Drill Press Base?

[Bucky_IL]

Just curious, but does anyone know why drill press bases are so odd shapped? There are two slots in the base? Is this so the bolts are fixed and the base can be moved back an forth?

Thanks, BC

[Bruce Barnett]

So you can clamp vises, etc; to the table.

See

[Edwin Pawlowski]

They allow a lot of latitude for mounting. Not every drill press is mounted on a bench or the floor for starters. I've seen them attached to machines being repaired, etc.

The other situation is clamping. There are times the table is turned aside and the work is mounted on the base. The slots allow for using hold downs on the work.

[Bucky_IL]

I'm actually talking about the what the drill press sits on. If you look at this picture you can see the bottom has two slots (looks almost like a T). Are these used for clamps also?

[Bucky_IL]

Should have put in the picture.

[The Davenports]

As Edwin said, it's for mounting fixtures, clamping parts, whatever you'd use the slots on the table for, you can use the slots in the base.

Mike