Delta Rockwell 15 665 Replacement Drill Press Table: A Workshop Troubleshooting Guide

The Delta Rockwell 15-665 is a classic 15 inch drill press, prized enough that owners restore them decades on, and the cast iron table is a part that often needs attention: cracked from a fall, warped, badly pitted, or simply missing when the press changes hands. A Delta Rockwell 15-665 replacement drill press table brings a treasured machine back to full use, and the challenge is that a factory table for a vintage Delta is not something you order new, so you weigh an original casting against a modern upgrade table matched to the column.

The table is the work surface that clamps to the column and tilts or raises to support the workpiece under the bit. On the 15-665 it is a cast iron table with slots, clamped to the column by a bracket. Replacement means either a genuine used casting or an aftermarket table matched to the column diameter.

The direct answer: measure the 15-665’s column diameter and decide between a genuine used Delta table or an aftermarket column mounted table matched to that diameter. For most users an upgrade table with a fence and T tracks adds capability, while purists chasing originality hunt a used factory casting.

Decide which route fits you

• Genuine used casting. For a faithful restoration, a used 15-665 table keeps the press original. It must be the correct casting for your column and bracket, so match by the Delta part and column diameter.
• Aftermarket column mounted table. A modern table with a fence and hold down slots clamps to the column and adds real workholding. It only needs to match the column diameter, not a Delta part number.

Most working shops are better served by the upgrade table, while collectors value the original.

Match the table to the column

Read the model and the column’s outside diameter, since both routes hang on that diameter. An aftermarket column mounted drill press table matched to the column adds a fence and T tracks, while a drill press table with fence that bolts onto a good original casting is the middle path if your factory table is sound but bare. If the original table only drags because the column is rusty, a rust remover and abrasive pad may save it.

Fitting the table

1. Unplug the press.
2. Remove the old table and bracket from the column.
3. For a column mounted replacement, clamp the new table and bracket to the column, checking it sits square to the spindle.
4. For a genuine casting, fit it to the matching bracket and column.
5. Confirm the table is perpendicular to the spindle with a square, and that it locks and, if applicable, tilts firmly.
6. Set an insert or sacrificial surface under the bit path and test clamp a workpiece.

Where people go wrong

The first mistake is buying a used casting that fits a different Delta, so it will not match the 15-665 bracket or column. The second is fitting an aftermarket table that does not match the column diameter, so it will not clamp square. The third is replacing a table that was only rusty and dragging, when cleaning the column would have restored it.

The verdict

Replacing the table on a Delta Rockwell 15-665 comes down to originality versus capability. Measure the column diameter, then choose a genuine used casting for a faithful restoration or an aftermarket column mounted table for a fence and hold downs. Match either to the column, keep the table square to the spindle, and confirm it locks solid. A cleaned column may even save the original. Either way, a classic 15 inch Delta returns to the reliable, precise machine that earned its following.

Three takeaways:

1. Choose a genuine casting for originality or an aftermarket table for capability.
2. Match either route to the 15-665’s column diameter.
3. Keep the table square to the spindle and locking solid.

FAQ

Can I still get a table for a Delta Rockwell 15-665? Not new from the factory. Choose a genuine used Delta casting for originality, or an aftermarket column mounted table matched to the column diameter.

How do I match a replacement table? Measure the column’s outside diameter. Both a used casting and an aftermarket table must match it, and a used casting must also match the 15-665 bracket.

Should I get a used casting or an upgrade table? Collectors chasing originality want a genuine used casting. Working shops usually gain more from an aftermarket table with a fence and hold downs.

Will an aftermarket table fit my 15-665? If it is a column mounted table matched to your column diameter, yes. It clamps to the column and does not need a Delta part number.

My original table just drags. Do I need a new one? Often not. Surface rust on the column makes the table drag. Clean the column with an abrasive pad and rust remover before replacing it.

How do I keep the table accurate? Confirm it is perpendicular to the spindle with a square, that it locks firmly, and that any tilt mechanism holds. Add an insert under the bit path.

Where is the model and column size? The model is on the ID label. Measure the column’s outside diameter directly, since it governs which table will clamp on.

References

1. West Virginia University EHS, Drill Press Safety. https://www.ehs.wvu.edu/files/d/468960e4-730d-4a60-98ea-58ee020f4ab8/drill-press-safety.pdf
2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Woodworking eTool: Drill Presses. https://www.osha.gov/etools/woodworking/production/machines-tools/drill-press