Follow up post: The installation of my new WEN Drill Press in my tiny shop

[FrankEV]

The good news.  The replacement WEN 4212T arrived today (10/18/23) and putting it together for the second time was a snap.  Even the table up/down crank seems to be less sloppy than the one I returned.  Again, I’m very happy, everything is working well, and it runs quiet and smoothly at all speeds.

I built a fixed, 32” high, mini bench in the corner of my shop for the drill press.  Although I had to rearrange some wall hanging tools and dust collector hoses, it fits like a glove.  And although the shop is getting a little more cramped, its location does not interfere with any of my operations.  Only my trash bucket had to be moved closer to the Scroll Saw.

Now the bad news.  I wanted to bolt down the DP with some 1/2” dia. bolts as recommended in the instructions.  Well as I tightened them down, I obviously cinched down too much, and the cheap thin sand-casted base cracked/broke in half.  I salvaged the situation by removing the base and using four 3/8” Dia. x 4” long bolts, I mounted the collum directly to the bench top.  I like it better as the base just got in the way anyhow and now there is room to lay down bits and tools as needed.  

So here are a bunch of pics that show the DP installation and my shop.  Most were taken standing in one spot and just turning around for each pic as I don’t have very much room to walk very far.

 

Close up of DP

 

 

Broken base

 

Feel free to snicker all you want!

[rjweb]

Frank, glad to see that you made out well with the drill press, your shop looks great, I really like your router table did you make that, RJ

[rafairchild2]

CLAMPS!!!! You got CLAMPS!!!

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, FrankEV said:

The good news.  The replacement WEN 4212T arrived today (10/18/23) and putting it together for the second time was a snap.  Even the table up/down crank seems to be less sloppy than the one I returned.  Again, I’m very happy, everything is working well, and it runs quiet and smoothly at all speeds.

I built a fixed, 32” high, mini bench in the corner of my shop for the drill press.  Although I had to rearrange some wall hanging tools and dust collector hoses, it fits like a glove.  And although the shop is getting a little more cramped, its location does not interfere with any of my operations.  Only my trash bucket had to be moved closer to the Scroll Saw.

Now the bad news.  I wanted to bolt down the DP with some 1/2” dia. bolts as recommended in the instructions.  Well as I tightened them down, I obviously cinched down too much, and the cheap thin sand-casted base cracked/broke in half.  I salvaged the situation by removing the base and using four 3/8” Dia. x 4” long bolts, I mounted the collum directly to the bench top.  I like it better as the base just got in the way anyhow and now there is room to lay down bits and tools as needed.  

So here are a bunch of pics that show the DP installation and my shop.  Most were taken standing in one spot and just turning around for each pic as I don’t have very much room to walk very far.

 

Close up of DP

 

 

Broken base

 

Feel free to snicker all you want!

Very nicely laid out Frank. That's packing 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag for sure. I hope you are going to let Wen know about that broken base. It needs to be made better and that won't happen unless they know there's a problem. I'm sure they'll ship you a new one. Especially since this is your second attempt at getting a good DP. Thanks for all the pics. You've given me a few good ideas for how I can get more out of my small workspace.

 

[FrankEV]

1 hour ago, rafairchild2 said:

CLAMPS!!!! You got CLAMPS!!!

NOT ENOUGH!

[Scrappile]

Frank, I am just telling you this, because I know how it goes in my shop...You laid your glasses on the scroll saw table if you are looking for them.  That is how I spend my time in my shop, looking for where I laid my darn glasses!

Nicely arranged shop.

[FrankEV]

4 hours ago, rjweb said:

Frank, glad to see that you made out well with the drill press, your shop looks great, I really like your router table did you make that, RJ

Yes and the base for the sanding station, more than 18 years ago,

[Gonzo]

I find it interesting how you have your Dremel drill set up. It looks like it’s attached to a shelf upside down, but the drill part is right side up. If that’s the case, how in the heck did you get it all square?  
By the way, nice new drill press ya got there 

[FrankEV]

13 hours ago, Gonzo said:

I find it interesting how you have your Dremel drill set up. It looks like it’s attached to a shelf upside down, but the drill part is right side up. If that’s the case, how in the heck did you get it all square?  
By the way, nice new drill press ya got there 

I've posted about my upside down dremel a while back.  I just flipped the press on the shaft and mounted underthe shelf. This arrangement allows me to drill blade holes in boards up to 22 inches wide.  The shelf is level so  It is close to plumb and square.  Accurate enough for tiny blade holes, which is all I use it for.  AND, that is also why I  bought  a real drill press.

