WEN Drill Press Table Adjustment Handle Extension

If you own, or intend to own, a WEN 10" Drill Press and you add a table and fence (or build your own) you will find that the height adjustment lever will be difficult to reach and will hit the table unless you move it forward plus you will lose valuable workspace.

So this instructable is designed to help you easily add an extension to the adjustment lever without making any permanent changes to the Drill Press.

You will need the following (some I purchased from Lowes with the item number in parenthesis):

1. 5/8" - 11 x 12" threaded bar (11031)
2. 5/8" Coupler Nut (881654)
3. 2 x 10-24 x 5/16 Set Screws (come 2 to a pack; 880912)
4. 1/8" drill bit with countersink
5. Speed clamps
6. Either a Tap & Die set for 10-24 or I purchased a set of Milwaukee combo Drilling & Tapping bits as shown
7. 3/4" spade drill bit and drill
8. Scrap piece of wood that was 5/4" x 9" long (this piece will need to be cut on one long end to provide a flush finish to attach to the underside of the Drill Press Table (DPT) and leave it at 2" wide)
9. Angle grinder with cut-off wheel to cut threaded rod to size and grind down threads on handle end
10. 2 2-1/2" wood screws

First you'll need to use an Allen wrench to remove the height adjustment handle from the back of the drill press. Make sure to keep the supplied set screw with the handle for now to not misplace it.

I'm showing a stock picture here to clearly show the lever so do not remove your drill press table (DPT) during the process.

(My apologies for not taking more before pictures)

I ran my piece of scrap decking wood 5/4" x 9" (slightly longer can work but it's what I had on hand) through my band saw to shave off the rounded long edge that decking boards have to give me a piece that was 2" wide. Doing so will provide a flush edge to screw the wood into the under-side of the DPT.

Screw the 5/8" threaded rod into the coupler leaving enough space to fit the (as in photo) right side to fit over the provided handle shaft.

Determine the where the threaded rod would extend by using speed clamps to hold the wood piece to the under-side of the DPT. I chose to have it sit about 1/2" in from the edge. I extended the wood by loosening the speed clamps to ensure enough material on all sides after a 3/4" hole is drilled to hold the threaded rod. Mark the spot by using a small level to ensure everything is in alignment.

With the rod still held in place, take a Sharpie pen and mark on the threaded rod a place 1" past the outside of the wood piece. Mine came out to 8" in total length of the threaded rod.

On the wood piece, determine where to place 2 screws through the bottom of the DPT and mark accordingly. I spaced mine about 5 inches apart.

Remove the speed clamps

Drill a 3/4" whole in the wood piece where you placed the mark for the threaded-rod

Remove the threaded-rod from the coupler and set the coupler aside.

Using an angle grinder, cut the threaded rod to length (mine was 8" long). Then on the handle end, using the grinding wheel, smooth 1" of the threads off the rod so that the handle can fit snugly on the rod and be tightened down with the set screw.

Place the 5/8" coupler into a vice and, using the Drill-Tap 10-24 bit, drill/thread each end of the coupler (about 1/8" on the right side going onto the handle receiver and 1/2" from the other end) and then slowly turn to tap the threads for the set screws. Rethread the rod back into the coupler again leaving space for the receiver end and tighten the left set screw (as pictured).

Using the 1/8" drill bit with the countersink, drill the underside of the wood where you previously marked for the wood screws.

Take all pieces back to the drill press.

Place the coupler end over the handle receiver and insert and tighten the second set screw into the coupler.

Place the end of the threaded-rod through the 3/4" hole in the wood piece. Re-clamp the wood to the DPT with speed clamps to the underside making sure the extension rod is properly aligned and square.

Slide on the handle over the end you previously ground the threads off the rod and tighten the handle set screw. Gently test for smooth workings. Adjust the wood piece if needed and with clamps holding it in place, secure to the bottom with wood screws making sure they will not protrude through the top of the DPT.

The extension is now complete and you can easily raise and lower your DPT. Happy drilling!