Many years ago, after I left working in machine shops, and got an associate degree, moved into industrial sales, I was feeling lost without a mill at my disposal.
Had picked up a flea market bench mount drill press (new), and then a few years later an X-Y table for it.
Was OK for positioning hole positions, but was nearly impossible for milling, too much chatter due to flex.
The column was not much more than a 80mm piece of cast iron pipe, so I cleaned the ID, went to one of my customers, and got a damaged piece of 2.5" Cat hydraulic cylinder rod the length of the column, and a half gallon of fiberglass resin.
The cylinder rod was just big enough to slide down inside the column, with about 1/4" to spare.
After plugging the bottom, poured a little resin into the column, slid the rod down in after, and finished filling the rest of the space up to the top.
And also addressed the rather loose lower spindle bearing (was just a cheap ball bearing), with roller bearing, and purchase some end mill holders that hit the #2 Morse taper in the spindle.
Small end mills could be used in the drill chuck directly, but above 3/8" it had to come out, and use a end mill holder.
It held up fine, wasn't perfect, still had to take light cuts, but I did a lot of milling jobs on it until I found an actual milling machine.
Sold the X-Y table for what I paid for it, but still have that drill press.
The only down side, was it nearly doubled the weight of the drill press
Remember, the world is what you make of it...