Does a drill press need to be bolted down?

[Mike Chalmers]

Well, assuming one likes cat treats.

Me, I'd add it to all the money I didn't spend on unnecessary precautions on my other tools (like static grounding wire for my DC) and buy a good bottle of wine to enjoy with my sweetie.

Nothing quite like emerging from the basement coated in a fine layer of exotic hardwood dust on a Friday evening and popping the cork on a nice Cab Sav as you fire up the barbie.

+1 to this concept.

[James Goodnight]

Revisiting this old thread...

I'm new to the forum and have been researching this topic as I prepare to install my new Porter-Cable PCB660DP 15" floor-stand drill press. My present plan is to bolt the DP base to an overlapping "tic-tac-toe" web of 2x4's to help stabilize the DP for initial. I'm 6'-7, so the extra 3" of tool height should be an extra benefit. Once the DP finds a more-or-less permanent location in my shop, I'll look into adjusting the web size and lag bolting it into the floor joists.

Thanks for the helpful discussion above.

Regards,
Jim

[David Helm]

My drill press has been in place for 18 years. It has a 90# bag of sand on its base. I have never had a reason to move it from its original location.

[Tom M King]

How can you walk it around the floor to where you need it if it's bolted down? I've never owned one bolted down, including the big one in the metal shop.

[ian maybury]

Seems like a bit of a pays your money takes your pick sort of deal.

The 'safety' argument must be to bolt it down - especially if it has the fairly typical smallish footprint of the more budget machines. A secondary risk is the possibility of getting something caught up in a revolving chuck while grabbing to stabilise a wobble.

The trouble (as i can say from experience) is that no sooner is it bolted down than a job will come along that could use moving it.

Mine (a typical 3/4HP eastern model) once unbolted was never bolted down again. Against that it very nearly ended up falling over a couple of times in about 18 years.

I compromised by always keeping a foot on the baseplate while working, but it wouldn't pass as safe in a public work environment. An enlarged base from ply or something projecting out to the sides and to the front so you stand on it sounds like a good idea......

[Mel Fulks]

One shop I worked in was actually cited by Osha inspector for a too small DP base. We thought it was nutty but the cheaper machines do seem top heavy.

[Jim Dwight]

Mine has never been bolted down and it has never come close to tipping over. It is an old floor standing craftsman and the base is very heavy cast iron. No need at all to bolt it down. If I had one that was tippy, I would cable it to the wall or ceiling, not bolt it to the floor.

[Frederick Skelly]

My Ridgid is bolted to two 2x6's that run perpendicular to the "head" of the machine. It's not bolted to the floor. It's been fine for 10 years.

[Jerry Olexa]

In my experience, generally NO!!!

[Ole Anderson]

Mine is located in a corner of the shop, so when I need to drill longer pieces, it needs to move, therefore it isn't bolted down. See post #30.

[Charlie Fox]

speaking from experience - i have had one topple over on me. i sometimes drill very large objects so i built an oversize table to accommodate the projects, so i have to get on the ground underneath in order to turn the crank to raise and lower the table, and one day it all came down.

post no. 6 was my solution. a short rope to the ceiling and it is safe now.

[James Goodnight]

My Ridgid is bolted to two 2x6's that run perpendicular to the "head" of the machine. It's not bolted to the floor. It's been fine for 10 years.

This sounds similar to my "web" notion. I (think I) get the side-to-side stability concept. No front-to-back tipping/rocking issues?

Thanks / Jim

[Wade Lippman]

Revisiting this old thread...

I'm new to the forum and have been researching this topic as I prepare to install my new Porter-Cable PCB660DP 15" floor-stand drill press. My present plan is to bolt the DP base to an overlapping "tic-tac-toe" web of 2x4's to help stabilize the DP for initial. I'm 6'-7, so the extra 3" of tool height should be an extra benefit. Once the DP finds a more-or-less permanent location in my shop, I'll look into adjusting the web size and lag bolting it into the floor joists.

Thanks for the helpful discussion above.

Regards,
Jim

No one said it depends on the drill press. I have the PC and it does not have to be bolted down. One of these days I will make a mobile base for it, but haven't gotten around to it.
My last DP was a Laguna. Breathing hard on it would have toppled it. I put it on some 2x4s to increase the base width. Since I am 8" shorter than you and find the PC a good height, adding 7" isn't a bad idea; but that is probably true for all WW tools.

[James Goodnight]

Wade,

Thanks for your perspectives. I found sound old PT 6x6 cut-offs in my garage, so I'll probably start with those for DP stabilization and height "correction".

Finding a comfortable working height has long been a challenge for me. My shortest work bench is 36" tall, and is OK. My preferred work bench is a 40" inch one I built. It's great for surface work and assembly, but it's a bit high for many power tools.

My next bench will be somewhere in the ~38" range, but will include a 3-1/2" depression for my miter saw.

Thanks again / Jim

[Paul McGaha]

I bolt down all my machines that aren't on mobile bases.

My drill press is a standard floor type Delta. It's very top heavy.

PHM