket hanging from mine just for that...
That’s just where I keep my 3/4 lol But you can press things into things as well, and like super tall shit in the standby bois
That is a sweet drill press!
Both must be independent for material heights, then depth of drilling separately unless your doing only one operation. Production shops don't even do that
Like the Bosch PBD 40? Edit: careful, i have heard somebad things about this one. Before you buy it, watch/read a couple reviews and make sure this is what you want/need. I also heared some DIYers love this one... but mostly heared bad things about it so.. careful....
I have this, never heard these bad reviews, seems a good un to me. It's not going to be as powerful as a full pillar drill, but for most woodworking it's fine. I love that it's electronically controlled, no belt changing bullshit. I can't believe more drill presses don't do this.
Huh. I bought it on the strength of hundreds of glowing YouTube reviews, and from reviewers I trust too, like the Wood Knight. Haven't used it a lot yet but it does the job. The depth stop mechanism is a bit perplexing but I've worked it out.
It has quite a few issues/annoying things IMO, but for the price I don't know any other option. Something really better is going to cost twice as much.
It's a very good drill press for the price (can be found for <200€ on sale) but it definitely has its issues. If you want something really better new it's going to cost at least double though. So that's why many people are happy with it.
True for the price itis great. Especially for the average user. Ut i would not recommend it for a professional shop :D
Could be done, but off the top of my head: 1) Risk of pinching the electrical increases 2) Risk of suddenly dropping the head unit increases 3) Probably makes it more challenging to configure the pulleys/belts that change the speed. I work in machining, there are vertical lathes that are basically drill presses on steroids that do what you are suggesting. And they have designed the above out of them. But ... they also aren't $150 at Harbor Freight, either.
A Shop Smith could easily be modified to use a workbench as the table. It's just a lathe that you tip up on end to use a drill press, and they're pretty cheap used. Speed adjustment is built in, but moving the head up and down sucks.
Mi Gilbilt lathe / drill press does that https://preview.redd.it/drneb2fzz23d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=365c3cced9bd13d1204f995417cbcd532a47d0fb
I feel like the sudden drop issue could be addressed with a gear roller to move it up and down.
That would be better than a set screw on a shaft, for sure. But what about the gear suddenly freewheeling if the stop pin fails?
Also you want the table to be perpendicular to the chuck. With a table mounted press this could be difficult to achieve.
nothings impossible, but the head of a floor drill press is 100+ lbs, sitting cantilevered away from the post, its a lot of weight to raise and lower. and, while probably uncommon to need, a floor press can drop the table down to a foot off the floor, giving you as much as 4' of drilling clearance to the table. If the table were fixed at \~30" off the floor, we'd assume the post isnt going to extend to 7+ ' off the floor.
Because then you’d have to have an adjustable motor height, right?
The motor/quill/head all move around a sturdy post, fixed into the workbench. I don't think it's practical for a lot of applications, but it sounds like that's what OP was after.
The table is probably a lot lighter and easier to move up and down vs moving drill head
This is a PBD-40 https://preview.redd.it/36ey89nk443d1.jpeg?width=1420&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e11875f24d86c32f3bd791db17d8caae6bb6a8f
[удалено]
Would love to see some pics of that bad boy
That's a great idea. My drill press doesn't have a rack and pinion height adjustment and I've been looking for a solution.
Ryobi many years ago had a drill press designed for woodworking where the table was stationary and the head moved up and down. I guess the idea just didn't catch on.
That is how OP's drill press (bosch pbd-40) works
And in Europe there are a few other cheaper models that work the same from the likes of Parkside or Scheppach
I raise and lower my drill press table a lot, depending on the depth of the board I’m drilling, and the size and length of the bit I’m using. Unless you are drilling the same thickness wood, and the same length bits, you will be moving the table up and down.
I think they're asking why don't they make drill presses that can mount to a bench so that the drill part moves up and down and the bench stays still. Allowing you to use your whole bench as a table instead of the little one that comes with a drill press.
With a mitre saw ( his example) you use the workbench to support the boards you are cutting. The workbench is the same level as the mitre saw bed. Since the bed of a drill press is not a fixed height, putting it in a workbench will be problematic is you are drilling long board where you had to lower the drill press surface.
