Drill Press - Mobile Base??

I have a 17" DP on a mobile stand that I made. At the corners of the stand, I mounted 1/2" bolts that I screw down to stabilize the stand. In the rare circumstance that I want to move the DP, I retract the bolts and move the DP *very carefully*. I can e-mail you a photo if you wish.

Max

I did basically the same thing for a smaller DP. The homemade base is bolted to the DP base (not simply sitting on it). Two fixed rollers at the rear, two swivel rollers at the front and 1/2" bolts through square steel "tubing" and plywood. The thing should be very solid because any flex "amplifies" up at the table height.

I also keep the spare vises and a bag of sand on the base.

- S

This concern has been posted here several times over the past couple of years. Generally the the advice is to use caution or not use a mobile base at all. The smallest obstruction (joint in shop floor of even a piece of wood) can catch the wheels and lead to tipping a top-heavy machine. I have always considered my DP to be one of the smaller footprints in the shop and find a place to place it full-time. Granted, it finds a new home from time to time but not on wheels.

RonB

Thanks for all the replys. I just put the beast together and am surprised at how little a tilt shifts the weight. I think for now I will leave it in one spot. Luckily, I have a tool cart that is about 5" off the ground (raised for an outfeed table) that rolls right over the base, so I don't loose much real estate at all.

As I posted below, I think I will leave the DP grounded for now. I would like to see a picture of your setup. Just remove the CUTHERE from my email address.

Dave snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net

"David Bridgeman" wrote

They're on the way.

Max

I have an HTC mobile base on mine. I only move it maybe once every 2 years..

My drill press required that you mount the drill press base on a fairly large piece of 3/4 plywood in order to help stablity. The bigger footprint makes it stable, even on a mobile base.

There's no way in hell I'd put it on a mobile base without the bigger plywood "foot".

Here is my solution to that problem - use at your own risk:

I actually found your site by googling before my original post. I can see how it works but that setup frightens me a bit. Thanks for the response.

Dave

I think I will leave it on the floor for now. I may try a mobile base with a larger plywood foot as you mentioned. Thanks for the response.

Dave