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How to Assemble A Ridgid Bench Top Drill Press

ridgid benchtop drill press
Written by Brent Butterworth
Last Update: May 2, 2023

The importance of a drill press is best realized when it comes to drilling holes with absolute accuracy and perfection. Among all the other drill presses available in the market, the ridgid bench top drill press is influencing customers to a large extent and being considered as one of the best drill presses.

For those who have large floor space and want to buy a large model should go for Rigid bench top model. These are more powerful than most of the types of drill presses and allows you to work with a heavy stock.

Now, if you have already bought the Ridgid benchtop drill press, you might have chosen it based on your clear perception of this drill press. But only buying is not enough; you should also need to know the assembly of the drill press as well.

Ridgid bench top drill press comes with an assembled head, but the chuck, handles, and belts need assembly. As the assembly progress, it becomes heavy eventually and may even require two people.

To help you assemble this Ridgid benchtop drill press, we have illustrated here a step by step guide for you:

Step 1: Unpacking the Product

The first thing is to unbox the compact drill. You will not feel perplexed while unpacking the box as the instruction is given on top of the packet. You will get the assembly instructions too.

 Step 2: Attaching the Post

After unpacking, attach the post to the drill base. There might be too much of oil gliding on the post of the drill press. Make sure that you wipe it away entirely followed by a complete wax coating.

 Step 3: Cleaning the Table Post

Don’t forget to keep the table clean. Wipe the excess oil completely from the drill press table post. Soak a paper with oil and wax and use it wipe the unwanted oil. You can get rid of the remaining oil by scraping the oil off by using a small putty knife.

Cleaning the table post

 Step 4: Installing the Table Arm

As the cleaning procedure is done, take the table and install the table in the table arm.

Step 5: Wheeling the Drill Head to the Base

The next step is putting drill head on a moving dolly and wheeling it over to the base. Now, tip the base and slide the drill head. Using your legs, lift and stand drill press up. You will not need another person for help if you use your leg doing so.

Wheeling the Drill Head to the Base

 Step 6: Installing the Belts and Pulley

This step requires installing the idler pulley and belts.

How to Assemble A Ridgid Bench Drill Press - Install the belts and pulley

 Step 7: Choosing the Position of the Handles

After pulley and belt, install handles. You can choose the position depending on your habit. Most of the people install it on the right-hand side. But if you are a lefty, you can use left-hand side.

Choosing the Position of the Drill press Handles

 Step 8: Doing the Cleaning Job

Take a thick scrap and put it on the table. Wide open the chuck jaw and clean the mating surface of the shaft and the inner side of the chuck. Make sure to clean it nicely for keeping its stable position. Then, take the handle and press shaft in the chuck very tightly.

How to Assemble A Ridgid Bench Top Drill Press - Clean the mating surface

 Step 9: Installing the Bulb

There must be a 60W bulb which is needed to be installed behind the handles in a small recess. If you do not find enough space to fit a 60W bulb, you can press a CFL pigtail style up and reinstall the guard.

How to Assemble A Ridgid Bench Top Drill Press - Installing the bulb

 Step 10: Squaring the table

The last step is to square your table to the quill. Combination table can also be taken in this case. It is required to use a bit which is straight and spins true.

These are the steps you need to follow to get Ridgid benchtop drill press assembled. Some of these instructions can also be applicable to other drill presses, but you should be careful while doing the job.

Squaring-the-table - ridgid benchtop drill press

About the author

Brent Butterworth

A Professional Woodworker & Custom Furniture Builder

Brent lives in Wisconsin and is a woodworker, custom cabinetmaker, interior consultant, and a freelance writer who got the opportunity to write several magazine articles for different publications on home improvement and woodworking. He’s always amazed at the depth and breadth of woodworking all over the globe, and feels proud to be a part of this great effort. Brent has built everything one can imagine, from unique art furniture to different types of home furniture to canoes and even a sailboat.

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