Precision Drill Press Depth Gauge

Can an inexpensive digital caliper be converted into a digital depth gauge for a woodworking drill press? I demonstrate the method I used to produce a really convenient and accurate way to measure the depth of holes while you are drilling. This process does not require machine-shop tools, and could be built with hand tools. It requires careful work and custom fitting, but does not require very high precision in cutting and drilling.
This method must be customized to each individual drill press, but the process I used could be adapted for many makes and models.
If you want to start with the shapes I used, I will provide full size templates on my website at: psullivancarme...
These are NOT precision plans. They are shapes that must be fine-tuned to your machine.
Links to tools used in this video with sources:
Wen 12” variable speed drill press: amzn.to/2R0yDbf
iGaging E-Z Cal 4” digital caliper: amzn.to/37Gbdhc
Metal cutting bandsaw blade for 14” saw: amzn.to/2qWXS3D
Kaka BDS-5 vise brake set for bending: amzn.to/37TBVTU
Migiwata Cobalt drill bit set: amzn.to/35JDOQY
Double-sided carpet tape: amzn.to/2q0hkMm
DeWalt trim router: amzn.to/2DDmilD

[@matthewrentz3427]

I have no desire to install a digital depth stop on my drill press, but your presentation caught my attention. You sir are a natural teacher, well spoken, good camera angles, lots of detail, and a good sense of humor. You have earned a subscriber. And I appreciate the time and effort in your teachings.

[@porthose2002]

What a brilliant solution. Very nicely done!

[@robertodimartino7412]

Hi, This is a great solution to accurate depth measurement on the drill press. But, and I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this already, you should advise people to check inside of the press (while it is of course unplugged from mains) that the mounting holes have no live switching/wiring etc behind where they are drilling. If not then this could lead to very unfortunate and dangerous, if not fatal, results, such as instant shock or creating a live machine. Please don't take my comment as mindless negativity, I like your vids and appreciate the effort you take making them, I just think that this should have been pointed out before progressing with the actual drilling of the body. Again, thanks and keep up the good work!

[@1100mrjohnson]

I thoroughly enjoyed the commentary at the beginning and am glad to see that my hammer seems to be at the same level of calibration as yours. Thanks for making these wonderful videos and keep up the good work.

[@amandaleslie9013]

I just wanted to say I love your videos and I find my self constantly watching them thank you so much for all your hard work and you're free templates really appreciate it. Amanda

[@The284166]

You are the diamond in the crown of woodworking family. But it is our bad luck that we don't get the opportunity to learn thinks so often. Thanks for your great work.

[@Yonatan24]

My Japanese saw also has a DRO *and an alarm,* for when I cut off the line...if I keep my other hand close enough!

[@carloduroni5629]

My Japanese saw has an incorporated master artesan who shouts at me if I don't hold it the right way.

[@scottfaulk9081]

This is excellent! After watching several of your videos, I can say that yours are some of the best on KZbin. I love that you explain what you’re doing and don’t just play music

[@spokehedz]

If you want to make the "VFD DRO" easier to read, you can put a bit of red tail light repair tape (or, really, anything red and translucent) over the 8-segment displays. I find it really helps a ton!

[@zaprodk]

VFD? I see a CVT-gearbox :)

[@davidadaur5163]

I really enjoy your videos, your instructions are well thought out, clear and concise. I think it would be really neat if you could make plans of your knife storage box so that we could make one of our own. It looks like a really good sway to store knives. Thanks, David

[@EcoMouseChannel]

I have the Nova Voyager Drill Press. Worth every penny and then some! It has the depth of hole thing built in... but it also has auto stop and/or reverse once you reach your target depth!

[@RedemptiondesignsNJ]

Very cool idea, Patrick. Nicely executed as well :)

[@chrisnash2154]

I LOVED the work you did! Your attention to detail was top notch. A piece worthy of being in a Rockler store. Additionally, I have been searching craigslist and other sites looking for a nice drill press for a decent price, but I haven’t had much luck. I really like the press you have and I like the price even better!

[@timsworkshop85]

Very nice improvement (and convenient) to the drill press!

[@rolandharrison5651]

Well done. Your engineering was simple and effective. Thanks, I’ll keep this in mind.

[@kennethlemke9826]

Excellent idea.. I added a accessory table to to my old Craftsman drill to make it a more modern drill press i then found a 8”x8” lift stand for my drill with a knob in front to raise and lower it. It was rated at 68 lbs of lift. I found it on Amazon under scientific instruments. Now I just loosen the table clamp and accurately raise or lower.

[@ArcticFlies56]

Ingenious!! Pure and simple. Best regards, Richard

[@JDnBeastlet]

Excellent solution, and very well documented. Much appreciated.

[@SJagneaux]

I adore your videos. I love the idea of printing your patterns and affixing them to your stock. They are always so clean and lovely. I was hoping that could share how you make them, or less specifically what software you use. Maybe? In any case, thank you tons for your wonderful videos!

[@PatrickSullivan]

I use Corel Draw primarily. It is an all-purpose drawing program with a lot of features. However, most of the designs I have made are well within the capabilities of many simple and low-cost drawing programs.

[@miki09876]

Brilliantly simple and clever

[@AbuSamiQ]

Professional work Patrick. Thanks

[@jrh4371]

Good job , cheap and practical.

[@BarackBananabama]

The precision of your hands allows you to use a cheaper caliper made with plastic. Then you can build the attachment much easier.

[@wwn1975]

Wow! What a great idea! Thanks!

[@AERuffy]

Brilliant design

[@Pghpete5]

Your Amazon affiliate links are incorrect. 3 of them are identical and point to the digital calipers. I was looking for the vice break. That is pretty great for the small stuff I do.

[@PatrickSullivan]

Thanks, Pete. Fixed now.

[@alconk7129]

I have the same drill press, would you be interested in assembling a kit for me?

[@peterrollins881]

search amazon. They actually make DRO's for drill presses. About $50 iirc. The method in this video can easily exceed $50 if you dont have materials laying around to replicate it.

[@jrkorman]

Nice idea - thanks for sharing that.

[@akquicksilver]

Nicely done sir!

[@BradsWorkbench]

Pretty smart

[@A1BASE]

Great idea!

[@chrisBruner]

Good Job!

[@JosephLorentzen]

Interesting. How much space do you leave for glue on your projects? I am having a problem with glue starved joints.

[@alanmorris8783]

Great video, thanks. Does your drill have enough power at low speed ?

[@Richard-Freeman]

Son of a b.... That's brilliant!

[@stevennachlas9596]

Wixey products makes one of these.

[@PaganWizard]

Historical re-enactments of the 1970's ROTFLMGDFAO..............that was hilarious.

[@thomasalison6188]

Awesome!!

[@ZerqTM]

this is the sort of thing 3d printers are awesome for :p

[@montewoods4766]

Very kuhl Patrick

[@Josh_Luijsterburg]

Clever 😉

[@cerseiblonde3218]

I was unable to pay much attention to the substance of this video, since I kept falling off of my chair laughing at the patter. I think I am going to have to play the video with no sound, or I will never get through it.

[@Iseeuandwatch79]

🤯🧠

[@miloskolar-jb3mm]

%5tk

[@ironbomb6753]

I was gonna say that this is brilliant, but everyone else sees that it is too. Well done 👍😎♥️

[@Yonatan24]

*Very practical for easily checking the diameter of an unknown drill bit!*

[@Matt-wb7lm]

Nice job. I used carbon fiber calipers, much easier to drill and cut if necessary. I will never go back to a hard stop again.

[@libertarian1637]

As a note with CA glue, less can be more. You used a lot of CA glue when 3 drops would have done. CA likes a very thin layer, at most, with thin viscosity glues. CA is bailable is a lot of viscosities depending on use from ultra-thin (thinner than water) through ultra-thick (thicker than molasses). You can also apply a light coverage of glue on one side and activator on the other; they should bond instantly. If you don’t have CA activator, AKA kicker, you can lightly dust one side with baking soda; you can also use baking soda as a filler or with high viscosity glues as a quick setting paste. I’ve used CA glues for years with good results; it is quite versatile when used for its strengths and not pushed beyond its weaknesses.

[@paulchamberlaine6757]

Excellent video, informative and enjoyable. Thank you very much

[@SculptyWorks]

Very clever! I'm gonna have to make one for my drill press now! 👍👍

[@turningpoint6643]

Aluminum almost instantly oxidizes from the oxygen in the air as soon as it's surface is cut or disturbed Patrick. That oxidation is very thin and almost invisible but still there. I'd almost bet that's part of the reason why your CA glue joint failed. Sanding the joint area and as quick as possible applying the CA glue and then pressing the parts together does help a lot. And CA glue isn't the best choice for any shear loads so that was another probable cause of it failing. I wouldn't feel too deprived about not being able to afford that fancy Nova drill press. Despite some of the "golly gee" enhancements they added to it they like almost every other light duty drill press manufacturer totally neglected to address the main failing point all these non industrial drill presses have. That light duty, thin walled and very poorly designed cantilevered column to table assembly. Even drilling hard woods or plywood these light weight DP tables deflect varying amounts depending on the work piece weight, drill diameter used and material being drilled. So it defeats the purpose of why your buying a drill press in the first place.......................drilling straight holes. As desirable as that Nova DP looks on the surface, the advertising hype about it doesn't match it's performance against what it costs. I work with metal far more than wood so my opinions are from that perspective. But for that $1500 I'd expect much more than that fancy DP is capable of even for wood working. They should have designed it to use a geared Z axis feed screw for the table height adjustment like most good and heavy duty industrial drill presses use. The added cost was obviously why they didn't do so.

[@bluef1sh926]

What software do you make those drawings in?

[@PatrickSullivan]

I used Corel Draw, but just about any drawing program will easily do it.

[@tallyman15]

@@PatrickSullivan i just purchased Corel Draw. I need a tutorial. Do you have a source?

[@michaelsullivan8234]

He's been using Corel draw since I was a kid, so probably no tutorial, just decades of experience. (I'm his son).

[@jamesotisjr2322]

Libre Office or Open Office draw works well, and they are free. very accurate and repeatable.

[@mandapakags]

You are the best Patrick. Crisp language, excellent presentation and brilliant plans too. I am sure, I will build a mini workbench soon for myself. Thanks a ton.

[@Pghpete5]

Great video Patrick. I have this drill press and it has served me well. I do have a bit of run out in the chuck but I'll bet I can eliminate it by reseating it. I'm also going to replace the chuck with a keyless one. The only thing that is slightly annoying to me is that the rpm gauge stays on when the drill press is off. I may add a tiny push switch to it so I can get it to turn off when the drill press is off.

[@barbarianatgate2000]

I really like this design because it allows you to not only get a precise read out, but to also use the mechanical stop. The perfect combination to the two technologies. Well done.

[@tylerbennetts8079]

That is an inexpensive and accurate addition to a pillar drill, well worth subscribing to.

[@Silverstony]

great idea!

[@gene2200]

Thought I over thought things, which I really do but holy.......glad I have hot glue!!! Amazon sells universals.

[@kamden1980]

Very clever, thank you for sharing!

[@racervboat]

I did not read all the replys but if not mentioned if the calliper battery dies now that is a big hassle to replace if the battery goes in the back.

[@TheRealDailyAnarchy]

Card stock. Lol. Still keep it on my desk. My kids give me a weird look. I have em write grand ma a letter every couple weeks and send it by as they call it snail mail. They love your videos and ask dad what’s he doing with those old machines why not computer controlled like Cnc. I remind em humans were the original cnc. Handmade can’t be beat. Machines are good but can fail and eventually need a what to fix em?

[@The_Joker_]

Absolutely brilliant 👍👍👍

[@user-ug9nn]

I think you can remove completely the drill press quill, the caliper guide is more precise than it, and you really fix that caliper really strong on both sides..

[@RadeksWorkshop]

Thanks for sharing. Very good idea to improve a drill press (or a table saw)

[@morrisonsusan]

Wow! Looks complicated; hope I have the courage to try it!

[@trackie1957]

This was so boring, but very in depth.

[@alext8828]

Mine has an OAOS right on the side. (on and off switch)

[@frrapp2366]

use the gauge to set the depth stop for repeated holes

[@jimginnyohio]

Very nice! Great job! Thanks for sharing!

[@amrikhanindonesia1003]

THANK YOU SIR. VERY CREATIVE.

[@hupajo]

✌️✌️✌️ suuuuper job 😀😀

[@fngrusty42]

Well done and thanks

[@imaginarypoint]

This guy knows his shit.

[@kulturfreund6631]

DRO envy is a good one.

[@CraigsWorkshop]

Great mod - thanks Patrick.

[@timhenderson5121]

Well done!

[@redem.greece]

Nice job and true very useful but i would prefer and a depth stop also, that way no need to look the caliper all time, then i can look my hands where is :).

[@KenPem]

Great build! Thank you. My current drill press is due for donation soon, but the next one will probably get one of these. Although I may use one of the other digital depth gauge models so that the display is oriented horizontally.

[@Mike-wt1zk]

Great to see another video of you Patrick! Got a little worried as it took a while since the last one. Happy to see you're doing fine! The Bosch PBD40 offers a depth DRO, but I understand if it's not precise for you. It's great for DIY, but not a real precision machine. Keep up your great videos. I enjoy any one of them. You're a master! Greetings from Germany, Mike

[@felixfromnebraska8648]

Excellent video of a very usable device (DRO). You have a great talent for thinking through your project. I like the WEN drill press with the speed DRO. Thanks for sharing!

[@billonthehill9984]

Well done sir... I recently purchased the same drill press through Home Depot on SALE at $238.00... Quite frankly, it is worth every penny at the full retail of $299.00! It seems to be one of those best kept secrets out there. I absolutely love the variable speed feature on this unit... I have a machining background going back many years now & this looks like an enjoyable project to get started on! Bill on the Hill, Vermont, USA... :~)

[@whiskey99]

Patrick, I have the same WEN drill press, much better than some at twice the price. I will certainly add the DRO to my drill press. I am really enjoying your channel, professional, straightforward and easy to understand. Your work is very impressive. I am a Mechanical Engineer by education, my wife always tells my that I am too Anal, but I think that is actually a compliment, gotta do it right! Thanks for your work!

[@markfannin3975]

I have purchased several WEN products and am very pleased with the quality and value. I bought a WEN grinder after watching your metal carbide tool series. Outstanding content, please keep making videos.

[@Kat-uo5ru]

Excellent build, videography, explanation, and humor. And a free template! Thanks! After your time with this drill press, are you happy with it? I, like you, have lusted after bigger, maybe better, and way more expensive ones, but alas, although I am rapidly approaching retirement age, the last time I put my data into one of those online calculators it told me I'll be able to comfortably retire at 117. Of course, that depends on how one defines comfort, but I digress. Anyway, the Wen appeals to me mainly for the easy of varying the speed. I think I'm too lazy to switch belts and pulleys as often as I should. How has this press held up? Patrick and community, your review will be appreciated.

[@str43bzr]

Patrick, which model DP do you have? I’m in the market for one b/c mine has too many needed repairs to be done and I really do not want to make any more parts for it. I’m looking at Wen now on Amazon.

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Outstanding video! I learned several things from this. How to lay out, bend and machine a custom bracket; the fact that I can machine aluminum to thickness with a carbide bit in the router table; and that I will buy a low-cost caliper made of FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) so I don't have to try to drill hardened tool steel.

[@richardhawkins2647]

They say hindsight is a wonderful thing. The beauty of watching someone else do all the leg work and testing gives us viewers the benefit of that hindsight. If you ended up not using the depth stop that would give two readily available fixings. Remove the depth stop screw and bolt through the holes. I will have a look at mine and see if that is possible. It is a genius idea though. I too have DRO envy and didn't think of this blindingly obvious solution! Thank you for sharing. I see you are still posting so I have subscribed.

[@oliverabrahamhamburg]

Great idea! Just made it on my drill press! My old gauge was unusable. Thanks alot!

[@davesatosky5840]

lol, the first 30 seconds of video your adjusting the speed pulley with the drill press off... you'll only do that once... pain in the ass trying to get the pulleys back

[@pgs8597]

G’day Patrick thanks for sharing. The hardness of the cheap callipers is the same as yours, I’ve tried 3 different ones so far and all are as frustrating. Enjoyed the video, cheers. Peter

[@frankherring6253]

I have seen some of the KZbin machinists using magnets instead of screws. Seems to work well. Hope this helps.

[@richardfellows5041]

"Historical re-enactments of the 1970's" I was drinking tea when that line came up. I almost snorted it. I love your sense of humor.

[@davidhamilton7628]

Nice job I bought the 15 inch version of that wen drill press and have been happy with it

[@JaredMize9]

I appreciate you putting them up. That's the exact drill press I just bought my daughter for her birthday. Thank you!

[@davidclark1793]

quick--patent this before Wen sees this video. 😃 Great idea and, as always, super-duper execution.

[@jmtx.]

Awesome solution! Thanks for sharing the build details.

[@DavidPlass]

Wow, that's an awesome enhancement. Well done.

[@yuanli3726]

Such an underrated video and channel. Thanks for sharing!

[@836dmar]

Great videography. Thanks!

[@zolatanaffa87]

Very useful mod. Thank for sharing us your experiences!

[@dalemasyk1583]

wow really all that works for just to get right measurment lol fck it not a paino hehehe