Are Drill Press Columns Hollow or Solid?

[bigcreek]

Question for you folks out of pure curiosity, nothing more. Are drill press columns hollow or solid? I have two drill presses. One is a small Porter Cable with maybe a 3" or so column, the other is a pretty big one with a 7" column. I was just wondering if they are solid or hollow tube? Actually I just answered my own question with the big drill because it has a coolant pump at the base and no external wiring so it would have to go through the column. So how about this question, are any of them solid? thank you

 

[finn]

The strength of a column comes from the outside diameter, more than the center.

Consider why aluminum driveshafts are typically large diameter hollow tubes rather than small diameter solid bar stock.

 

[nadogail]

All of mine have been hollow.

 

[oldmachinenut]

Some older drill presses had a counterweight for the table inside the hollow tube .

 

[bigcreek]

The strength of a column comes from the outside diameter, more than the center.

Consider why aluminum driveshafts are typically large diameter hollow tubes rather than small diameter solid bar stock.

Good point!

 

[bigcreek]

Some older drill presses had a counterweight for the table inside the hollow tube .

I do have a 3rd drill press which is an Edlund 4B-12" which has counterweights inside it for the table. I didnt include it though because its column is rectangular, albeit hollow.

 

[bigcreek]

Ok so how about this. On my bigger round column drill press which is a Jet J-2350 28" drill press with a 7" column, how thick would you figure the wall might be? 1"? 1/2"? Ive no idea. Again just wondering out of pure curiosity.

 

[mikedodge]

Probably less then that.
I had the top off one of my Jet style drill presses, I didn't care enough to pay much attention to the size of it but it wasn't anything special.

 

[Spud McGee]

If the column was solid, the drill press would be stupid heavy and/or stupid expensive.

 

[bigcreek]

Ya if theres no reason for all that extra steel no sense in having it. Its just under 2000 pounds That Jet J-2350 is a $17,000+ drill press though so its up there already.

 

[BukitCase]

Hey, this is GJ;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DKW4IYO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

... Steve

 

[TurnipTruck]

I had a Taiwanese drill press with a 2-3/16” column that appeared to be spun cast iron as it was incredibly rough inside, with a wall thickness of less than a 1/4”.

 

[tarmy]

Mine was hollow. I cut 6” off this cause I wanted it on a mobile base.

 

[1982fxr]

Saw an antique once with solid. Buffalo I think.

 

[bigcreek]

Hey, this is GJ;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DKW4IYO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

... Steve

Thats awesome! I think Ill pass though. The answer to my question as to wall thickness isnt quite worth $180 lol

 

[PoorUB]

I have a Powermatic 1200 that would put most import drill presses, including Jet, to shame. The column wall thickness might be 1/2 inch.

 

[BukitCase]

Bigcreek, in all fairness/honesty, I DID buy the one in the link
In FURTHER embarrassment, I have NOT used it yet (other than a quick test)
Prior to my retirement 11 years ago part of my job as an instrument tech was repair/maintenance/calibration of NDT equipment, and my reason (excuse) for this purchase is some questionable condition (thickness) of some fully enclosed parts of the loader/backhoe on my ancient Case 580B - once I start into that, I'll need the whole thing under cover (did I mention it RAINS a little in Oregon??!?)

Sooo, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it ... Steve

 

[csp]

Ok so how about this. On my bigger round column drill press which is a Jet J-2350 28" drill press with a 7" column, how thick would you figure the wall might be? 1"? 1/2"? Ive no idea. Again just wondering out of pure curiosity.

Take the top cover off, if applicable and look at the tube from the top to see how thick the wall is.

 

[bigcreek]

Bigcreek, in all fairness/honesty, I DID buy the one in the link
In FURTHER embarrassment, I have NOT used it yet (other than a quick test)
Prior to my retirement 11 years ago part of my job as an instrument tech was repair/maintenance/calibration of NDT equipment, and my reason (excuse) for this purchase is some questionable condition (thickness) of some fully enclosed parts of the loader/backhoe on my ancient Case 580B - once I start into that, I'll need the whole thing under cover (did I mention it RAINS a little in Oregon??!?)

Sooo, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it ... Steve

Thats funny there! Ive got a few tools myself Ive bought and hardly or even never used. Not many mind you, but some!

 

[dutchgray]

A lot of the British made ones with ~3" diameter or just shy thereof columns are solid bar.
My Elliots progress No1 and No2 are both solid.
I had a 5 speed Meddings that came off a production table that I stripped for parts, that was solid.

The Q&S I bought for my brother (part of a large group, several different badges on the same machines) was a tube.

I haven't checked what the 5" or so in my 1 1/4" capacity Kerry gear head is yet.

 

[bigcreek]

A lot of the British made ones with ~3" diameter or just shy thereof columns are solid bar.
My Elliots progress No1 and No2 are both solid.
I had a 5 speed Meddings that came off a production table that I stripped for parts, that was solid.

The Q&S I bought for my brother (part of a large group, several different badges on the same machines) was a tube.

I haven't checked what the 5" or so in my 1 1/4" capacity Kerry gear head is yet.

Interesting.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Cameron precision micro drill press: solid columns. But as they are ~1.25” in diameter steel.