Bench top drill press stand, build or buy

[Ty.]

I just ordered a cheap 10" bench top drill press from menards, and im having a hard time deciding if I should buy a cart like this or build something to put it on.

I would also like to mount a bench grinder next to it. I think the drawer in the cart would be nice for drill bits and clamps, but I dont think a cart like that would really hold up. would I be better off getting some plywood and making a lower cabinet on wheels and putting a cheap middle two or three drawer chest on top of that with the drill press on top of that?

I would also like to keep my little bostitch pancake compressor on the bottom shelf because its on a wall mounted shelf where this whole contraption will go.

basically something like this, but with a metal tool cabinet where the two wooden shelves are and wider so there is room for a small drill press and bench grinder.

Has anyone built anything like this, or am I just trying to jam 5lbs of **** into a 3lb bag?

 

[Carroll B]

I was given a 3-drawer metal file cabinet from work years ago. I cut a piece of counter-top to fit the top of the file cabinet and fastened it with some bolts. Mounted the drill press to the top. I use the three drawers for storage. With several power tools stored in the bottom drawer the cabinet is rock solid.

 

[Just A Beginner1]

I just bought two of the 7 Drawer HF Side Bench Cabinets yesterday.
No real price save, but needed the extra storage capability and the taller height
vs the work bench they were on previously. Cabinets are built much like the HF44 Bench in that the parts are very high quality vs some alternative cabinets I have seen.

I put the Bench Top Drill Press on one box and a Bench Top Metal Cutting Band Saw on the second box. very happy with the way it turned out. No Pics as my phone is on its last legs.

JAB

 

[Maddog10]

I'm always a fan of building over buying when it comes to stands and such. That way I get exactly what I want, custom made to fit my needs. Want drawers, add drawers. Want a certain height, make it a certain height. That's just me though, and I enjoy the work. If that's not you, there are some really nice manufactured products out there.

 

[jdm5]

Might want to check this video - Peter Parfitt is a pretty accomplished woodworker, he just built a mobile drill press base. This may give you some ideas:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=UUYwsgA-ZhDGHUCb4YFG00xQ&v=fxa871t1mwY

 

[gungatim]

these mobile carts from American woodworker magazine several years ago are super easy to build from plywood, super strong, and you can make them as wide or narrow as you want (or even adjust the height). I have used them for drill press, chop saw, outfeed tables, you name it. they easily support several hundred pounds if you use good castors.

all glued and screwed, no fancy joints. all plywood but you can use 1x4 for the legs if you have it laying around. as you can see I used scrap plywood shelving and some 1x4 for a few of them. I have a few that are a few inches lower to roll under my workbench in the garage as well as the 36" versions in the woodshop.

 

[astroracer]

Look for small roller cabinet, like this, on Craig's List. All you need is the base but the top would be usable as well.

Having drawers to keep ALL of your bits, vises and clamps in, close to the DP, keeps them from wandering off and getting dusty/grungy.
I put my Smithy Combo on the HF 44 a couple of years ago and wondered why it took so long.

It sure is nice having everything at hand when you need to get work done.
Mark

 

[Shootinok]

Made mine from left over pieces of oak I had, so essentially it was free.
Also just glued and a few screws - nothing fancy but very strong.

 

[lilredex]

Here is one made from the scrap box. Really heavy and stays put. And, has room for a few squeezed on accessories.

 

[SteveL]

If you can afford a real tool box that provides a bunch of thin drawers to house all the accessories I would go that route. Otherwise build. The cart just doesn't provide enough storage space for all of the smaller items used with a drill press. I built mine years ago and wish I had gone with a real tool box for the storage. I have two 6" drawers and store a rarely used scroll saw on the bottom shelf. Works just fine as a stand but everything needed is never close at hand.

 

[bdbecker]

I have done what a few have already mentioned and mounted my drill press on a rolling tool chest. It was a little top heavy before I loaded it up, but now its nice and stable. Top three drawers are for bits, Kreg jig, and other related nonsense, lower three drawers are for my handheld corded/cordless drills, impact, and buckets of screws. If I need to make a hole or drive a screw, its all in one place.

This is the actual chest I used. I see they are on clearance right now, I sure hope its just a sales tactic because I really like the Performax chests (nice features/quality for the money) and figured I'd buy another one someday.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...?tid=-2409990012920221890&bargainStoreId=3045

 

[-Brent-]

Most definitely put it on a bottom box.



