Tough Drill Press Table

[Nelson]

I needed to expand my drill press table/stand to hold 2 drill presses in my tiny shop.
My 30 year old Enco (Taiwan) and the South Bend I am going to restore.
It had to be custom sized to fit next to the SB Heavy 10 on the wall.

I glued up 2x8s and 2x6's with Titebond, clamped it a day then trimmed it.
The boards are laid out on two large pipe clamps and glued and clamped.
Cleats of 2x8 were screwed across the underside of the boards with 3' deck screws to add extra support.
Added the new stretchers for the Rockler steel stand (36" size) to expand it from 2' wide to 3'.

Need a lot of storage for Van Norman #12 parts on the bottom. The shelf is 3/4" plywood.
Since the top takes a beating when the machines are slid around, I didn't put masonite or plywood on top
(maybe I should have). Got it dirty already.

Some pictures.

Nelson

 

[Kennyd]

Wow, can you even change your mind in that tiny little space:lmao:?

Just kidding, nice pictures.

 

[Tom Griffin]

I used to have a South Bend drill press exactly like that and sold it when I bought my mill. There just wasn't enough room for two "drill presses". Kind of wish I had it now for the cool factor of vintage machinery.

Your shop looks as packed (read well utilized) as mine.

Tom

 

[Nelson]

Wow, can you even change your mind in that tiny little space:lmao:?

Just kidding, nice pictures.

It is very small- I wish it was bigger. You ought to see my even smaller clock area whch is adjacent to the drill press table.

That is why organization is so important in an 8x10 space with the drill press table lathe and Burke and Van Norman Mills. Everything is on wheels. The shelves are built-in, framed into the 2x6 studs, and there has to be space in each machine for tooling. I share the basement with the kids rec room, laundry area, boiler area and clock room.

It was a nightmare to plan, organize and even harder to set up. I don't have an inch to waste.


Nelson

 

[Nelson]

I used to have a South Bend drill press exactly like that and sold it when I bought my mill. There just wasn't enough room for two "drill presses". Kind of wish I had it now for the cool factor of vintage machinery.

Your shop looks as packed (read well utilized) as mine.

Tom

These SB drill presses fetch a nice price now. The one pictured came from the Brookhaven Labs on Long Island, and has the sticker. I got it from Guy Lopes in California. It needs some sprucing up, rewiring to a VFD and will be ready to go. I got the multi-speed attachment for it - overpaid, but wanted it. The steam pipes are always in the way of opening up the pulley belt covers especially on the SB.

Next job is the joist-hoist to get the Van Norman together again. Lots of sweat there reinforcing the joists and attaching a hoist to a pipe between them to lift the machine sections.


I do have a three-point work triangle though- you turn around, you are at the lathe, you do a 45 degree turn you are at the drill press, another 45 you are at the Van Norman mill. Everything is jammed in.

Nelson

 

[chief]

Allthumbz i have the same Enco drill press you have, I got mine new in 1977 for $125 bucks, and I changed the belt for the first time last year, it still works fine,

 

[Nelson]

Should I have put masonite or some other material on the top of the 2x6 table? It will take a beating, so I left the raw wood.


Nelson

 

[Nelson]

Allthumbz i have the same Enco drill press you have, I got mine new in 1977 for $125 bucks, and I changed the belt for the first time last year, it still works fine,

Chief,

Mine was bought in 1977 new also, I was 19 years old, living with my parents. I brought it with me when I married and moved out. I paid about $100 for it, and they still make it, except in mainland China instead of Taiwan and it costs like $300 now. The jaws on the chuck broke in pieces, so I replaced it with a good used Albrecht keyless I bought off Ebay. I have a spare taper for it also if I ever need it. Old belts still work. It is basically the 16 speed floor model head on a bench size stand. Only other damage is a few dents in the tin belt cover and I broke the plastic knob on the feed wheel.

Nelson

 

[chief]

Nelson Mine is 16 speed also, and it came with a 5/8 chuck that was junk so I got a new 1/2 off of the ship I was on back then, and i changed the handels,
and I have it mounted on a big steel boz on wheels so I can move it around,

 

[dickr]

Coffee?

Hey Nelson (hope it's alright to call you Nelson) if you quit drinkin coffee you can add on another room :biggrin:
Nice thing about small is it makes you organize things. Looks like a machine shop to me those older presses always feel good with the extra meat on them. Thanx for the pics it's always fun to see another fellas treasures. Let's see the clock dept. next.
dickr