A portable stand for my 1/4 height pillar drill

[skotl]

I've got a relatively cheap drill similar to this;

The exact model isn't massively important for the sake of this topic.

Right now, it's bolted to a bench that I want to get rid of but I don't want to take up too much space on any other bench.
I have box section steel, some castors and a welder so I thought I'd make it a dedicated portable pillar stand.

Then I thought it might be unstable. Then I thought that floor-standing pillar drills tend to be very vertical anyway. And that all the force is vertically down...

Would a castor-based stand with roughly the same square area as the drill work without posing a massive who-will-think-of-the-kittens? risk?

Edit: Sorry about the extra drill pic - can't figure out how to delete it...

 

[MattF]

Not something I'd personally like to try. If you have it on castors, if a bit snags whilst you're holding a workpiece, (aye, I know we shouldn't, but I guess we all do it more often than we'd care to admit ), the stand will try shifting somewhat. I'd skip the castors personally.

With regards the dimensions, provided it's at least the same width and depth as the drill base, shouldn't be a problem. You could always make it slightly bigger or slope the legs/uprights, (akin to a saw horse), for a bit more stability if desired.

 

[Kent]

Any drill needs fixing in place, if its on a bigish bench that moves fine but on its own forget it too dangerous by far. People have been hurt when mag base drills have lost their grip at a critical moment, being wacked by a pillar drill or having it topple onto you in use would do more than smart a bit. The holes in the base are to stud the thing down and are there for good reason

 

[Richard.]

I'm more of an optometrist. Yes these things should be fitted down but you could be clever and make it so that it is on a low and wide centre of gravity base. Have this on wheels so that it can be moved about But then have a system so that the wheels can be retracted and it then stands on a non movable wide base for use. Would be easy to do.

 

[skotl]

Fair play - thanks guys.

I think I'll skip the castors then - it probably only ways a few kilos so hardly going to kill me to drag it around.

 

[oddbob]

Fair play - thanks guys.

I think I'll skip the castors then - it probably only ways a few kilos so hardly going to kill me to drag it around.

It'd be easy enough to fit a couple of fixed wheels (I wouldn't use casters) so that they only come into contact with the ground when it's tipped. I have a similar set up on my donkey saw for dragging that about.

 

[skotl]

It'd be easy enough to fit a couple of fixed wheels (I wouldn't use casters) so that they only come into contact with the ground when it's tipped. I have a similar set up on my donkey saw for dragging that about.

Ah - good idea. I've mount two at the front, just off the ground.

 

[Kent]

the tipping in itself is a hazard. All sorts of stuff can be movable but think more than twice before doing this with any form of pillar drill they really do need fixing down to the floor or good base. If it needs moving to make space an oversize base is perhaps the last thing you want? as well as a trip hazard right next to a drill (perhaps this is why manufacturers make the bases smaller than you might). if you really need a movable drill sell it and buy a mag drill that you might use on any steel base . Just trying to keep you from coming to harm

 

[Maker]

For such a small drill, I think you'll be fine bolting it to a movable base, just make the base wide and heavy at the bottom. Does it actually need to be moved, can't you make a stand for it and bolt the stand to the floor?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

See if you can scrounge a HGV rear brake drum. They are HUGE (and heavy) so perfect base for such equipment yet still easy to move if you roll on the lower edge.