Rebuilding a drill press?

[srjdsmith]

So I have an older drill press. I don't want to replace it as it has always worked great- and I don't want to spend what it will take to get the same power and speed. But...

The column is too short. Only about 24". So I measured the column and got an inexpensive 72" of 1 3/4 inch steel pipe. Genius, I thought, to turn my old press into a floor press for $20 -except the new column is a true 1.75" and the old one is a couple thousandths less. So the base, head, and table don't fit.

I used a narrow belt sander to take a fraction off the top and bottom of the new column, and now the head and base fit perfectly. See the problem? I don't want to take the hours to grind the whole column for the table.

Possible solution 1: take hours and grind FEET of the column for the table. Rejected because of time and because the other two parts don't need to move, but the table moves all the time and the rougher, slightly irregular ground off part is not ideal.

Possible solution 2: use a spindle sander to increase the ID of the hole in the table. Still take time, but less? Still going to be slightly irregular. Not rejected yet...

Possible solution 3: (need your help with this one) replace the table with inexpensive alternative. Needs to accommodate the full 1.75" column. The old one has manual adjustment, so a replacement might have a crank raise/lower function...

Thoughts?

 

[Maui]

Solution 4 - search Craigslist for an old junked floor standing drill press that has a good usable column that fits your application. They are out there.

 

[shortykorte]

Mount 4 fixed casters on a board or plywood, two at each end. Devise a coupler to attach a drill to end of pipe (or similar drive motor). Fire up drill. Sand pipe to needed diameter. Use same setup to then polish pipe.

I saw this on another GJ thread and worked great. I'm

 

[srjdsmith]

Solution 4 - search Craigslist for an old junked floor standing drill press that has a good usable column that fits your application. They are out there.

is the full 1.75" standard? Most posts I've looked at don't reference the diameter of the column. I found a few with a bad head-so I could use mine- but nothing with a 1.75" column or they didn't know/say. If it's not actually 1.75" I'm right back where I started.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I was thinking you could ream the table clamp out the few thousandths to match the new pipe - of course you can't go back from there to use the old stand, but if you like the floor mount, why would you?

I have a boatload of adjustable cylinder hones (I'd do that rather than sandpaper as you want that thing to stay round!!) and 1.75" isn't that far a stretch. You may have to do the "run it a minute and check" routine until it's right, but that way its done right. Just don't over-expand that hole as once it's too far, it's all over, and you have to start again.

 

[srjdsmith]

Mount 4 fixed casters on a board or plywood, two at each end. Devise a coupler to attach a drill to end of pipe (or similar drive motor). Fire up drill. Sand pipe to needed diameter. Use same setup to then polish pipe.

I saw this on another GJ thread and worked great. I'm

I like this. Might give it a try. Thanks.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Have a machine shop put the new column in a lathe and sand it down. Or have the table and head bored to suit. Sanding the column would probably be cheaper.

 

[454ragtop]

There's probably a reason you don't see floor standing drill presses with 1.75" columns........

 

[srjdsmith]

...adjustable cylinder hones (I'd do that rather than sandpaper as you want that thing to stay round!!) and 1.75" isn't that far a stretch. You may have to do the "run it a minute and check" routine...

Yes! I like this one. Going to BFF to get a hone. Got a couple more jobs to use it on anyway.

 

[srjdsmith]

There's probably a reason you don't see floor standing drill presses with 1.75" columns........

Most are like my original. 1.72ish- or way smaller. I think it's a conspiracy to keep little garage guys like me down...

 

[exmaxima1]

There's probably a reason you don't see floor standing drill presses with 1.75" columns........

 

[454ragtop]

Most are like my original. 1.72ish- or way smaller. I think it's a conspiracy to keep little garage guys like me down...

Uhm, actually no, suspect it is a lack of rigidity when it gets that long.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Uhm, actually no, suspect it is a lack of rigidity when it gets that long.

This is correct. The issue is rigidity. Buy a bigger drill press and sell your smaller one.

 

[srjdsmith]

...And the winner is... Lassen Forge

adjustable cylinder hones

Got the hone, reamed the table (didn't use the full 72" of pipe, but 60") and it worked like a charm. I used it all afternoon and the old press's spot on the bench is already full of the parts I was working on.

 

[rsanter]

Originally they started with a 1.75 OD pipe and used a center less grinder to true and surface the pipe to use for their drill press.
Keep in mind that if you try to open up the hole in the head or the table and don't get it perfect then you have destroyed the accuracy of your machine.
Yes you can spin the new pipe and remove a little material with a sander but you again will destroy the accuracy if you are off just a little bit.

So the question is? Why are you trying to make it taller? Do you expect that you are going to have the table down low and drill into something really long? If so then that happens very rairly.
Do you just want it taller? If that is the case then weld the pipe you got onto the end of the original Collumn and boom....its taller. You will only have the table adjustment for the length of the original Collumn but you will have more distance than you had before as you will no longer have the base at the bottom

Bob

 

[srjdsmith]

Well, Tool_scrounge, 454_ragtop, and Bob,

I don't have a welder, and I don't want/can't afford to 'trade up'. Thanks for the advice, but the new setup cost me $40 total, it's done, and it works very well- I used it all day and my parts measure up easily within tolerance.

I sometimes use my press as a mill and its controls are all what I'm used to, plus the power and speed ranges work great. The new column is just right. It was my dad's press and he shortened it for his tiny shop years ago. I didn't want to go back to just a taller bench setup, I wanted it on the floor to free up bench space, plus the parts I was milling were just a little too tall for the column and my X/Y vice won't bolt to the base. So... A longer column made from thick wall 1.75" pipe with the top and bottom turned down to 1.72" and the table reamed out to 1.75 (or a shade more) and 'voila' a brand new 50-year-old floor stand drill press.