Do you have a drill press table and if so did you build it or purchase a ready to use one.

Any recommendation on tables?

I think we had a thread on this but I couldn't locate it.

---

John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I bought the Incra table from my Grizzly DP.  Since I had Incra miter gauge and Router Table fence which work great, I thought it would be a good fit for me. But I have been disappointed with it. If I was in need of one now I would look to build or go with something other than the Incra.

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

John, years ago I bought one from Rockler and I never liked it. This is not a slam on Rockler, but a critique on my own failure to investigate it deeper.

One of the major shortcomings of mine are the fence is too high. I cannot drill pieces next to it because the chuck hits the fence before the bit can contact the material. A major flaw in that design.

Looking at the one's Woodcraft has to offer (not saying to buy one from them, just for reference only) they have a nice table by Woodpecker that has a lowered fence for drilling right up next to it, and the hold downs are pretty low profile as well. I like this design knowing what I know now.

Now that being said, if I had it all to do over again, and I do, and I will, I am going to build my own. I just surfed on over to Woodcraft's plans and saw this one, and it so happens this is exactly what I had in mind for my next one, with storage below.

I really like the extensions on this one John, and like I said that storage is what I am after as well.

You can even see they too have a tall fence which I just don't get, you don't need it, but they did go as far as cutting out where the chuck ascends into the work piece. You could modify this plan to accommodate a lower fence or cut out as they did.

Before you build or buy one, you need to also think about if your DP comes with a hand crank for lowering or raising the table, because after you install a table, it adds additional weight to the factory table, if you don't have a crank for the table height adjustment up and down the column, it's a major PITA to grab the new table and work it up the column, plus as in my case I have literally ripped the table off the steel table as I was trying to raise it by hand, my DP does not have a crank.

So if your going to add a table, you're going to want to retrofit your DP with a hand crank height adjuster.

Hope this helps John

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

I like the shop made alternatives. Especially, with storage, I would prefer drawers, though. Things get lost in the back of my cubbies. If you want the capabilities of the Tee Track in the fence, I'd guess the fence would need to be fairly high so the stop would have a bearing surface above the track. The cut out really wouldn't be a bid deal for the added capabilities of a taller fence...JMHO.

One thing to keep in mind if you have a crank is to allow room to use it. I had to cut out a slot in the table for my crank. Since my table extends beyond the crank, the slot doesn't affect the use of the table. Because you'll likely need to cut that slot, you might consider making the storage box less deep so that the table extends beyond the back of the box. 

Someone could make a fortune if they'd come up with a powered DP adjustment, sorta like the powered router lifts. Or, a way to crank the table from the front. 

---

Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

John Morris:

I like that plan with the storage. I also agree whole heartily about the height of the fence hindering your drilling. That is one of the issues that I have with mine.

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

That is the kind of information I was looking for. I liked the look of the woodpecker that you were showing above John. I also looked at the plans to build the other one. Not that I am cheap and I know I will get what I pay for but the kit for the build your one was over 200.00. The woodpecker was 140.00. Now with that said I do like the idea of the storage.

But I am glad you mentioned about the fence as I mad not even thought of that.

I looked at some on some other sites, but haven't made my mind up yet.

Any other suggestions or recommendations please let me know.

---

John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

John Moody,

Surely, one like that, or better, could be built for less than 200 smackaroos. Finding the phenolic ply would be not too easy for me, though. 

---

Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I've considered building a tilting table for a while now. I find the most useful tools on the DP are a decent vice and my machinist's 6"  hardened steel square block shot  full of tapped holes that I made years ago.  If I didn't have that, I'd make one from wood.