New Drill Press, Now with Wheels!

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I picked up a Ridgid drill press from Home Depot last weekend but I really needed it to be mobile due to less than ideal space available in the garage.  I used a piece of 1.5" x 0.5" channel and some 1.5" x 1/8" to mount the wheels.  The drill press drilled the 1/2" holes in the channel like a hot knife through butter.  I used 3/32" 6011 to weld the 1/8" pieces to the channel and I ended up about 60 amps DCEP.  My welds certainly aren't very good, but they are getting better.  The wheels raised the height about 3" which actually makes it a more ideal height for me.
Reply:Looks nice!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Looks great.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:welds look good. the only concern that i would have would be the stability factor. does it wobble/ try to walk when it is in use?Later,Andy
Reply:Originally Posted by aczellerwelds look good. the only concern that i would have would be the stability factor. does it wobble/ try to walk when it is in use?Later,Andy
Reply:i bought that same press.. i like it alot..  i like the lifetime warrenty the rigid tools comes with now....i just picked up a cheepy vise for it ..
Reply:Originally Posted by badtexasz28That was my initial thought, but he did use locking swivel casters... so Im guessing the walking part is solved. Also since the actual footprint is wider than the base was originally, Im guessing it is pretty stable.
Reply:It helps to buy casters that lock both the wheel AND the swivel joint. OW, I find that it just doesn't seem stable enough on machinery mobile bases.ANother option is you could replace the casters with some of the great lakes casters that have an integrated leveling pad. You can get them in 1.75", 3", 4", 6" sizes.http://www.greatlakescaster.com/products.php?cat=262Tim
Reply:I have been considering buying one of these drill presses, how does everyone that owns one like them?  My budget is around $350 for one and this is one I can buy local (no shipping fees) however, I would like to hear from some owners prior to making the purchase.  Thanks.MolongneckLincoln 175HD MigWard's Powr-Kraft 230 ARCHypertherm Powermax 45Harris O/A TorchMakita 2414NB Chop SawMakita 9557PB 4 1/2" Angle GrinderClarke BT 1002 6" Brench GrinderRyobi DP 120 12" Drill Press
Reply:Originally Posted by shott8283i bought that same press.. i like it alot..  i like the lifetime warrenty the rigid tools comes with now....i just picked up a cheepy vise for it ..
Reply:Supe, I don't know about now, but five or so years ago I bought a Ridgid thickness planer for the wood shop, and all of my best buddies planed their life savings of lumber on it. The thing eventually crapped out, (motor), but I took it back and they fixed it at no charge. At the time I purchased it I was told that the lifetime warranty was soon to disappear.
Reply:I need to do the same thing with my drill press.
Reply:I think the welding is okay, nice job and nice press.pro-level dumpster diver                                     Hobart 125EZ
Reply:It was plenty stable when drilling, but didn't roll as smooth as I would have liked.  I ended up upgrading to some larger wheels and it is much better now._________________________
Reply:A nice looking drill press. The welds look good and overall a nice tidy job.Three little tips or suggestions, unless you've used loctite, you might like to add spring washers, for non loosening of the nuts and bolts. I was always taught to put the bolts in the other way, so that if the nuts come loose and drop off, then the bolts remain to stop the castors moving out. (The old Kenny Rogers song: "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel") Also easier to clean the swarf off.If you want the welds to look even better, knock or chisel off the spatter.No criticism, just my .02"One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375
Reply:Nice job on the drill press wheels. I didn't have my MIG welder when I bought mine so I went the commercial dolly route.One suggestion on your casters is use nylon insert nuts. They don't loosen up from the vibration like the conventional ones will and they are less of a hassle than locktite.Glenn.Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Now that the bolts are in and the nuts tightened, you can reach down with your stinger and apply some lazy man's locking fluid.  They will never loosen until you want them off.  I put my drill press on steel wheels.  There is a photo in here somewhere...The wheels are inside cut-outs in the bottom edge of rectangular tubing.  The whole setup minimized the added height and protected the wheels from debris, but they don't swivel.  I don't need it to roll around in the shop, just a couple of feet out from the wall and back.-MondoPS: The carriage bolts with hand wheels fitted to them permit leveling and added stability. They may look a little silly but they work!  A couple of twists to each and it is steady as a rock!-M Attached ImagesLast edited by Mondo; 08-12-2008 at 11:55 AM.Reason: Added photoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Just out of curiosity – how heavy is the whole machine all together?
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoNow that the bolts are in and the nuts tightened, you can reach down with your stinger and apply some lazy man's locking fluid.  They will never loosen until you want them off.  I put my drill press on steel wheels.  There is a photo in here somewhere...The wheels are inside cut-outs in the bottom edge of rectangular tubing.  The whole setup minimized the added height and protected the wheels from debris, but they don't swivel.  I don't need it to roll around in the shop, just a couple of feet out from the wall and back.-MondoPS: The carriage bolts with hand wheels fitted to them permit leveling and added stability. They may look a little silly but they work!  A couple of twists to each and it is steady as a rock!-M
Reply:Originally Posted by mudbugoneThat's pretty slick!  How did you attach those handles to the carrage bolts? or where did they come from?Thanks,Dave
Reply:its nice to have casters on a drillpress, at my shop there all bolted to the ground. so annoyinghttp://www.aloumac.ca/