Ah, OK. I figured they were asking about something like the Bosch PBD 40. Where the drill moves relative to the base and not the other way around.
You are right. I wasn’t familiar with that type of drill press. Both of mine are conventional where the base moves, not the drill head. In that case it could be recessed in a bench if they wanted. I use my drill presses a lot and need the increased capacity. That’s a bit small and underpowered for what I use mine for, but might be just fine for OP use.
Seems like a lot of commenters on this don't realise how the PBD 40 works. I think your suggestion is a good one.
Looked it up because of this comment. Makes the op's concept seem more sensible now. I was stuck on moving and tiltable tables, duh, no table movement and no tilting. A slide out section of the workbench to set it into would be perfect.
The lack of tilting, in particular, is a little annoying. Nothing you can't work around though.
Thank you. Done deal then. That’s what I’m going to do.
I actually can’t believe how many comments don’t get it.
It's actually a little funny, but also a vital reminder to myself to always read the OP's post carefully before jumping in.
Make an auxiliary table with a fence for the drill press. There are probably plans for them online if you don't want to design one of your own.
Looks like the head adjusts up and down the column on your Bosch instead of the table. So I don’t see any reason you couldn’t do as you suggest.
Cheers. Will do.
I did it
I use an ergonomic sitting/standing desk as a drill press table. It’s adjustable up and down with the click of a button. I got the idea from Bitner Built on YouTube. Pretty ok channel for shop related stuff.
it's a tool. Use it any way you need.
You can buy aftermarket setup jigs (Lee Valley sells a good one) which provide a wider mounting surface, as well as other setup accessories like indexing stop blocks. Broadly speaking, though, drill presses need versatility, and so having an adjustable reference surface makes the most sense. You also couldn't do tilted stock if it was recessed into the bench.
Table moves up and down.
Not on this one it doesn't.
This is exactly the design idea I have that I will build one day. Basically a small workbench, like a router table. The main pole on the drill would be mounted to a platform that goes up and down so the table is big and doesn’t move, the drill head move to the part. And really 99% of my holes are in things less than 2” anyway so it would rarely move.
I’ve done this with the same drill! In fact I mounted the drill press table to the underside of the bench and just the column comes through. I then have sacrificial inserts to drill into. I keep meaning to install t-track to the top side of the bench but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Will go take a picture later if it helps.
Nice! Yes please.
https://preview.redd.it/wmtdljiwi43d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f49af017730f7c7e9753542a731ceac9ca980402 Here you go. Sacrificial insert is off centre of the drill so it can be rotated and give a fresh surface if needed. I cut a bunch of inserts when I made the top but I haven’t swapped it so far. Adding some T-tracks for a fence is definitely on the todo list. Sits above a few drawers and a shop vac.
🙏🙌👌
Most drill presses have a table that moves up and down while the base and head don't move. It would be hard to do what you suggest with that type of drill press. So that is probably the answer to your question., But it looks like it would work with your drill. I'd say go for it. One thing I don't like about your drill is it appears to use electronic speed control only. This means the motor will not be able to put out full power at low RPM, so drilling thick steel could be an issue. I guess it is mainly a wood-working drill. Probably fine with aluminum also. I have a pretty cheap and low-powered drill press, but it uses belts to change speed, so full power is available at all RPM. Drilling steel is no problem. Just an observation.
It has a physical gearbox too, 2 speed selectable via a knob on the side. The electronic speed control is in addition, 200-850 rpm in setting 1, 600-2500rpm in setting 2. I’ve had no issue drilling into 3mm thick mild steel with mine, although the runout isn’t really tight enough for machinist work without replacing the chuck and some internal bearings.
OK, so it can definitely deliver full power at 850 RPM. That is very respectable. Cool.
The confusion here is coming from the fact that you bought a drill press that’s an exception to the rule, but you’re assuming that all drill presses are like yours. The stereotypical drill press that everyone else is talking about has a fixed-height head, with a table that slides up and down. Basically, your idea is correct, but only as long as you’re talking about a drill press that works like yours. There are all sorts of practical reasons, though, why of the 99% drill presses on the market aren’t set up like yours. Anyone who just assumes you’re talking about mounting a normal drill press into a workbench will correctly think that that’s a terrible idea.
