Double-Duty Drill-Press Shelf

Shopmade shelf keeps parts and bits close at hand and is ideal for catching wood chips.

#256–Sep/Oct 2016 Issue

When using the drill press, I never have a good place to set aside multiple parts I am working on. So I made an adjustable shelf that mounts on the column, below the normal table, where I can place parts, bits, and accessories. What I love about it is that it also catches most of the chips from drilling and makes cleanup a cinch. I left one side open, placed a trash can under that edge, and adjusted the shelf just above the can. Now when a job is complete, cleanup takes just a few seconds. No more dustpan. To attach the tray to the drill press I made a simple hardwood frame, with a two-sided clamp that grabs the column. One side of this clamp is the central rail of the frame, screwed solidly to it. The other side of the clamp bracket is a separate part. To cut the big hole in these parts that fits around the drill-press column, clamp the parts together temporarily and use a circle-cutter or large hole saw on the drill press. To fit the plywood tray around the column, you can simply jigsaw a notch in it, and then fill the back side of the cutout once the tray is in place.

Dan Martin, Galena, OH

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Rockler Dust Right 1250 CFM

You’ll need help to get this heavy unit onto its bracket, but if you’re looking for a central dust collector that won’t gobble floor space, this may be the unit for you.

Buy at Rockler