Delta Floor Model Drill Press.  I currently have it mounted on a 1 1/2" thick plywood base with wheels underneath which raises the whole thing about 4 1/2" above the floor.  It's always felt a bit too high.  My other recent post concerning adding an auxiliary table will make the work surface even higher.  So I'm thinking that I should re-do the mobile base to get the work surface lower to the ground.  Again, I've seen several designs and would appreciate your suggestions.   Due to my 'shop' size I would like to keep the drill press mobile.  I also thought about making a standing platform....hinge it to the front of the base to flip up when not in use or flip down when I need to do some drilling. 

Jim, In this case I think your best bet is to go with a manufactured unit. Depending on budget, there's about any combination available to provide you with what you need.

 

One very affordable (IMO) that also receives good reviews is THIS HTC model. Won't quite get you back to floor height, but darn close...certainly lower than your current set-up.

 

I have THIS H-F version which should work equally well. You have to provide your own hardwood or iron runners &/or you could add your plywood as a base. It's currently on sale at $34.99...use a 20% Off coupon brings it down to $28 plus you can get a free flashlite or tarp or multi-meter or 25' tape or screwdriver set or???

 

My $ 02/100

Several years ago Wood mag had plans for mobile bases.  I made a base for the table saw, jointer and drill press from them.  They have each served me well, but I could have just about gotten a store bought for the money I have in them...

12 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Jim, In this case I think your best bet is to go with a manufactured unit. Depending on budget, there's about any combination available to provide you with what you need.

 

One very affordable (IMO) that also receives good reviews is THIS HTC model. Won't quite get you back to floor height, but darn close...certainly lower than your current set-up.

 

I have THIS H-F version which should work equally well. You have to provide your own hardwood or iron runners &/or you could add your plywood as a base. It's currently on sale at $34.99...use a 20% Off coupon brings it down to $28 plus you can get a free flashlite or tarp or multi-meter or 25' tape or screwdriver set or???

 

My $ 02/100

Thank You for the tip.  I dug out a HF coupon and went to HF this morning and bought one.  Plus a flashlight....new design has the single bulb and seems brighter.

2 hours ago, JIMMIEM said:

Thank You for the tip.  I dug out a HF coupon and went to HF this morning and bought one.  Plus a flashlight....new design has the single bulb and seems brighter.

Cool...interested on your review of the base, but I think you'll be pleased for your application. Flashlights are like clamps....you can never have too many.

1 hour ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Cool...interested on your review of the base, but I think you'll be pleased for your application. Flashlights are like clamps....you can never have too many.

Stay tuned.  I'm sure it will be fine.  Just need to get the wood.

It was a tough call whether to get the flashlight or the magnetic parts holder....can never have too many of either.

2 hours ago, JIMMIEM said:

Stay tuned.  I'm sure it will be fine.  Just need to get the wood.

It was a tough call whether to get the flashlight or the magnetic parts holder....can never have too many of either.

I'll be watching...Yeah I've got a few of the magnetic parts holders too...all full right now. Most recent acquisition is the 40x72 moving blanket. Great when folded for the dog's bed. She seems to like them too...chews them to shreds.

9 hours ago, Cal said:

Several years ago Wood mag had plans for mobile bases.  I made a base for the table saw, jointer and drill press from them.  They have each served me well, but I could have just about gotten a store bought for the money I have in them...

I have the Wood mag article and also plans from a Shopnotes mag.  The HF base was less than $30 so I bought it.  Should save some time assembling it vs building my own.   I had bought a mobile base for my table saw several years ago which was more expensive.

42 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I'll be watching...Yeah I've got a few of the magnetic parts holders too...all full right now. Most recent acquisition is the 40x72 moving blanket. Great when folded for the dog's bed. She seems to like them too...chews them to shreds.

Those moving blankets are a good deal for the price....use them all the time to protect floors and furniture from dirt and dings.  Gotta wonder if they are made with anything harmful to the dog?  Seems everything contains carcinogens.