[FrankEV]

On 10/18/2023 at 7:25 PM, OCtoolguy said:

...I hope you are going to let Wen know about that broken base. It needs to be made better and that won't happen unless they know there's a problem. I'm sure they'll ship you a new one...

I went on the WEN website yesterday and filled out a warranty request.  And, after sending a follow-up email to them providing Proof of Purchase and a photo  of the broken base as requested in their auto reply, their auto reply said they woud get back to me in 1 to 5 business days.  I found an email from them early this AM asking me to confirm a $0.00 purchase order for a new base.  I confirmed the order and it should arrive in  5-7  days.  Now, that is what I call customer service.

If I reinstall the DP on the base and once again try to use the 1/2" bolts to attach to the bench top, I will shim up the void area under the base so it can't break again.

[Norm Fengstad]

thanks for the shop tour. You make good use of the space you have

[BadBob]

On 10/18/2023 at 8:59 PM, FrankEV said:

NOT ENOUGH!

Never enough clamps, but I'm getting close. I sold some a few months ago.

I would definitely let Wen know about the broken base. That is an incredibly poor location for the mounting holes. I expected to see ears on the base or at least in the four corners.

[Bill WIlson]

2 hours ago, BadBob said:

Never enough clamps, but I'm getting close. I sold some a few months ago.
 

I actually think I've reached the point where I have enough clamps.  For years, I got by with the bare minimum as I didn't ahve the $$ to buy all the new clamps I wanted.  Over time, my income improved a bit and I've slowly been accumulating a pretty good collection.  I find them at flea markets, yard/garage/estate sales, Black Friday sales, etc.  I even found several Bessy parallel jaw clamps at Ollies several years ago for less than 1/2 their regular price.  I bought all they had.

I have well over a hundred now, F-style clamps, pipe clamps, parallel jaw clamps, Quick Clamps, wooden hand screw clamps and that doesn't include several dozen spring clamps and a few random C-clamps.  I've gotten to the point that I'm not buying anymore.  I still look and if a good deal falls in my lap, I'll jump at it, but it's pretty safe to say I have enough...for now. 

[BadBob]

34 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

I find them at flea markets, yard/garage/estate sales, Black Friday sales, etc. 

I have never bought a used clamp.  I have rarely paid the full retail price for a clamp. I watched for deals and got them cheap for as much as 75% off retail. I got serious about buying clamps about 30 years ago when the Stanly clamps I had started breaking.

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, FrankEV said:

I went on the WEN website yesterday and filled out a warranty request.  And, after sending a follow-up email to them providing Proof of Purchase and a photo  of the broken base as requested in their auto reply, their auto reply said they woud get back to me in 1 to 5 business days.  I found an email from them early this AM asking me to confirm a $0.00 purchase order for a new base.  I confirmed the order and it should arrive in  5-7  days.  Now, that is what I call customer service.

If I reinstall the DP on the base and once again try to use the 1/2" bolts to attach to the bench top, I will shim up the void area under the base so it can't break again.

I knew they would make it right. I've had excellent service from them. 

I was going to suggest filling that void with some 2x material but you already have it handled.

[meflick]

On 10/18/2023 at 8:59 PM, FrankEV said:

NOT ENOUGH!

My husband has always said one can never have enough clamps

[bobscroll]

A happy ending Frank! you have a very functional workshop! Thank you for the photo's Bob

[FrankEV]

Just a quick final update.

WEN came through and shipped me a new base.  Wasn't sure if I was going to install it or not but decided I might need the base to attach a vise or clamp to, to hold a long piece of work.  

I cut two 1 1/4" long sleeves, one for each bolt, from 1/2" steel pipe to use between the underside of the base and the bench. This worked to prevent, the 1/2" bolts I used to attach the base to the bench, from bending the britttle base and break it like I did to the original.  I was able to tighten the bolts down well so  it is firmly attached to the bench.  It runs quite and smooth.  Here are pics of the final instal:

 

I guess you can say I'm happy with the results.

[rjweb]

Frank, looks like a good setup, RJ