Stupid question du jour: How high should a drill press be?

[mark-NJ]

Howdy to all! Happy Monday!

This weekend I was given an old(er) drill press. Nothing special, really (It's an old Rockwood 120-IND), but it's solid & runs true. And it was 100% free (including delivery to my shop!), which is pretty cool!

Here's my dumb question: How high should a drill press be? I have another drill press...it's a 30 year old Sears tabletop drill press (1/5HP, much smaller, 1/2" chuck, 2 pulley) and when sitting on a 32" workbench, the chuck is about chest-high. I don't know if that's the "right" height or not, but I've become accustomed to it.

By comparison, this new Rockwood is considerably larger, more powerful & heavier (and that's wonderful), except with it sitting on a 32" high workbench, the chuck is at eye-height. Changing speeds will require a step ladder & a precarious climb up onto my bench! It sure seems like this should be sitting on a much-lower pedestal of some sort. Moreover, I'm not altogether sure that having the chuck at eye height is particularly safe. Yes, I wear ANSI Z87 safety glasses, but still: I don't need some piece of stock breaking free, spinning around and tearing my face open!

So, again, how high should a drill press be? I'm sure a person's height & comfort with the machine will have some bearing on the exact answer (I'm 6' tall), but is there a general rule of thumb?

Thanks for reading!

 

[mark-NJ]

Add on: Surfing around the 'net, I found a photo of this same drill press on some "used equipment for sale" site... The previous owner clearly welded up some sort of shorter pedestal for it, so maybe I'm correct that this isn't really a "bench top" tool in the first place.

I welcome your input.

(I might add...the pic below scares me, and not because the back leg is splayed...but rather because this drill is HEAVY, and this [below] has to be awkwardly top heavy in the worst way. Dangerously so.)

 

[Old tool guy]

It should be a comfortable reach to the handle.

 

[Digster]

Mine is about chest high, I find it the most comfortable for me....

 

[RTM]

I like the center of the handle about shoulder height, so my chuck is below eye level a fair amount

 

[lolaetype]

I think it's more a matter of personal preference than any specified height. Mine is at a benchtop that I've put on top of a four legged stand about 32 inches high. I sit on a stool when I use it so piece I'm drilling is at a convenient working height; I can manipulate the drill's on/off switch and other controls while looking downward at the piece being drilled.

My suggestion would be to decide your position while drilling (standing or sitting) and place the drill press at a height where using it feels most comfortable to you and where you can see what you are doing.

Neat looking drill, BTW. That should clean up nicely.

 

[JradM]

I wouldn't want my workpiece at eye height either. The handle pivot on my benchtop unit is about shoulder height when I'm standing.

I figure if you're forced to do anything awkward with your body positioning, it's probably wrong. Likewise, if the workpiece is at eye height, you'll probably have to hold your head away for safety. Usually you want to be looking down at it so you can see if everything is lined up.

I'd rather catch flying debris with my chest than my face.

 

[imagineer]

Here's a segment of a drawing of the rolling table I made for my drill press.
I made this in 2003 and it's still in use. I've since put larger (4") casters on it.

 

[BlitzcrankJapan]

Center of handle at around shoulder height.
Table from bottom of chest all the way down to knee height depending on your use. Belly button / waist height is a good start. Similar to a normal work bench height.

Yes the problem is always if you sit a drill press on a proper work bench height then the actual drill press will be too high. You need a low height bench so that the drill press table sits at normal work bench height.

 

[seber]

For me, I prefer the work surface at bottom of my ribs. In general that means the rotation gear is about shoulder height.

 

[Rusted Nut]

Set the unit so the controls at a comfortable height, and make sure the table is not too high when set at the top of its adjustment; adjust as needed from there. I like my table about 60” max.

 

[2oolhound]

Changing speeds shouldn't require a step ladder or standing on the bench. This procedure is not difficult and shouldn't be made to be. Be sure you can see the pulleys and reach the belt tension lock at standing height. I'm 6' too and my DP is floor standing, up on a 6" step on the floor and I can just reach everything easily to do this task (tiptoes OK).

You could also look at new DPs for sale on line and check the specks for the height of floor standing DPs. I think most are under 6'.