So on my old drill press table there is a lot of holes drilled partially into it where oil likes to pool today when I get to my trade school I am filling all of the partially drilled holes with oxy-acetylene brazing I need to flatten the surface back down afterwards so my question is how flat should I get it should I go as far as to stone it or should I just file it down or hit it with a grinder? Will an oilstone even work with the patches of brass from the braze? Should I file it down ? Also should I put some kind of finish on it?, if so how and what kind? Sorry for all the random questions just figured it would be better to ask people who understand my stance on properly restoring it if I were to ask my welding instructors they would just tell me to hit it with a grinder and be done with it, but I want to do it properly soooo…

 

This post is a prime example of when I let the ADHD take over lol -Ryder

A drill press isn’t really a precision machine, but I’d be worried about the brass pulling the table out of flat as it cools and contracts.  (Bondo should be strong enough to keep the oil out of the holes.)

If you do braze, I’d avoid grinding, to limit the amount of base metal you remove. 

1 hour ago, Mike BR said:

A drill press isn’t really a precision machine, but I’d be worried about the brass pulling the table out of flat as it cools and contracts.  (Bondo should be strong enough to keep the oil out of the holes.)

If you do braze, I’d avoid grinding, to limit the amount of base metal you remove. 

Thanks for the concern about the pulling out of flat but I am in no way shape or form concerned about that as it is solid 3/4 inch thick cast iron (hence why I am brazing and not welding it) since cast iron is such a stable material it will not pull or warp when heated this is why you can not weld cast iron it will not move with the contractions of the cooling metal and in turn builds up stress until it cracks 

Good Morning Sterling,

We can't see through the Keyboard what configuration you are working on. On all my Drill Press's the tables rotate, therefore it can be trued with a Lathe. I don't recall a divot in the table that has ever caused me an issue, that I would even think about brazing it. Maybe you are creating a job for yourself. Enjoy the Journey!!

Neil

Cast iron is a brittle material, meaning that it normally breaks rather than permanently deforming when it reaches its yield stress.  But like every material except maybe kryptonite, it does deflect under stress -- how else would you clamp the table to the column?  And brazing it will put it under stress.  Very possibly not enough to matter, but my advice is don't try to find that out unless you have to.  (Though in the worst case, you might be able to come up with a way to drill the brass back out )

Ryder I agree with Neil, I think you're making more of this than it's likely worth. Not trying to say anything bad about either the drill press or your efforts to restore, but more to be practical. If the swiss cheese bugs you, one of the various fillers would likely do pretty well once you cleaned the hole out. I'd add JB Weld to the list of possible fillers. My 2-cents worth.

--Larry

I'm with Larry J-B Weld makes some very hard fillers. J-B SteelStik comes to mind. fill the holes after de-greasing the table and smooth them out with a 41/2 inch angle grinder with a flap disk.

I can’t control the wind. All I can do is adjust my sails. ~Semper Paratus~ USCG 1964-1970

 

On 5/8/2026 at 1:27 PM, swedefiddle said:

Maybe you are creating a job for yourself. Enjoy the Journey!!

I do have a tendency to create jobs for my self that are not necessary so you are very correct

also to everyone who says I should have just JB welded it or something I do agree in hindsight but I was very excited to try out some large cast iron repairs as I have never done them before I will see how it turned out today when I get to my trade school so will update y’all!

 

-Ryder

Good Morning,

Take LITTLE STEPS!!!     Don't dive off the Bridge, until you know what is below. It may be your Last Jump!!

Neil