8" harbor freight drill press, want to increase height for vice

[TT_Vert]

I looked at it and the actually vertical tube is pressed into the bottom piece and held in up top with two set screws. The OD of the pipe is 1.810" and I need something close. I was thinking of going w/ 1.75" OD exhaust tubing but I was wondering if anyone has done something similar and if so, what did you use? I unfortunately don't have a welder here to make something.

Thanks much

Dave

 

[The Cobbler]

I would use dom tubing (drawn over mandrel) as it will be more precise and no weld seams to deal with . Are you sure you can lose the 0.060 thousands. that's quite a lot

 

[TT_Vert]

I actually need to gain 60 thousandths. The existing pipe is 1.180". I may just go buy a welder and then I can use any pipe I want.

 

[The Cobbler]

I understood, what I meant was, are you sure using a tube that's 60 thou undersized is ok... just different ways of saying the same thing .
Looks like 2" schedule 40 is close . can someone turn it down for you?
how long a pc do you need?

 

[TT_Vert]

I went to home Depot today with my caliper and the 2-in was right at 1.91-in. I don't have the ability to turn it down unfortunately. I did and up checking a bunch of different things they had and they had nothing there that was close enough even looking at conduit I couldn't find anything

 

[dutchgray]

I would get a taller drill, preferably a floor mounted model, over trying to make an undersized one taller if you don't have the ability to turn a tube to size.

 

[snyder]

A flap disc on a 4 1/2 grinder will do the job.

 

[darkzero]

I actually shortened my 12" drill press cause I use it on a bench top then put it away after use. Upgraded from an 8" DP but didn't need the additional height of the 12" DP.

I made an adapter so I can revert back to stock height if I ever needed with the piece of tube I cut off. I made this on the lathe & mill but maybe it'll give you an idea for adding height rather than having to replace the entire tube with a longer one.

 

[mikegt4]

The OP gives 2 different dimensions, 1.810" and 1.180", BIG difference.
A HF drill press is going to be metric.
1.180"=30mm, a common size while 1.810"=46mm, not a common size.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^^in his original post he says he was thinking of using 1-3/4 tube. so I suspect the first post is right dimension

 

[TT_Vert]

I wasn't near the item at the time so I was going from memory. It varies from 1.8050 to 1.8105. the 1.180 was a typo.
Dave

 

[TT_Vert]

I actually shortened my 12" drill press cause I use it on a bench top then put it away after use. Upgraded from an 8" DP but didn't need the additional height of the 12" DP.

I made an adapter so I can revert back to stock height if I ever needed with the piece of tube I cut off. I made this on the lathe & mill but maybe it'll give you an idea for adding height rather than having to replace the entire tube with a longer one.

Thanks. The issue is I will need extra tube w/ a very similar OD unless I cut two pieces (One for a press fit into the piece that screws to the base and one into the drill press head which is secured by set screws) and make something like you did.

Dave

 

[larry_g]

I actually shortened my 12" drill press cause I use it on a bench top then put it away after use. Upgraded from an 8" DP but didn't need the additional height of the 12" DP.

I made an adapter so I can revert back to stock height if I ever needed with the piece of tube I cut off. I made this on the lathe & mill but maybe it'll give you an idea for adding height rather than having to replace the entire tube with a longer one.

OP;

If you can make an adapter similar to the above then you can cut the existing column , make the adapter 6-8" long, and us it to connect your column back together. The OD of the adapter will not be an issue because your not sliding anything along that area of the column.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[AnEv942]

Came across this on other forum, OD numbers different but...
https://www.lumberjocks.com/topics/28357
Id lean toward heavier wall pipe/tube, cut column above chuckl height, insert something close to ID in both halves. Drill&tap thru both bolting as shown above.
Unless bolted down may need to increase base footprint

 

[TT_Vert]

That might be the ticket actually.

 

[Packard V8]

I'm thinking I wouldn't put much time, effort, or money into modifying a $55 8" HF DP when there are so many considerably better machines out there for cheap.

jack vines

 

[TT_Vert]

If I can spend $20 bucks to get the height I want to use a decent vice under it I'll gladly do that. What alternatives do I have in this price range?

Dave

 

[TT_Vert]

Unfortunately that pipe was a bit too small on both the slip fit side as well as the other. I'll have to keep looking .

Dave

 

[The Cobbler]

how much longer do you want it?

 

[darkzero]

Unfortunately that pipe was a bit too small on both the slip fit side as well as the other. I'll have to keep looking .

Dave

Got one of these handy? If not HF has em for $20 or maybe a local muffler shop might do it for a 6 pack of beer.

Not sure if it would work, just a thought.

 

[TT_Vert]

Not sure how high I want to go yet butI do have a tubing expander from when I mated some 1 5/8" fox body primaries to an LSx flange. I don't think it's big enough but great idea! The only issue is that i'm going to only be able to go so far as the OD of this exhaust tubing is too small for the table to clamp to. 1.750" vs. 1.810" I was hoping the clamp could take up that .060" but not even close.

Dave

 

[darkzero]

I see. 60 thou, maybe you can shim it to size with sheet metal? But then again, that's getting into "temporary, getter done territory". I'm assuming you want something done better. After all the tube is important for rigidity & alignment/squareness.

 

[TT_Vert]

I had considered shimming it but the shim would have to be affixed to the moving table's clamp so the shim would have to be secured to that clamps ID, perhaps hammering a flange over the top/bottom. I wish I could just find some DOM w/ an OD of 1.810". Or now I wish I had a lathe lol. I did find some 2" DOM w/ a 1.810" OD but I have to have the OD of 1.810 in the range where the table will be moving.

Maybe I can find some 1 13/16" OD DOM. That'd be the ticket right there. 1.8125 vs my 1.810. .015 should hopefully be doable.

Dave

 

[darkzero]

I wonder how much a replacement tube would cost considering the DP only costs $60-$70. With another tube you could make an adapter like I did.

That part isn't listed on their website but it wouldn't hurt to call & get a price. HF says they don't charge for shipping on replacement parts.

https://www.harborfreight.com/parts

 

[The Cobbler]

too bad.

 

[TT_Vert]

I suppose I could look. I don't have a lathe to turn down an adapter either unfortunately. If I could just find a 1-13/16" OD tube I'd be golden. They make them but it seems those who sell them sell in bulk. I don't need a 24' tall drill press although it'd certainly be unique.

Dave