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Ikea hack for 240lb drill bench - thoughts?

jipps

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
210
Location
UK
So, just a quick post about my ikea hack. I want to know whether it'll hold!



I bought a 1959 Meddings pillar drill (i.e. "drill press") last week - I believe that it weighs some 242lbs, and that's only the bench version, not the floorstander!

So, my first problem was ensuring that the little bench I'd set aside would be up to the job. Okay, so it wasn't a bench as such, but rather an Ikea Norden Table. They're 740mm x 740mm by about 710mm tall:

25795210595_b41cfdca47.jpg


Relatively sturdy, with solid wood legs and a butchers block top. But still, 242 pounds....




So, the 740mm depth was perfect for the depth of the drill, but I decided to make it narrower to improve rigidity (and to dissuade anything being set or worked on the drill bench, other than the drill itself). I cut it down to 480mm width, dictated by bringing everything down from the 3-screw spacing of the subframe to use the 2-screw spacing in the same dimensions re the edges. (Sorry, forgot to picture that).




Next up was to brace the the long span unto the legs. I bought a 4.2m run of 1.75"x0.75" to make a couple of matched triangles which hit the legs about 325mm from the ground:

25699399101_6c9a9f87f1_z.jpg


25163998084_c96f526e64_z.jpg





And here it is in situ. At the risk of getting way too ikea-y here, I placed a standard Helmar filing cabinet underneath. The height means that I will need to delete the nylon casters off the base of the filing cabinet if I want to access the top drawer - I haven't decided which is more important to me as yet :)

25167857433_94488abc16_z.jpg





This should hold the weight, okay - - - right ????? :headscrat
 
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LXCam

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Apr 23, 2013
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19,172
Location
AZ
She'll hold just fine but I would suggest either a piece of plywood on the back or one diagonal piece. The single horizontal one can still allow the table to sway. And maybe one 2x placed across the width mounted vertical directly under the column so the top doesn't sag over time.
 

jd_1138

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Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
17,066
Location
NE Ohio
Could've skipped Ikea and simply made a sturdy little bench/table out of 2x4's with a solid piece of wood for the top.

I'd shoot some additional torx screws through the joints on that Ikea table. 240 pounds is a lot.
 

oldldh

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Joined
May 22, 2012
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3,700
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Fairhope, AL
Second the plywood across the back...

'Tis mucho more better...

To not wind up wearing your drill press...
 
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jipps

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Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
210
Location
UK
Thanks all for taking the time to reply. In light of the comments , I added a sway bar to the rear today... hopefully this will be enough :dunno:

I really appreciate all your help!

25781076456_18e2b04b5f_z.jpg
 

Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
Messages
38,218
Location
Southern Maine
Do you have a 240 pound friend? Have them do some dancing on it, if it collapses, then you know you should not put the drill on it.
 

dogdog

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Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
12,711
I have the similar table from them. ...... and have stand on it.... should be no issue holding 240LBs just not good hammering on it sorry think those cross brackets are an ugly additions... I think my jet 14" drill press is about that weight 240LB also... no issue on a thinner gauge metal stand than that wood table.
 

Bluedodge

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Jun 22, 2015
Messages
1,995
Location
Michigan (not the Detroit part)
Happy St Patrick's Day!!!!!

Is that even a thing in Ireland? Green beer, cabbage, and corned beef tonight down at the hall? (in my case - the Polish Falcons Hall)

Anyways - I think you'll be fine with your table after you added the diagonal bracing on the sides and back, but as others have said, a sheet of plywood on the back would be ideal.
 
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