Drill Press Stand. 2020. J Robert Clark. Industrial cabinet. Aluminum, Plywood, latex paint, HD Casters, GRAVEL Ballast, with stainless steel hardware.
Actual size: 12”x16”x34”
Drill Press Stand. Completed. Pictured with attached Craftsman 10” drill press.
The goal with this build was to create a stable and yet mobile drill press stand with a small footprint. Most industrial equipment stands have legs that spread out towards the base. To maintain a similar stability without consuming too much floor space, the bottom contains 100 lbs of ballast (pea gravel) enclosed in a removable wood box. The cabinet is 5/8” birch plywood, reinforced with 1/16” aluminum sheeting laminated to the surface. The uniform orange-peel finish was achieved through multiple layers of latex enamel, sanded with 1000 grit sandpaper between each coat. The front panel is a single piece of birch plywood, cut to face the three drawers and the ballast box. Final weight: 155 lbs (with 45 lb drill: 200 lbs); footprint: only 12”x16”.
The goal was to create a useful but attractive stand.
The three drawers are all custom built and extend the full depth of the cabinet. The bottom (unopened) contains the ballast.
Back view. The color selected (Hex color code #84C19A) was chosen to pay homage to mid-20th Century industrial equipment.
The front is from a single piece of birch plywood.
Detail showing “monolithic” design. The contrasting painted and wood surfaces evoke both an industrial and refined aesthetic.
Detail further illustrating the monolithic nature of the cabinet. The exterior is aluminum sheet laminated to the plywood frame.