I didn't want to hijack Rob's thread, but with the typically short quill travel of my DP I am always adjusting the table height. I dislike everything about the table height adjustment on my Delta 20-675 (?) drill press.
Here is what I observed:
** the crank on the new 950 I saw at the WW show was much better.
I have been thinking of doing another one of my tool modifications- a counter-balanced, non-crank, easy-lift drill press table:
Side view:
Top view:
Here is what I observed:
- The rack (tooth strip) can move around the column (designed that way?*) so after raising or lowering the table, the table/work are often no longer aligned with the bit.
- The movement of the crank/pinion assembly is very sloppy, not smooth**, and it is not all that easy to raise the table, especially if you have the added weight of an accessory table.
- The table/collar lock toggle bolt is at the back and not easy to reach. It can be hard to lock and unlock even if you lengthen the toggle with a large dowel like I did. It can be even more of a pain if DC hose is in the way.
** the crank on the new 950 I saw at the WW show was much better.
I have been thinking of doing another one of my tool modifications- a counter-balanced, non-crank, easy-lift drill press table:
- Put a spacer in the split collar so it is not loose but can't be clamped tightly on the column. Maybe even replace the big toggle bolt with a simple machine bolt.
- Remove the rack from the column and replace it with a trapezoidal shaped guide. Firmly attach the guide to the column.
- Remove the the crank and pinion assembly from the knuckle on the collar.
- Manufacture a cam lever, follower/plunger, and a trapezoidal wedge assembly to fit inside the knuckle. Moving the lever will force the wedge against the matching guide. When the cam is fully "over center", the table will be centered and firmly locked at that height.
- Put a counter-weight inside the column that is equal to the combined weight of the table, collar, and accessory table.
- Attach a steel cable to the counter weight. Run it up over the pulley mount just below the headstock, and attach it to the table collar.
Side view:
Top view: