Drill press on wheels

[AMCguy]

My garage isn't big enough, so I need to keep my drill press out of the way when I'm not using it. Sometimes I have to reposition it just to accommodate a large work pice. I also like to keep my work area super clean. That means moving it to clean up around it. I can't stand the feeling of metal shavings under my feet.

I'm also tall and found the working area of the drill press too low. It was just out of reach of my reading glasses.

The solution I cam up with was this neat little undercarriage. Total cost was thirty dollars. I could have done it on the cheap but I had to by new casters.

 

[sscustom]

wow that came out nice i like the bench grinder stand too

 

[stonewellmark]

I like it!!! Nice work on a great idea!

 

[larry4406]

Nice job. Chain your gas bottles.

 

[ambenz]

That is one smart little project anyone could do!
Even if your not a welder, I imagine with some tongue and groove action, you could woodwork something simular too!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[padronanniversary]

I'm curious, are you just rattle can painting the metal ?

It came out great. I am going to borrow your idea. Does the grinder and drill press vibrate enough on the caster to cause an issue ? Or is the weight enough ?

 

[GreyOwl]

Nice job. Chain your gas bottles.

My thoughts exactly. Both stands look great.
Charles

 

[Vicegrip]

Nice clean work!

welding the angle iron under the square tube can work too. Use some end plates so you can tune the angle iron about 3/4 off the floor. It sets the base of the device low to the floor and makes things more stable. you can also use small wedges to lock the stand to the floor when you don't want things to move.

funny about the bottles I am a FM for a large dealership and am always finding loose bottles. it is 99% the new mechanics.

 

[Bencrx91]

Brilliant, I'll steal your idea if you don't mind

 

[sonnyboy]

I did a similar thing with my drill press a few months ago. I don't have a welder (yet), so I made due with a plywood base and screwed/bolted everything together. In fact, everything in the working area of my garage is on wheels - workbench, grinder, shelving, and my small horizontal milling machine (about 1000 lbs - even on wheels, it ain't easy to move!). It is nice to be able to easily move stuff when you need to.

 

[BUGTHUG]

I have a question, on picture #6 the base, why do they put the long cut out holes "slides" on the bottom plate? I can see the middle drill plate is used for a vice to slide around, but I don't see the use for the bottom, any ideas? thanks.
Do you worry about the d press tipping over? Nice work .

 

[SweetD]

I have a question, on picture #6 the base, why do they put the long cut out holes "slides" on the bottom plate? I can see the middle drill plate is used for a vice to slide around, but I don't see the use for the bottom, any ideas? thanks.
Do you worry about the d press tipping over? Nice work .

This was recently asked on another thread...if you have a REALLY BIG workpiece that you need to drill...you would use those slots to clamp it, same as the slots on the regular table. Pretty cool project!

 

[Jim Sullivan]

very nice, you plce looks clean..

 

[Krokodil]

I really like your design! Is the press stable when drilling? I'm always weary of putting machinery on casters from a safety perspective.

 

[AMCguy]

Yes it's very stable. Regardless of the position the casters are in, it now has a much larger footprint than the old base did.

The casters lock. I could have bought more expensive casters, but these work fine. It stays put when it's in use.

 

[ts3342]

Looks good i was liking the c clamps where did you get those and do you like them?

 

[PCO6]

Looks good i was liking the c clamps where did you get those and do you like them?

Not sure where you are from but I have bought that type of clamp at Princess Auto and at Canadian Tire in Ontario. The type I have are "Task" brand and are nearly identical to the ones pictured above. Places like KMS Tools sell the "Strong Hand" brand. The Tasks come in various sizes and are usually about $20 to $30 each whereas the ones KMS sell are 3 or 4 times that. The Tasks are excellent and all I would ever need.

 

[kunkernator]

I love the project, as well as e grinder stand too.

And I have to add that I LOVE your welder. The Millermatic 200 is currently my favorite welder.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Guess I wasn't the only one that had the same idea...

 

[DekeT]

I currently keep my drill press on a tool stand roller but is less than ideal. I am going to have to copy your model too. How do you keep your grinder from rolling around when using it?

 

[AMCguy]

Thanks for the comments.

The clamps are EHOMA. They are made in Taiwan. They are top quality. Comparable to Bessy but half the price. KMS used to cary them but dropped them to carry Strong Hand.

www.ehoma.tw

The grinder actually has crappy casters that don't roll very well. I have no trouble moving it, but it stays put when I'm using it. If I really have to push hard I'll roll it up against the wall.

