Drill press base, what are the slots for?

[adam728]

Got some more stuff moved to the new place this week. My dad helped me move some of it, then asked me a question which I had never thought about, and have no answer for.

"What goes in those slots on the base of the drill press?"

It's a 1950's Craftsman / King Seeley drill press (103.24820). The base looks just like the pciture below (not mine). Searches for a manual have failed so far, and I haven't found anything on the internet where those slots are utilized. So, what are those for? Thanks

 

[nate379]

T bolts to hold a vice or fixture to it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Craftsman sold basically the same drill press for many years, with minor updates over time. Here's a manual for a model 103.24821, I'll bet it's pretty close to what you have: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2782

 

[Todd.Brock]

My 1988 Enco Taiwan special has the same things. I have no idea what they are for. I understand they are t slots, I just could not imagine a use without some serious effort.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're drilling a hole in an object that's REALLY big, you swivel the table out of the way and set the object directly on the base. Then, you can clamp it down or hold it in a vise using T-bolts in the slots, just like you would do with the table for smaller objects.

edit: I suppose you could use regular bolts or carriage bolts just as easily, as long as the head fits through the larger section of the slot.

 

[Dewaynep]

They are used with these: http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=319-8531&PMPXNO=19511899&PARTPG=INLMK3 Of course, you get the size based on the "T" slot size. These are also used on milling machines.

 

[adam728]

I wasn't sure if there were dedicated accessories made for it. Makes sense for holding very large objects.