The Rolling drill press/ bench grinder kit

I've been in a weird place cleaning up the garage and buying and discovering new tools. One problem that I solved that had been plaguing me for a while was the lack of a drill press. So I went out and bought one, and promptly found out it was too tall to work with comfortably on my overheight workbench. I also found that I didn't really have a good place to put my bench grinder on the work bench, but with casting and work, I need to get it bolted down.

So I began a new project, to make both tools workable, storable, and mildly portable.

I started with a standard, run of the mill, 2 drawer metal filing cabinet that used to be a table leg. Knowing it can take the weight of quite a bit of paper, but only really relied on such a small contact patch, I didn't want to put casters directly on it. Plus it has that one wonky corner. So off I went to the hardware store, thinking I'd buy some wood and build a base.

Then when I was at HF, I stumbled across an almost perfectly sized solution. The only issue was the valley between the two ends. That wouldn't do to support much weight. Turns out, a 20" long piece of 1x4 fit the gap perfectly.

Six 2.5" carriage bolts with nuts on the inside did double duty, of holding the 1x4 to the frame, and everything to the filing cabinet all nice and secure.

Maybe not the straightest holes, but those aren't coming out willingly.

I did some test positioning with the drill press, and didn't like how it was sitting directly on top of the cabinet. So I cut down some 3/4" MDF and attached it with self tapping screws. It should give me a good, solid base, without risk of dents or dings.

I put the drill press back on, lined it up, drilled some holes to match the holes in the base, and found out my 2.5" carriage bolts were too short to connect. That's fine, I've got a whole bunch of all thread, I'll just make some screw downs. Nope, I have exactly 1 nut that fits the allthread that I have.

So this is todays stopping point. After tomorrow, I should be able to finish the project and move onto drawer organization.

Tomorrow, 3 days later, whatever same thing.

I finally got back to finish this up today, took a whopping 15 minutes to finish once I had the right stuff to work with. It's still not done, I haven't outfitted the drawers yet, but that won't be until later in the year when I have scrap wood laying around. For now, it's complete.

The homemade bolts holding the drill press down. Not exactly centered, but not bad. It doesn't shake or vibrate or anything with me shoving it, so it should be good.

Figuring out where the grinder is going to live. Slightly off center on purpose.

And the finished product. I haven't decided what to do with the cords. I might put a spare power strip on the side and tuck the wires, I might just leave them loose

Now I admit, not a major project by any means, but for something so simple, it's already making life easier. It can roll around the garage and out of the way, and when I have a floor in the car port, it's still light enough to carry down there and use.

The plan for the drawers is to cut scrap wood wide enough to friction fit, then drill holes all through it to mount my spade bits and augers and all my loose bits, as well as hold onto a set of good bits and spare grinder wheels.

What drill press is that?

Ryobi 10" with LED and laser. Model Number is DP103L.

Cheapest one at home depot. Makes a funny noise when you shut it off, but has done everything I'd wanted it to so far.

This one actually

um, did you put washers UNDER the carriage bolts? Why? The point is for the square part to be drawn up into the wood to hold it. (and so the button is flush with the wood)....

Maybe he used these.

Throw a power strip on the side of the cabinet. Attach an extension cord coil on the same side. Attach a trouble light to the other side.

A trouble light, now that's a good idea.

They're regular washers.some...issues while drilling the holes made it necessary on a couple, so they're in all of them for looks.

I know how carriage bolts are supposed to work, I just don't always have the right tool available to make it work. Originally I wanted washers inside too to help spread the weight load, but can barely fit a nut inside the rail. If and when it breaks, I'm going to use those things Minivan showed, I just didn't have any and didn't know I wasn't going to be able to finish it the night I started. Holding the cabinet with my foot and yanking on the cart, it doesn't wiggle at all, so I'm saying it's good how it is though.

If/when I decide to redo it, I'll be putting a washer between each piece of wood and the bottom of the cabinet for extra support.

Excellent project!

Minivan, you have a link for those anchored washers? Those are pretty trick!

In reply to Pushrod:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-Bolt-5-16-in-Torque-Washer-2-per-Bag-47628/203577221

The spare wood fairy came early this year. Really, I got home with a 4x4 and realized it was much longer than needed, luckily, I had a plan for a foot of it.

Out came my trusty speed square and steel ruler, and I marked every inch long ways, and every 3/4 inch width ways. Where the lines intersected, I drilled holes. 5/16 inch diameter holes to be exact. They're about 2 inches deep, that's all the further down my drill press moves... Not a happy feature as that will be limiting for some projects, but that's what ratchets and clamps are for.

I snaked my spade bits into it, starting with 1" at the top left, and ending at 1/4" on the bottom right. Still plenty of room for more bits. Pulled the divider up and it fits perfectly with the spare wheel I don't know how to put on my grinder and my not pictured drill press clamps.

The table doesn't fit with this block, so it will go in the other drawer with any other odd shaped things I make/buy in the future.

I've used the table jack to raise the table while the motor is going to go deeper than the 2" throw mine has as well. Drill bit will keep itself centered as long as you go at a nice even speed. I think it would have a nice look with a 1/8 round over on the top edge. Just my .02 as I've been cut on edges of mdf like that.