Rolling Stand for Drill Press Using Filing Cabinet

If your home workshop is like mine space is always at a premium, thats why whenever possible I try to have equipment mounted on wheels so I can move it out of the way when not in use.

Tools needed are a table saw or radial arm saw and the usual hand tools (tape measure,screwdriver,speed square,safety glasses, etc)

Supplies include pieces of 2x4 lumber, plywood, glue, screws, casters and of course a 2 drawer filing cabinet

The layout is pretty straightforward, basically we are building what looks like a movers dolly that the filing cabinet is inset to.

I am not going to give measurements as filing cabinet dimensions all vary.

I did all my layout with a speed square and a small gage stick (a small piece of 3/4 by 1 1/4). The 3/4 inch thickness allowed setting the saw blade for half lap joints on the 2x4 and the 1 1/4 was used to set the blade distance from the fence for the rabbets. see pictures

Making the first cut consist of cutting a groove 3/4 of an inch deep the length of the 2/4 on all pieces.

Make all pieces at least 6 inches longer than the dimensions of the cabinet as the wood will stick out all around the cabinet, final triming will be done at the end.

Remember to work safely using push sticks near the sawblade and always wear safety glasses.

Use the groove that you cut in the wood to set the height of the saw blade (see picture) and then using the gage stick set the saw 3/4 of an inch from the saw fence. Make the 2nd cut the same way as the first and you should end up with a 2x4 with a 3/4 x 1 1/4 rabbet running the length of the wood

Setting the pieces on the bottom of the cabinet you can now use a pencil and speed square to mark the end of the pieces for cutting the lap joints. Just set 2 pieces at a corner joint butted against each other and extend the outside edge of one piece as a pencil line onto the other piece.

Reset the saw using the gage stick to cut 3/4 of an inch thick and using the saw for cross cutting remove the wood at the ends by making multiple close cuts (see picture) . You could also use a dado blade on the saw to speed up this part of the project.

If all went well you will end up with ends that look similar to the pictures. After doing the first corner joint set them back on the cabinet and clamp together. Set another piece on the cabinet and butt to the first 2 pieces and mark. Cut each corner one at a time and when you get to the last piece you will see how much overhang will have to be trimmed at the end.

After final test fitting of all pieces glue and screw the pieces together and wait for glue to dry

Install the casters and flip the entire assembly over

The drill press was already mounted to a 15 inch square of 3/4 inch plywood which gave it stability when I was using it as a portable unit on the workbench so all thats left is to bolt it to the top of the cabinet.

The drawers will be used to store drill bits and accessories for the drill press and the entire unit can be moved to a corner when not needed