Drill press table question – First time post
Jack759
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hi, my first time posting here. I have a Porter-Cable drill press. Model PCB660DP. I also bought the Woodcraft Wood River table. So after it arrived I went to install it and I’m horrified to see there’s no holes in this metal Porter-Cable table at all. It has t-channels in the top of the table but I can’t install it that way. About all I can do is try to drill holes in that thick steel to mount it. I had a table top Delta and even it had holes in it.
I emailed Porter-Cable to see if they sold a metal table with holes or slots in the bottom but no reply as yet.
Any advice? I’d really like to use this Wood River table.
Thanks.
Jack in Atlanta
Replies
Drill it. The table is probably cast iron, not steel. Easier to drill than you think. If you take the table off and rig a table you can use the drill press to drill the table. I would suggest centerpunching and drilling a small diameter hole for guidance before drilling your final diameters in case you find yourself going through or close to a rib.
Thank you MJ. I plan on drilling through it with a 1/2" bit as I need some play to align the holes. However, I have no choice but to use a hand drill as there's no way the iron table will align with the chuck. I really don't know how to rig a table for this as my shop is still being set up. I'll definitely center punch it and use a smaller but, and lot of slow speed and oil too.
MJ is right, the cast iron will drill fairly easy. Like he said, drill the first hole with a small bit 3/16" or so. Then if you want to finish at 1/2" depending on how sharp your bits are you could go srtight to the 1/2". Make sure you keep oil on the bits the whole time. You may be able to rotate the iron table to the left and right far enough to drill a couple of holes in it without taking it off.
I have a 32"X24" plywood table screwed to a 12"X13" cast iron table with two screws. My table is 1 1/2" thick so the srews have pretty good purchase and I haven't had any problums. Good luck Jack759
I was once in your situation but, with a tablesaw. I was assured and found it to be true, cast iron drills easily. I am not familiar with your drill press and most tables have ribs underneath that can make hole positions tricky.
For my drill press table I had the opposite problem, slots in the table and an incompatible (or undesired) method of attachment. I marked new locations and put my own inserts in the locations where they would work for me.
This involved finding positions that fit the slots but, missed the t-track recessed in from the top. With the luxury of drilling your own hole locations, yours is an easy job.
The Woodcraft site says the Wood River table has 4 threaded inserts on the underside - so the holes you drill must be in that exact same pattern.
If you want to drill smaller, more accurate holes in your cast iron table you can make a template. Tape a piece of paper to the underside of the Wood River table and rub pencil lead over each hole location. Then tape the paper to a piece of 3/4" ply or MDF and drill the holes. Before relying on this template, verify its accuracy by matching it to the Wood River holes.
Now you can take it to the cast iron table and drill holes in the perfect spots.
Bonus: If you find the Wood River table interferes with the crank handle of your Porter-Cable drill press, you can permenently insert the template between the tables to provide an additional 3/4" clearance.
Hi fellas, thanks for your replies.
This is what I have done so far. I used a small piece of plexiglass and held it over the threaded inserts on the Wood River table. Made circles with a marker. Then I clamped it to the cast iron table. Next I drilled through the plexiglass into the cast iron with a drill bit the same diameter as the holes and started to drill, made some nice divots, it's indeed very soft metal. Now I'm going to go to Lowe's to buy a 1/2 inch bit so I can enlarge the holes so I have plenty of wiggle room. After that all I need is four 14-28 bolts to bolt it from underneath. Dang, I didn't even check the handle, will do that now. Much appreciated guys!
Hi guys, I used a 1/2 drill bit then stepped it up with a Unibit. Can't believe how easy it was as the metal is very soft. Just wanted to post and let ya'll know I appreciate your help.
That's great Jack. Thanks for circling back.
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