Drill press Counter weight question

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Henry Higginbotham

What model Rockwell drill press?

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Mike in Zuni VA

Barry,

Why don't you loosen the clamp and let the table slide down and rest on a set of bathroom scales? May not be exact, but would get you in the ball park.

Mike

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

John McGaw

Or a trip to the junk yard to pick up a damper strut from an SUV?

Henry, Henry, Henry....

Barry Irby

You made me look....It's a 15.017....I have owned it since 1971

Do you have a way to look it up?

The table is about 10" by 10 1/2" and the thin part of the table is about 1/4" thick.

If I average it to about 1/2" to account for the ribs and 12" square to account for the collar around the column Then I conclude a 1/2" thick plate 12" square would weigh about 20 pounds. Does that seem reasonable.

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Barry Irby

Interesting, how would I use it?

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Barry Irby

That's a thought, I could use that idea to check my calculation. I will try it.

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Barry Irby

Did you happened to weigh the counter weight?

Re: Henry, Henry, Henry....

Henry Higginbotham

Hey, that's nothing. You made me run out to the shop to measure mine, and it's low 40s and blowing rain here. Look guilty.

The 15-350 that I counterbalanced has a table about 11 x 14 inches, and about 1/2" thick plus the webs. As I said in the earlier thread, I think my counterweight is about 27 pounds, single pulley, and it just about balances the bare table. In fact, it's a little easier to push it up than to push it down. So 20 pounds would be plenty.

The DP sitting beside it is a Rockwell 15-081, and the table is just slightly bigger than yours.

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

Take a bathroom scale; take some 2x4 stock and make a strut that will support the table and rest on the bathroom scale as if it were a person (maybe a bridge so there's one "foot" on each side of the scale, just like a person, with a piece going up to the table). Loosen the table clamp so the table can slide down the column. Read the scale.

Thanks Henry....

Barry Irby

I appreciate it.

If I had room I would add some sot of auxiliary woodworker's table. Right now (and for the past 40 years) the DP is wedged between the lathe and a very heavy cabinet loaded with nuts and bolts and spares. It would be a bear of a job to gain a few inches for the table. I am afraid to try a mobile base for the DP because it's so top heavy.

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

E Phillip Smith

If you have an air source you could use a pneumatic air cylinder to raise the table. They are readily available on line with 20" or so of lift which should be plenty for drill press.

Re: Drill press Counter weight question

Barry Irby

I will check it out, but I am trying to keep this simple. Thanks for the idea.

Or you could just...

Henry Higginbotham

Get a drill press with a motorized lift. Oh, wait--you wanted to keep it simple. Nevermind.

This one was on eBay a few years ago. I don't recall what it sold for, but I think they didn't offer free shipping.

Yeah, Right!  Now I am wondering????

Barry Irby

if I would use my DP more if it had one of those fancy auxiliary tables?

I really don't have room for one, but maybe....

If I put it on a mobile base I could roll it forward a foot or so and use it with an expanded table. Hmmm...

Drilling lead

John in NM

Really easy. About like hard butter