58 minutes ago, JIMMIEM said:

Those moving blankets are a good deal for the price....use them all the time to protect floors and furniture from dirt and dings.  Gotta wonder if they are made with anything harmful to the dog?  Seems everything contains carcinogens.

Agreed, the blankets are a good value especially "on-sale" or with a coupon. I keep some of both sizes on hand. Kids use a couple of the big ones in the summer as blankets on the ground. I keep a couple in my truck to use as cushions when I pull the bed cover down against something to tall to close and latch. I've actually used them when moving furniture...who would have guessed you could use them for that.

 

As for the dog, I don't think she ingests anything or very little but she sure likes to rip them apart with her teeth. Probably still some of the puppy in her since she just turned one. She also entertains herself of late by pulling up solar walk lights then chewing up the globes.

I made curtains out of two of those blankets for my buddy's basement doors.  Added grommets also from HF and put up a piece of electrical conduit and wham, instant, cheap, and good insulating curtains.

 

 

15 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I'll be watching...Yeah I've got a few of the magnetic parts holders too...all full right now. Most recent acquisition is the 40x72 moving blanket. Great when folded for the dog's bed. She seems to like them too...chews them to shreds.

What species of wood did you use?  I'm thinking about using Maple but I have a lot of Red Oak flooring left over from when I installed it in my house.....maybe glue some flooring pieces together and rip to 1 1/4" X 1 1/4".  Your thoughts?

12 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

I made curtains out of two of those blankets for my buddy's basement doors.  Added grommets also from HF and put up a piece of electrical conduit and wham, instant, cheap, and good insulating curtains.

 

 

Maybe some of the HF tarps for shower curtains?

13 minutes ago, JIMMIEM said:

What species of wood did you use?  I'm thinking about using Maple but I have a lot of Red Oak flooring left over from when I installed it in my house.....maybe glue some flooring pieces together and rip to 1 1/4" X 1 1/4".  Your thoughts?

I bought some Poplar from Menard's that was sized pretty close then trimmed to fit. I think they were 1-3/8" x 1-3/8" actual before trimming. My base is on my old 12" Craftsman ... I also have some random pieces of oak, maple and hickory flooring I may glue up then trim for my next one. I need one for my joiner too. You should be fine using glue up of the red oak. I didn't have the flooring at the time.

On 1/18/2019 at 5:49 AM, JIMMIEM said:

Maybe some of the HF tarps for shower curtains?

If you are a bachelor, sure.  If married, maybe not a good idea.  Unless you don't want to live much longer.  

 

But I might make a picture doing just that and send to my Mother.  That will light her fire.  And when she informs Dad, maybe even shows said picture if he laughs:

 

 

The bigger the footprint and closer to the floor , will help from tipping over too.

GO Harbor Freight!!   I like their moving blankets too great for camping.

 

Herb

12 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

If you are a bachelor, sure.  If married, maybe not a good idea.  Unless you don't want to live much longer.  

 

But I might make a picture doing just that and send to my Mother.  That will light her fire.  And when she informs Dad, maybe even shows said picture if he laughs:

 

Being married, I'm tempted to test out your theory.  How would you define much longer?  Would I be around to watch the Super Bowl?  How about the Academy Awards?

11 hours ago, Dadio said:

The bigger the footprint and closer to the floor , will help from tipping over too.

GO Harbor Freight!!   I like their moving blankets too great for camping.

 

Herb

Concerning the footprint size, I'm wondering if there is some type of calculation to calculate the optimal size.

2 hours ago, JIMMIEM said:

Concerning the footprint size, I'm wondering if there is some type of calculation to calculate the optimal size. 

Some people have put a board across the base plate of the DP attaching it to the mobile base on each side to keep the DP from tipping off the mobile base when rolled around.

 

Herb

Moved topic out of Woodworking Tips to Woodworking