Repairing drill press table

[Coopduc]

I've been looking for a drill press recently. This one meets all the requirements, but the table is trashed. Anybody know if it is repairable? Is welding the holes feasible?
http://asheville.craigslist.org/tls/4142438849.html

 

[jakemac]

Nice production table, nasty arc of shame. Yes it can be welded, but the end results may be iffy since the holes are so large. I'm not sure if they'll hold up to future abuse, or pop out if hit the wrong way.

Is there anyone here that has experience with filling through holes in a DP table ?

 

[zkling]

Ouch. Can it be repaired? Yes, I've seen much worse. However unless you can and are willing to do it yourself, the cost would be pretty high to get it done properly. Those are some pretty large holes for an arc of shame.

 

[larry_g]

I would just bolt a plate on the top of the existing table till another better table came along.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[fury9]

I would just use it as is.

 

[Steinmetz]

The "steel termites" again. The holes will need to be welded, and the table surface ground. I'd use the thing as-is.

 

[softailgarage]

I tried it once by filling in the grooves with steel stick putty. It worked but looked like ****.

 

[alan camby]

Build a table for the table

 

[Coopduc]

My next question is, given the condition, what do you think it's worth?

 

[justanengineer]

Ive repaired more than my fair share, its not overly difficult. A mig and plain old cheap steel wire will fill it fairly quickly/easily, but you probably want to toss it in the wood stove or bonfire for a few hours first as a pre-heat to get any oil/impurities out and help the weld flow better. There wont be a whole of stress on those small holes as most parts will be quite a bit larger, the cast is decently thick in that area, and only the middle few holes go all the way through. Build it up then you can either send it out for a surface grind, or if youre not super picky and are decently careful use a slightly curved (ie torch bent convex) mill file to flatten/smooth the welds into the table. Either way, you will always faintly see the filler but it will look 100 times better.

 

[zkling]

My next question is, given the condition, what do you think it's worth?

Depends on the condition of the drive assembly. Those VS heads can be $$$ to repair if something goes wrong. Me personally I'd go ~$200 if I needed a drill press and it ran properly. I think that $325 is pretty high given condition. I have the older non VS version of that. It is a nice press, but only 15". If that was the 17"+ model I'd say jump on it. O and BTW, if do plan on trying to find or purchase a used production table. Good luck. I would not purchase this machine with that thought in mind. Justanengineer's approach above is a very good way to fix it, if you have welding capabilities.

 

[Tim338]

Price looks fair to me if it all works. Make a template of the table and take the template to a fabrication shop and have them cut it out of 3/8". Drill and tap the table and mount it and use it.

 

[bad_idea]

Use it as is, or pass on the machine. To make it look good is going to cost time and money.

 

[Davefr]

Build a table for the table

Great job with that table but I'd suggest rounding the corners so you don't snag one and cut yourself.

 

[kythri]

Does the "arc of shame" just happen due to constant repeated negligence? Or was someone doing some kind of weird job that caused it?

 

[rlb1953]

In picture 5, is that a crack starting in the allen head screw hole and extending left toward the speed adjustment dial? You can also see it in picture 1 as well.

 

[rsanter]

Redrill or ream the holes clean, instal a plug in the hole, then silver solder

Bob

 

[djjsr]

If the structure of the table is still ok, couldn't the holes be repaired with JB Weld?

 

[Erampu]

I have a WWII era drill press that came out of a General Electric plant near here, and the table on it looks as bad, maybe worse, than the one in question. I don't do a lot of metal work on mine, but I question why the table needs repair. Do the holes somehow interfere with the work being done, or is it just a cosmetic/appearance thing?

 

[Stephenw]

I'd leave the table as it is.

If i was going to repair the table, I'd use brass brazing rod. Fill the holes and then carefully flatten the brass by hand with a file.

 

[Davefr]

I don't do a lot of metal work on mine, but I question why the table needs repair. Do the holes somehow interfere with the work being done, or is it just a cosmetic/appearance thing?

IMHO the table is unstable/unusable for smaller precision tasks. There's no support in the center for small parts or the end of bar stock. That oval hole looks to be 3/4" X 3"!!

I don't see how anyone could have so little respect for a high end machine like that.

Sure, you could always throw on a piece of plywood scrap for support but I'd try to repair it.

There was a previous thread where someone did a great job welding/ brazing "arc of shame" holes like that shut. The OP should search for it.

 

[dlehman604]

Depending on what type of drilling you are doing, you have numerous options for the table. I assume that all good drill presses will have abused tables - it just seems to be the way of things.

I would be more concerned about the condition of the variable speed drive. Lots of ways to fix a table, but the vs parts can spawn whole additional projects.

My last DP table repair - drill, tap, fill with bolts or pipe plugs, hit with angle grinder, and lap:

 

[Chuck122]

If you really want to repair it, i'd go with brazing, as welds on cast iron are prone to cracking. Brazing would likely reinforce the table without making it want to crack in you as the heat is less intense and more evenly distributed in the part. As others mentionned preheating and gradual cooling should go a long way