Cheap Drill Press Improvements

[kess]

From the very first day I bought this drill press (Parkside PTBM 500 C3)
I had in mind to replace the column that was too poor (a tube ø46x450x1.5mm) and relatively short with a solid one
as well as its base with something more robust and stiffer like a cast iron plate or a steel plate.

The major problem was at the base; wrong geometry.
When I push to drill then the main base distorts around the column and starting to move up and backwards losing its verticality.



I have an older model (PTBM 500 A1) that its base whereas it was sheet metal made;
I never encountered any distortion issues like in this model.



Searching at the junkyard I found this stand that probably once it was a drill press base that later was modified to be used for some other application.
Its column diameter was ø45mm (one millimeter less than the needed) but it wasn't a so big deal.
The base of the stand was cast iron.
So I decided to buy it and give a try.