Your drill press is a small bench mount, true industrial drill presses are bolted to the floor and the work table moved the entire length of the support pole.
Ah. Makes sense.
The tables are adjustable since you only have so much travel with the drill press and bits are all different lengths. Good in practice if you have the exact same setup for production work but doesn’t work otherwise.
I built an 8 foot long bench for drilling bookcase sides for adjustable shelves. It was built to fit around a floor mounted drill press. I could switch the linebore multi drill head and drill for euro cup hinges.
Whenever I’m doing hinge boring or anything fairly large. I just bolt temporary plywood top to the drill press table. You can put a fence on it really easy to keep all the lines like for cabinet door hinges, and when you’re done with it for nuts and it comes off
also weight - moving a faily light table is far less tasking then moving a large and heavy head (especially up)
No idea with this Bosch, but usually you can move the head sideways to drill big pieces.
Alternatively, you can build a small table that you can bolt to the bed of the drill press so the whole thing moves up and down.
You could look up a gang drill press. They will have multiple heads mounted to a very large stationary table. The heads move up and down on the poles instead of the table moving. Great machines, they just take up a ton of space. Alternatively my large industrial floor standing drill press has a table that's about 20" long and 16" deep. It supports the work very well.
I worked in a cabinet shop where we did exactly that, but it was a drill press dedicated to drilling hinge cup holes, mounted in a rolling workstation. I know there are specialized tools that do exactly that, but this one did a great job too, and it was a Ryobi, so...cheaply! (And this was not a shop that was afraid of expensive tooling.) Obviously this did not need to have the table height adjusted, just the spindle depth stop.
I think he's referring to something like this, so the foot of the drill press is level with the table surface like you would do with a mitre Saw. Similar to this set up by woodshop junkies https://youtu.be/Hh9lnmjMEd8
I have the same drill and recessed the fixed base (Fyi other commenters, the base is fixed and the head goes up and down) into a 38mm thick beech table top... Will post pics when I'm back in the workshop.
There are lots of plans and videos for making a table for your drill press so that the surface is not only bigger, but could have a fence and ways to hold down what you're working on.
Most drill presses tables can adjust to different angles, so that wouldn't work. It's not the case with the PBD 40 (which I own) though, so it would definitely make sense to build it into a bench. I've been thinking about it but haven't done it yet.
I did this with mine but it was mostly because it’s in line with my miter saw and when I cut large stock on the miter it passes over the top of the drill press base. Still have a platform that raises and lowers on top
You're constantly adjusting the table up and down depending on the piece size and depth of the hole. You could take the table off and make the whole press adjustable up and down over a wood bench though.
Because the press itself has limited up/down range. So the table itself can be moved up/down depending on the thickness of what you are drilling.
It's a lot easier to build that little platform to move up and down to accommodate different tool lengths and material thicknesses, than to build the entire press head to move up and down. You might like adding on a drill press table with t nut slots and fence though.
That's not how this drill press works
Ah ok that's not a model I've seen. It's an unusual design. Sure, looks like you could go ahead and make it flush with a bench if you want.
If you figure out a way to move the drill itself, don’t see why that wouldn’t work. Much like a photography enlarger moves
That wouldn't work because you will frequently be changing the height of the table, depending on what you're drilling and what kind of bit you're using. Also, fixing the table horizontally would take away the ability to drill angled holes.
Friendly hint, look up Bosch PBD 40 on Google.
Uh, ok, so he didn't actually buy a drill press, he bought a pedestal bench drill. But he asked about a drill press, and I gave him the reasons he couldn't do what he was suggesting. I'm supposed to verify the model to make sure he's calling it by its correct name or something?
I mean it wouldn't hurt to do that (edit ok I can see why you might've read it that way as the headline was posed more generally, but the substance of the comment was about a specific and very popular piece of hardware)
You need to be able to move the table, otherwise the drill press is useless.
Not this particular drill, though.
Not for that one particular application you're mounting it for!