I picked up the S-O box for cheap a while back. I put a a wood top on it and bolted the drill press down. Never had an issue with tipping or anything like that, even empty.

 

[Scud67]

Yup - another one here for the roll cabinets. I bought 3 cheap ones from HD online that came with a small top box too. Mounted a butcher block on top and then mounted my drill press, band saw and sander on top (one on each obviously)... nice that they move around easily, owners manuals, keys, accessories and such go right in the drawers. Nice and clean.

 

[rsanter]

Most definitely put it on a bottom box.



I picked up the S-O box for cheap a while back. I put a a wood top on it and bolted the drill press down. Never had an issue with tipping or anything like that, even empty.

This, mount it to a bottom box, however you don't want it in the middle. Put the drill press over to one side so you could swivel the table and head over the edge for drilling into the end of long items.
If you are short on space the add on side cabinets work well

This will give storage for the drill bits and other accessories

Bob

 

[Falcon67]

You can turn one of these 6' x 20" carts into a workstation for sure. I used one for the small lathe.

 

[-Brent-]

This, mount it to a bottom box, however you don't want it in the middle. Put the drill press over to one side so you could swivel the table and head over the edge for drilling into the end of long items.
If you are short on space the add on side cabinets work well

This will give storage for the drill bits and other accessories

Bob

Jesus, Bob, I should've thought of that! Great idea.

 

[ford33]

If it is light in weight, consider a wall mount. Several plans available to make it easy to build.

 

[188slo50]

You can turn one of these 6' x 20" carts into a workstation for sure. I used one for the small lathe.

Where did you get to cabinet from?

 

[Ty.]

Im going to go with a bottom box as per everyone elses suggestions. I actually found a 41" performax box that a buddy is looking to get rid of so I will have plenty of room on top for a drill press and a grinder, and plenty of room for overflow tools. I wasnt really looking for that big of a box, but the price is good and i cannt complain about the extra storage.

Thanks for the help everyone

 

[ichabod]

good you found a deal on a bottom box that will work, I like the build idea, there are so many more options that could be had. I just needed a little stand with some storage. I don't have much space in my garage.

 

[fatherandson57]

Where did you get to cabinet from?

I just saw these at Sams Club, made by Seville, model #20242

 

[-Brent-]

Ty, post it up when you're done. It'll be good to see.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Build a stand with casters so you can move it around. Don't know how much your drill press weighs so watch out for "topheavyness". I did this for my benchtop drill press not realizing that the 1940 Craftsman that belonged to my dad would be as top heavy as it turned out. Takes two guys straining to lift it (one being my 6'3" son-in-law). It now sits bolted to the end of my workbench. It is a real beast, but works like a champ.

 

[Falcon67]

I just saw these at Sams Club, made by Seville, model #20242

That's it

 

[Ty.]

here is my cheapo drill press and the lower box i picked up today, its not top shelf stuff, but with a menards gift card I had im in the whole set up for under $175 and I have way more storage space now.

 

[flat tire]

personally I don't want my drill press to move. I have mine fastened to a home made table using 2" oak with the table centered waist high

 

[Ty.]

personally I don't want my drill press to move. I have mine fastened to a home made table using 2" oak with the table centered waist high

I will eventually replace the foam pad on top of the box with a thick piece of plywood, or maybe get motivated and make a butcher block top for it some day to bolt the drill press down.

 

[FMB4]

This might be a bit off-topic, but I've been using my CM 10" table saw as a stand for either my 5-speed 1/2" bench top drill press or my 4" HF B-top belt sander (with the T. saw blade adjusted below the table surface of course). An appropriate sized 1/2" thick sheet of OSB bolted to the table and 2 sets of 4 T-nuts and washer/bolts holds either tool down nice and tight. Switching over to any of the 3 tools (saw, press, sander) only takes about 5 minutes.

I've been using this setup of more than a decade and have yet to notice any drooping or warping of the alloy saw table (either tool weighs somewhat less than the average 4'x8'x1/2" sheet of plywood).

This idea has probably been talked about in here before, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

 

[bdbecker]

I will eventually replace the foam pad on top of the box with a thick piece of plywood, or maybe get motivated and make a butcher block top for it some day to bolt the drill press down.

