DIY Drill Press Stand (Warning 56K users...large pics)

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:22 am

Last Friday I decided to finally buy a drill press. Floor space is a premium in the garage so I needed a stand with a small footprint. Last year I stumbled on this webpage when looking into building a utility trailer. I used this guy’s design as inspiration to build my own stand.

I went to a local old-school machine shop last Friday and scored some nice pieces of steel for cheap. I got a 3-foot piece of 3” square tubing and two 8”x12”x3/8” thick plates for $20. I already had some scrap 1-1/4” square tubing, so with all the materials in hand I was ready to get started. I worked on it Sunday afternoon and after work this week. Below are pics of the build process.

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:00 pm

Nice job, Vincent.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:43 pm

and so how are you mounting it to the concrete? RedHeads?

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:58 am

Nice welds

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:30 am

steve remchak wrote:

and so how are you mounting it to the concrete? RedHeads?

Yes...supervisor. :roll:

steve remchak · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:47 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

and so how are you mounting it to the concrete? RedHeads?

Yes...supervisor. :roll:

just the facts Ma'am. just the facts. :wink:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:35 am

Richard Casto wrote:

Nice welds

Thanks! $49 for that 10 week class at our local community college was well worth it. Well that, and lots of practice.

clinehall · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:57 am

VK, you are my Hero. If I could get this golf monkey off my back I want to be just like you (well with out some of the Sheldon tendancies).

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Cool project. You know, the more I work with metal the more I like it. Makes working with wood seem like child's play

You know, I have my shop tools on a nice 2" thick maple work bench, cause I find when I'm drilling, cutting, or using the grinder I need work space for tools and parts, only rarely do I have one part in my hand to work on, I find.

Out of curiosity, what did you do about a utility trailer? What I have found is that you can buy an old beat up trailer for less than the cost of all the new steel. I took my $200 piece of crap 4x8 trailer and welded on a new a-frame, spring mounts (it was fixed, no springs), and did some other customization. Next step is to graft on fenders and lights.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:24 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

Richard Casto wrote:

Nice welds

Thanks! $49 for that 10 week class at our local community college was well worth it. Well that, and lots of practice.

Same here. My time at community college welding class was well spent!

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:26 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Out of curiosity, what did you do about a utility trailer? What I have found is that you can buy an old beat up trailer for less than the cost of all the new steel.

I did a price comparison between a new 4'x8' one from Lowes (which I thought was waaay overpriced) to the cost of the new steel, plus axles, wheels, tires, fenders, light, etc. Well guess what? Just the cost of the materials (since I don't buy steel in bulk like the trailer guys do) was more than a pre-built trailer. Granted their workmanship was less than stellar, but I couldn't justify the extra cost to build one myself that was better.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:27 am

clinehall wrote:

VK, you are my Hero. If I could get this golf monkey off my back I want to be just like you (well with out some of the Sheldon tendancies).

Hey, my grandmother never called me MoonPie! :lol:

clinehall · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:18 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

clinehall wrote:

VK, you are my Hero. If I could get this golf monkey off my back I want to be just like you (well with out some of the Sheldon tendancies).

Hey, my grandmother never called me MoonPie! :lol:

Good one!

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:04 am

On the topic of work bench tops: I have been using 2x16" gluelam beam stock for bench tops (the guys that built my garage miscut a 24'er and left it for me). It's denser than solid wood, never warps or shrinks and best of all is inexpensive, even if you buy it. Lumber yards get it in long lengths, and contractors often order it cut to a shorter length. Any short ends (typically 8' or shorter) are considered drops and if the guys at the yard are very friendly they may even give you a length or two of drops. I covered mine with SS or Al sheet from the recycle yard for a bench that will last a lifetime.

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DIY Drill Press Stand (Warning 56K users...large pics)

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