As many may know, a long time ago I picked up a somewhat abused Northern Industrial 13" 16 speed floor model Drill Press from a Craigslist seller. Guy was moving, house being packed up and the drill press had the belt lid all bent up etc... but otherwise worked well and it was cheap, like $75.00 cheap...
I bought it, took it home straightened out the belt cover / lid assembly via 2x4 dolly and hammer, and put it to use...
Fast forward to what I really wanted, and how I intend on changing up my shop.
I wanted / needed a bench top model, with drill, and drill bit storage cabinet underneath.
I LOVE the chuck throw of this thing, and literally all the new benchtop models I have seen just don't have the throw I want / need.
That is, except the HF 13" 16 speed benchtop model. Which other than paint and plastic colors, appears to be the same drill press with a shortened column.
I have toyed with the idea of shortening the column and worm gear.
I have no access to a metal cutting bandsaw, but I DO have an angle grinder and cutoff wheels.
I am wondering if it is worth it to try bobbing it via angle grinder / cutoff wheels, and then reinstalling to the shortened base...
This is going to be VERY important for maximinzing space utilization when I do the shed shop build and move...
Honestly my ideal would have been a Ryobi 12" but those have been off market quite a while, and finding them on the used market has been all but impossible...
I bought it, took it home straightened out the belt cover / lid assembly via 2x4 dolly and hammer, and put it to use...
Fast forward to what I really wanted, and how I intend on changing up my shop.
I wanted / needed a bench top model, with drill, and drill bit storage cabinet underneath.
I LOVE the chuck throw of this thing, and literally all the new benchtop models I have seen just don't have the throw I want / need.
That is, except the HF 13" 16 speed benchtop model. Which other than paint and plastic colors, appears to be the same drill press with a shortened column.
I have toyed with the idea of shortening the column and worm gear.
I have no access to a metal cutting bandsaw, but I DO have an angle grinder and cutoff wheels.
I am wondering if it is worth it to try bobbing it via angle grinder / cutoff wheels, and then reinstalling to the shortened base...
This is going to be VERY important for maximinzing space utilization when I do the shed shop build and move...
Honestly my ideal would have been a Ryobi 12" but those have been off market quite a while, and finding them on the used market has been all but impossible...
Comment