How to Install Woodpecker Drill Press Table, Step by Step
A Woodpeckers drill press table is one of the best upgrades a woodworker can bolt onto an otherwise basic press: a flat work surface, a calibrated fence, flip stops, and hold-down clamps that turn repetitive drilling into precise, repeatable work. Installing a Woodpecker drill press table is straightforward, and the only real skill is mounting it flat and square to the spindle so all that precision actually pays off.
A Woodpeckers drill press table is an aftermarket top that mounts over your existing cast table. It adds a larger work surface with T-tracks, a fence, stops, and clamps, so you can register work against a fence and repeat hole positions exactly.
Short answer: center the table under the spindle, bolt it to your original cast table through the mounting holes or clamps, confirm it sits flat and square, then attach the fence and stops and verify the fence is parallel to the table slots.
The table to install
A Woodpeckers drill press table package with fence, flip stops, and clamps is a complete kit designed for twelve inch and larger presses, so you get the surface, the fence, and the hold-downs in one fitment. Confirm your press size and cast table dimensions before ordering.
The honest drawback: an add-on top raises the work surface and adds weight, which reduces your usable quill travel a little and can crowd a small benchtop press. Who should skip it: owners of very small presses with limited travel, who may lose more height than the fence is worth.
Installing it, step by step
- Unplug the press.
- Set the new table on the cast table and center it under the spindle by lowering a bit into the table’s center.
- Mark and mount it: bolt through the cast table’s existing slots or use the supplied clamps, keeping the top centered.
- Check flat and square: set a straightedge across the surface for flatness and a square against a rod in the chuck for perpendicularity.
- Attach the fence and slide it in the T-track, then set it parallel to the track and lock it.
- Install the flip stops and clamps, and test a repeat drilling to confirm the stops hold position.
Common install mistakes
- Mounting off-center, so the spindle is not over the table’s insert.
- Skipping the square check, which wastes the fence’s accuracy.
- Overtightening clamps on a thin cast table and distorting the top.
- Forgetting to confirm quill travel clears the raised surface.
Mount it flat, square it, then set the fence
Installing a Woodpeckers table is quick, but flatness and square are what make it worth having. Center it under the spindle, mount it without distortion, confirm square to a rod in the chuck, and set the fence parallel to the track.
Three takeaways:
- Center the table under the spindle before mounting.
- Confirm flat and square before trusting the fence.
- Watch that the raised surface leaves enough quill travel for your work.
FAQ
What is a Woodpeckers drill press table? An aftermarket top that mounts over your cast table, adding a larger surface with T-tracks, a fence, flip stops, and clamps for precise, repeatable drilling.
Will it fit my drill press? The complete packages are designed for twelve inch and larger presses. Confirm your press size and cast table dimensions before ordering.
How does it attach? It bolts through your original cast table’s slots or mounts with supplied clamps. Keep it centered under the spindle as you fasten it.
Does it reduce my drilling height? Yes, a little. The added top raises the work surface, which reduces usable quill travel, so it matters most on small presses.
How do I make sure it is square? Set a square against a rod in the chuck and the new surface in both directions, and adjust before locking everything down.
Can I add just the fence to my own table? Yes. Woodpeckers sells a track and fence kit to build a fence onto a shop-made or existing top, if you do not want the full table.
References
- Woodpeckers, drill press table systems and installation guidance: https://woodpeck.com/collections/drilling
