floor standing or bench? I've seen some low profile casters that come mounted on angle brackets so you just add your own board. They also allow you to lower them on fixed feet once in place.What is everyone using for feet on these? I'd like to be able to wheel it around without scratching up my base.
does your casting have slab holes? I'd probably use this kind of wheel in the smallest diameter I could get away with if I didn't want to add to the footprint (unless you need more stability) (keep in mind this will add height to the setup and give it a gap between the base and floor:Floor standing


There's likely a market for parts judging by ebay listings, though that may be worth more effort than it's worth to you. I don't know how mods or OP would feel about listing items on here (as it may affect their fees or bite into personal business) so I'll let them pipe in on that one.Glad I found this thread. I have this Craftsman drill press that I grabbed at a yard sale last year for $20. I plugged it in and it worked so I took a chance on flipping it. It does not have a CMAN motor. Well I have had it for sale for a while now for $40 and anyone who looks at it picks it apart and doesn't want it unless it's free. I'm willing to take the $20 I'm in it for. It's from the 1940's (according to this thread identifying the label plate as such) and yes there's probably a few issues but is this something that can be restored? Is it worth restoring? Are parts available? Is there a market for this as a parts piece? It's too cool to scrap in my opinion but I'm tired of tripping over it in the garage. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
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It's definitely way too heavy to ship for eBay. I'm not interested in shipping something like that. I guess the easiest question would be is this thing worth not scrapping?There's likely a market for parts judging by ebay listings, though that may be worth more effort than it's worth to you. I don't know how mods pr OP would feel about listing items on here (as it may affect their fees or bite into personal business) so I'll let them pipe in on that one.
I meant more-so on the part-out and shipping side of things. Ebay lets you do local pick up only listings but at that point, FB or craigslist is the cheaper option given ebay fees. You're going to get biased opinions about the worth of salvaging it in a thread about these drill presses so imo is worth salvaging. Do you need a drill press? The old one I got is replacing my newer one so if you could use another project....It's definitely way too heavy to ship for eBay. I'm not interested in shipping something like that. I guess the easiest question would be is this thing worth not scrapping?
There are a couple obvious issues that, if corrected, should help it sell.I already have a more modern drill press so I don't need this one. Like I said I bought it because it was old, cool looking, and cheap in my opinion. After staring at it for a week I decided I needed to flip it. I agree it's worth salvaging. Just going to take the right person who likes to restore vintage tools. I just relisted it on craigslist for 25 bucks maybe that will stir some attention.
that video with the DP mounted to plywood then put into that mobile base is what I would use if I was doing something similar.does your casting have slab holes? I'd probably use this kind of wheel in the smallest diameter I could get away with if I didn't want to add to the footprint (unless you need more stability) (keep in mind this will add height to the setup and give it a gap between the base and floor:
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Though many go w/this
Hey, it's the 3rd one from my post up top! Not sure if that's where you got the tip but glad it helped if so. What do you object to in Don's rebuild? I sat thru them a few days ago and can't recall much that made me raise an eyebrow. Just in case I need to do something he does by mistake.There are a couple obvious issues that, if corrected, should help it sell.
First, the quill is fully extended. It could be that the spring is not tensioned. If that's the case, it's an easy fix.
Second, the spindle pulley is upside-down. Please post a photo of the pulley from the top.
Third, the belt is way out of alignment. The belt should be square to the motor shaft and the spindle.
It doesn't seem like you're going to tear it down completely, but for others, do not rely solely on Don's Engine video to rebuild this model of drill press. IMO, there are several things he did not understand about this machine.
Coincidentally, last Friday, I picked up one of these 12-1/4" machines, model 103.23621. I believe the original paint will clean up nicely.
View attachment 1974134
I'm not going to lie, I miss the days when industrial design was not an after thought (remember old engine bays?) and I'm a sucker for these art deco pieces. The fact they're functional and hefty is just an added plus.I already have a more modern drill press so I don't need this one. Like I said I bought it because it was old, cool looking, and cheap in my opinion. After staring at it for a week I decided I needed to flip it. I agree it's worth salvaging. Just going to take the right person who likes to restore vintage tools. I just relisted it on craigslist for 25 bucks maybe that will stir some attention.
I saw it the day it was posted. Unless I really want something, I'll usually wait several days before I respond. Sellers are more likely to accept a lower price. I got that one for $40.Hey, it's the 3rd one from my post up top! Not sure if that's where you got the tip but glad it helped if so.
All I'm going to say is that the dp in Don's Engine's video linked above is a 12-1/4" machine. It is constructed much differently than the 15-1/2" or 13-1/2" drill presses. If Don is a member here, he can pm me for details.What do you object to in Don's rebuild? I sat thru them a few days ago and can't recall much that made me raise an eyebrow. Just in case I need to do something he does by mistake.
I saw it the day it was posted. Unless I really want something, I'll usually wait several days before I respond. Sellers are more likely to accept a lower price. I got that one for $40.
I wanted this machine because it has sleeve bushings/bearings. This is the tenth of this size I've had and usually the bushings are worn and runout is horrible. I want to measure and document replacement bushings. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the bushings on this dp seem tight and likely do not need replacing.
