Wen 4214 drill press head, need base options

[jeffberk]

A local seller has five brand new Wen #4214 drill press heads for $25 each. Unfortunately, no base or columns. Even though its a Wen brand, it seems like a great deal but I'm not sure how to make use of it without a base.
Does anyone have an opinion of if this is worth getting and how to make it into an operable unit? Perhaps buying an old, donor drill press and doing a head transplant?

 

[JradM]

I have that drill press. Well, mine is a different color and branded Mastercraft. Wen is sometimes sold under a bunch of different brand names, including Ryobi.

Donor seems viable, like you mentioned. The variety of brand names might expand your search. Otherwise you'd have to make the parts yourself - which might not be cheap, easy or result in the level of precision you're looking for. Probably could be done though. You might be searching for a donor for awhile.

I would pick one up for that price - if not to make a drill press, to power... something. Maybe a DIY lathe? buffer? Grinder? If you don't have one of those, maybe you should buy two heads. P.s. I know you're not supposed to put side-to-side force on a drill press. I just wouldn't care for that price. Frankly I've abused mine over the years and it's still going strong.

 

[LCSteve]

I know I'm a little late to the show on this reply but I owned one of these and converted it a floor model. I found <1 hr of elbow grease using a sanding flap wheel in my cordless drill allowed a 2-3/8 fence post to slide in this drill head and base with ease. I felt the stock base was a bit smallish as a floor stand so some thick walled box tubing welded around the fence post made for a much more stable setup. I ended up selling it when a Powermatic 1150a nearly fell in my lap for free.

Steve

 

[Corndoggeh]

If you check Wens website they tend to sell the parts pretty low cost. I picked up a 4225 column for $60 free shipping to go a head unit that had shipping damage on the belt cover.

 

[Jazz1]

looks swankier than my 25 year old Mastercraft 8” drill. Store employee gave me a chuck off a floor model as original chuck defective day one and a spare chuck! Today the 25 year old chuck worn and replaced