Drill Press Crank Handle

[tonyfoale]

I just wish that I had a drill press with a rack and pinion lift that I could attach such a handle too.

I have two drills, one is bench mounted the other floor mounted. The floor mounted one has two tables and so it is quite heavy to lift up and down. To help relieve the effort I added a pulley above and ran a thin steel cable over it to a counter weight (a surplus face plate from an old lathe). That fixed the problem on that drill and for large vertical movements it is probably quicker than a rack and pinion system.

The bench mounted drill doesn't have enough vertical space for a counter weight and so I still have to struggle with that one, but the table is not too heavy. A rack and pinion would be welcome on this one. I am thinking about adding a spring such that the weight is balanced with the table in mid position, then below that height I'd have to press down a bit , and above I'd have to lift but less than now.