The Drill Press FIX a Square Column for your drill press.

[winkys workshop]

Here's a Drill press modification I made a while back. This is Part 1 of 4 and part 3 is testing the accuracy and 4 has a link to the plans. I've since replaced the hand crank with a Harbor Freight 3/8" hand drill. You can't beat the price, I think I paid $9 when it was on sale.

This modification keeps the horizontal reference when you move the table. You can use a center drill and step up to a 12" long reamer and everything stays lined up.

[DIYer]

Thanks winkys workshop! We've added your Drill Press Column to our Drilling and Drill Presses category,
as well as to your builder page: winkys workshop's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Drill Press Column by winkys workshop

tags: drill press, modification

[Paul Alciatore]

That sounds like a neat idea. And you got another 2" in the swing. Win, win, WIN!

When I first saw the post, I wondered if you could still drill holes in the ends of long pieces by hanging them off the side of the table. But you kept the round hole in the head casting so you can always loosen it and swing it to the side. Seems like you are sacrificing almost nothing. Yes, win, win, WIN!

I have seen a lot of drill press videos on YouTube but this if by far better than any of them. Thanks for posting it.

Oh, and I also picked up on your trick with the cutoff tool. Double thanks.

Final note: Better music than most and you actually had the audio levels set about the same for both voice and the music. The music does not blast me out of my chair. Very few YouTubers know and understand that. That gets you a "BRAVO"!

[winkys workshop]

Thanks for the great comment. I'm a long time youtube content creator and have a few good projects but this square column drill press is by far the best of my creations. Paired with an X Y slide table its totally amazing. I'm not exaggerating when I say this but I use the drill press almost daily and it gets used more than any other tool. Mill like accuracy is easy.

The cutoff tool is second on the list although I have several. The best video that has the holder with the HHS blade!

I recently restored a 1931 South Bend 11 (see 4 part video on my channel) and after that I made a improved (twice, two videos) lantern style tool holder. You brought up the music in my videos and it made me think of this one. I was proud the editing and music on this one. Check it out, I think the intro is great!

[thevillageinn]

I have a similar adjustable height lantern toolpost for a little Unimat I have and while the ability to fine tune for exact tool height is great, you’re right a QCTP has more advantages when the operations require frequent tool changes. It gets a bit old having to adjust the tool center height each time you want to use a new tool...which is where your specific height spacer blocks again have an advantage.
Thanks for sharing!

[winkys workshop]

I have a similar adjustable height lantern toolpost for a little Unimat I have and while the ability to fine tune for exact tool height is great, you’re right a QCTP has more advantages when the operations require frequent tool changes. It gets a bit old having to adjust the tool center height each time you want to use a new tool...which is where your specific height spacer blocks again have an advantage.
Thanks for sharing!

I agree.... for most thing I like the quick change better but I also like the ease of adjusting the height on my lantern but the biggest is is how solid it is.

[DIYer]

Thanks winkys workshop! We've added your Lantern Tool Holder to our Tool Holders category,
as well as to your builder page: winkys workshop's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lantern Tool Holder by winkys workshop

tags: lathe, tool holder

[wizard69]

That adjustable shim for a lantern type tool post was interesting. However the first link was to your square column drill press which to me was even more interesting. So how has tht drill press worked out for you?