Skunk Works

Powered Drillpress Table

This modification that I made to my drill press table, has proven to be very beneficial. I think that my drill-press is probably typical of most of the drill presses out there with a crank-up table. I always disliked the way the table had to be raised and lowered, all the while keeping a eye on the work on the table or in the vise, as well as the tool mounted in the chuck.

I was in my local surplus center (Princess Auto) one day when I spotted this gear-head motor assembly. Looking at the specs, I noticed the 25 RPM rating, and doing some calculations in my head, I decided to purchase it and take it home. It was a simple modification to add the spacers and mounting-plate you see in the photo. The motor is 110 volt and reverseable. I wired the toggle-switch shown, into the electrics of the drill-press.

A adapter was made up, that couples the output-shaft of the gear-head assembly, to the input-shaft (where the crank attached on the drill-press) of the table assembly. After some layout work on the side of the table-casting, 2 holes were drilled and tapped that matched the mounting plate, to mount this assembly on to the side of the table casting. The holes were simple to drill with a hand-drill.

Upon using my new attachment for the first time, I never looked back, and I am not sure if the crank even exists in my shop any-longer. Now I can run the table up and down, from the front of the drill-press without any effort, and the gearing has proven to be right on the mark, as the table raises and lowers at a good rate of speed, yet very controllable when the work is approaching the tool mounted in the chuck.