Great idea, and doing away with the need for a quill too.

Only thing I would do different is to add a second cross brace behind the upright but I may be over engineering again. I just don't like relying on things welded at only one side, but that comes from being a retired class one welder, people were always trying to break welds to show us up.

Love the build though. Hmm no quill. I might have to build one with a really massive chuck and motor just for the sake of it now. Just got to find that old Jacobs 1" chuck now, can't be far, I saw it in my shed about 20 years ago!! lol

Regards, Al