You'll want to get some sort of plate or board on there sooner than later. It'll help spread out the load on the top of the box and stiffen everything up a bit. I didn't get too fancy with my top, its just a piece of 1/2" ply painted black, but it's done the job so far.

 

[Ty.]

This might be a bit off-topic, but I've been using my CM 10" table saw as a stand for either my 5-speed 1/2" bench top drill press or my 4" HF B-top belt sander (with the T. saw blade adjusted below the table surface of course). An appropriate sized 1/2" thick sheet of OSB bolted to the table and 2 sets of 4 T-nuts and washer/bolts holds either tool down nice and tight. Switching over to any of the 3 tools (saw, press, sander) only takes about 5 minutes.

I've been using this setup of more than a decade and have yet to notice any drooping or warping of the alloy saw table (either tool weighs somewhat less than the average 4'x8'x1/2" sheet of plywood).

This idea has probably been talked about in here before, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

we usually do this with out older dewalt planer at work and just clamp it down on top of the saw. it is a perfect height, and the table saw is the only clean place that does not get **** piled on it.

 

[sberry]

You cant build it for a fraction of buying it. I used to do all that **** till I figured it was so much easier getting something 90% built, painted, drawers fit and tailoring it a little. So easy to make changes vs something you crafted finely and 10x as fast.
The plas was its first victim and when I moved it to sit on top of the sync I changed it to a welder cart. I had to tailor a couple brackets for the welder but the cutter fit on it perfect as it was.

 

[astroracer]

Good job on the roller find. If you make a top for it you can also bolt on a small vise to the other corner. They come in handy too.
Mark

 

[kbs2244]

This is the kind of thing I use the 3-drawer side of junk desks for.
At hand storage.
3 or 4 inch casters.

 

[James-W]

Many times you can pick up carts at rummage sales, auctions, Goodwill, St Vincent, garage sales, etc. You get them dirt cheap and they work quite well for many things around the shop.

 

[Ty.]

Also for future reference if anyone was looking to make something. here is a stand I made for my miter saw out of some old cabinets. it works great and also houses my spare blades, and my sawzall, random orbit sander, and skill saw all in their cases. if you are going to build something like this I would suggest that you buy the biggest castors that you can find instead of being cheap like I was and using some small ones I had laying around. its annoying to move the saw if there is anything on the floor because the wheels get "stuck" easily. for me I only really move it away from the wall so there is room for the sliders to clear the wall so the small wheels are not a deal breaker.

 

[astroracer]

Nice! Works for me!

Mark

 

[Ty.]

well for anyone following this still, I got around to building a top for my bottom cabinet today. Nothing is actually bolted to the wood top yet, as I plan on using it for a bit to see if everything works out where I have it.

Originally I was thinking of getting a few 2x6's and gluing them together to make a fairly sturdy top, but then I was looking around the wood pile at work and I found two chunks of left over laminated beams from when we framed in a garage door and they fit the bill.

I ended cutting them a fuzz shorter, then ripped the rounded edges off of them. for now I just used a few pocket screws to hold them together. I should glue them, but its around 30 degrees im my garage without me turning on the heater, so that can wait till spring. Im also not 100% sold on the back stop, but for now it will stay, as I was thinking I can drill some holes in it and store drill bits or screwdrivers or something there at some point,or take out the four screws and its gone.

Im also not sure if I will keep the overhang on the right side or not, but for now it holds a small wood vise. One final thing I did was leave the top overhang another inch than the box is deep in hopes that it will help keep junk from falling into the drawers.

 

[Ty.]

I know this post is about 4 years old, but I thought I would post an update. The bottom box is working out great! I added a sunnex grinder and mounted it to a piece of horse stall mat to cut down on the vibrations through the cabinet. I also added a holder for three 4 1/2" grinders and my 7" grinder and disks. The only other thing I did was add that chunk of diamond plate to the front edge to keep it from splitting off when I bang things into it.

 

[jives]

I would use whatever cabinet has a lot of room for small parts. While not a desktop DP, I fashioned a cabinet for my floor model, made from an old tanker desk. I am all for making something from scratch, but sometimes you can find better and cheaper.

 

[Wardmoto]

Generic HF bench/frame and the top and bottom surfaces are cut from solid core doors I had left over from my work bench project. Very solid.