And yes I have since come up with a solution to my cylinders standing unrestrained.

 

[V-10 Killer]

Nice work on the stands
Since the back of the stand is usually against the wall, you could make it wider than the front to increase stability, and not increase the tripping hazard too.
I'd thought about making a stand like your grinder is on but leaving it open at the top. A lot of guys around here are building 2" recievers into their workbenches, it seems like having a stand like that would be an easy spot to drop in a large tool on a reciever mounting plate.

 

[sberry]

I agree, great simple idea.

 

[uniballer]

Is tipping over not a concern? Just wondering?

 

[Mr.N]

AMCguy,

How do you like that electrical heater?

 

[Jimmy_B]

Very nice. I have the same space issue in my garage and am inspired by your idea to do the same thing. I built a similar cart for a bandsaw where I work back in the late 80s. I managed to get them to sell me the saw last year and it still has the cart I built. Needs to be cleaned up and painted, but works very well for moving it around. And it is very stable being only 1/4" off the ground.

 

[ddawg16]

AMC....how stable is it?

Mine is a table top....so I made a table top on wheels.

 

[AMCguy]

This is fun seeing into other's garages and the cool things they've done.

uniballer, ddawg16, The the drill press is very stable. It has a much bigger footprint now that it is on wheels.

Mr.N, That heater is great. I have an oil filled heater continuously on low sitting in the middle of the 32'x32' shop. When I come in from outdoors, I can feel the warmth. The orange construction heater I use when I'm going to be out there for a while. It has a thermostat. It'll come on for about a half an hour to make things toasty then turn off. After that it cycles on for about five minutes and off for about twenty minutes. Running like that, it will keep the room at tee shirt temperature. If I left it on like that all winter it ads less than $100. to my monthly home electricity bill.

 

[ddawg16]

Ok....I could see that....did you bolt it to the platform?

How tall are you? Did you find that the extra few inches that it raised it up actually helped? I know it did on mine....

 

[lilredex]

Mine, I prefer three wheelers. Very stable, pull it with a hooked stick and hold the column as it is moved. Never had a problem in over twenty-five years of use. It also only travels around on level concrete.

This one was made for a table top model, it has drawers in the front and weighs over 100#.

 

[Mr.N]

Mr.N, That heater is great.

Thanks for the reply, think I'll be getting one soon.

My advice with moving one on wheels, go slow and hold the top.
I've tipped over an import floor standing 3/4 horse power drill press. Once they start tipping its hard to stop it. (I'm 6' & strong for ~30 seconds, then the out of shape kicks in)



Anyone ever just mount two non swivel wheels on the front and just tip it forward to move?

 

[sharkytm]

Once they start tipping its hard to stop it.

Anyone ever just mount two non swivel wheels on the front and just tip it forward to move?

You answered your own question.

 

[AMCguy]

ddawg16, Yes, its bolted. I'm 6'2'' and going blind (so it seems). By lifting it up, my work is now at the perfect height for my reading glasses.

 

[Mr.N]

You answered your own question.

I guess I didn't explain it right, as my view is it would make it more stable.
When it tipped I was not holding onto the top section down at an angle, just the pipe with it almost straight up and down.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

thats a sweet idea,ill have to keep this one in mind.

 

[RMXR]

Anyone ever just mount two non swivel wheels on the front and just tip it forward to move?

I have my bench grinder mounted on a post that has a base plate of 1/4" steel plate about a foot square. This plate is bolted to a 'B' series Cummins diesel flywheel. (The B series is used in Dodge Rams and other agricultural equipment). I have fitted two non-swivelling castors to the front side of the flywheel just clear of the floor so that I can tilt the grinder towards me and roll it on those castors, allowing me to easily move it around the garage or outside.

The top face, originally the forward side of the flywheel, is machined flat to accept the base plate of the post.

On the underside of the flywheel, I have screwed short hex bolts into three of the clutch/torque converter mounting holes so that I have a stable platform, even on uneven floors.

I wouldn't mount my drill on such a set-up as the drill is very heavy and I would hate to be trying to catch it if it started to topple.

I'll get some photos of my set-up and post them up in the next day or two.

Cheers,
Gary

Later:

The photos have made me realize how much I need to paint this thing!

As you will tell, this thing has been thru several stages of development.