All I'm going to say is that the dp in Don's Engine's video linked above is a 12-1/4" machine. It is constructed much differently than the 15-1/2" or 13-1/2" drill presses. If Don is a member here, he can pm me for details.
I hope to take plenty of pictures during the refurb of mine and post the refurb with explanations.
Your machine is a 15-1/2" 150. Stick with Jeff's videos.
I saw it the day it was posted. Unless I really want something, I'll usually wait several days before I respond. Sellers are more likely to accept a lower price. I got that one for $40.
I wanted this machine because it has sleeve bushings/bearings. This is the tenth of this size I've had and usually the bushings are worn and runout is horrible. I want to measure and document replacement bushings. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the bushings on this dp seem tight and likely do not need replacing.
All I'm going to say is that the dp in Don's Engine's video linked above is a 12-1/4" machine. It is constructed much differently than the 15-1/2" or 13-1/2" drill presses. If Don is a member here, he can pm me for details.
I hope to take plenty of pictures during the refurb of mine and post the refurb with explanations.
Your machine is a 15-1/2" 150. Stick with Jeff's videos.
Just got it. About HF quality if you couldn't tell from the pics but at least it's drop forged and worked like a charm removing my chuck.Thank you I snagged one¡
lmg:I too have an older Craftsman drill press, which also came with the mortising and shaper accessories. However by looking at the photos posted by the OP, I am unable to find a match. I am also unable to find a model number on mine. I am attaching two photos in case anyone can identify mine.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Wow!!! Had no idea it was that old. I bought it in the late 1980s to early 1990s at an estate sale who was a local farmer/community handyman whom I had happened to be acquainted with. Probably paid about $200 for it, and I recall reactions from the crowd when the bidding was highest. I wanted it for sentimental reasons because I liked the ornery old fart, and also because I have always appreciated older well built machinery. Still using it today and thinking of Roy every time I throw the switch.lmg:
That's a pre-WWII, Atlas-manufactured drill press. Probably built sometime in 1937 thru 1940. I've got the basic Dunlap model, built to run forever. Yours would have been top-of-the-line at the time. Here's a link to the 1937 Sears Power Tool Catalog off of the vintagemachinery.org site. (Scroll down to pages 25-27 for the drill presses.) Treasure trove of info and lots of catalog and publication reprints. Click on "View PDF" under pic of catalog and be patient as it tends to load pretty slowly.
You/re quite welcome! Always great to see another classic piece of USA iron getting some attention. GJ got me hooked on these old drill presses years ago.Wow!!! Had no idea it was that old. I bought it in the late 1980s to early 1990s at an estate sale who was a local farmer/community handyman whom I had happened to be acquainted with. Probably paid about $200 for it, and I recall reactions from the crowd when the bidding was highest. I wanted it for sentimental reasons because I liked the ornery old fart, and also because I have always appreciated older well built machinery. Still using it today and thinking of Roy every time I throw the switch.
Bmw57isetta, thank you so much for this information, I really appreciate it.
Didn't really intend to make the above in bold, but it is appropriate.
Thank you again.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on the use of this machine as a mill. Might be that it not great as a mill, but for me that's better than no mill.
My question is about the bearings, since I plan on changing out the bearings, is there a better choice for handling the side loads the machine is subject to during milling?
Well that sounds like good news to me, thanks for the info. Thought I attached pics in my last post. Here ya go.There have been prior discussions about this but I couldn't find them.
You are correct. There are better choices than a drill press for milling, but...
The 80, 100, 150 and some later Craftsman drill presses all use 6202-5/8 deep groove ball bearings in the quill/spindle. Many other Craftsman machines also use these 6202-5/8 or other 62xx ball bearings.
However, the drill press is the only machine that primarily utilizes an axial load on the bearing. A lathe may utilize an axial load some, but all other machines and motors utilize a radial load on bearings. So, IMO, the bearings are not the issue when using a drill press as a mill. The issue is the chuck.
Radial loads on a taper chuck can cause the chuck to dislodge from the spindle. Starting in 1951, Craftsman drill presses came equipped with a Jacobs Safe-Lock chuck. These Jacobs 633C chucks have a safety collar that threads onto the thrust collar attached to the spindle. This chuck cannot fall off the spindle with a radial load.
So, if your 100 has a Jacobs 633C chuck, IMO, you should be ok performing light milling.
Please post some pictures of your drill press and accessories.
Greetings, new member here, came across this while researching restoring my Craftsman 100 drill press. I have had this machine for about 15 years now, did a light cleaning when I got it and it has served me well over the years.
It appears the owner before me used this machine as a mill for the most part. It has the vari-slo attachment, and came with an extra spindle, an endmill collet, an arbor for slitting? And a third tool holder I am not sure what it holds.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on the use of this machine as a mill. Might be that it not great as a mill, but for me that's better than no mill.
My question is about the bearings, since I plan on changing out the bearings, is there a better choice for handling the side loads the machine is subject to during milling?
Just getting started on disassembling the machine, and looking forward to the upcoming YouTube series on the vari-slo attachment over at Jeff's shop channel.
Thanks for any input you can offer.
Thank you very much for the info, please do share how you are going to get the ER20 to work.I'm actually in the process of something similar. You've got a collet chuck for routing, a shaping/cutter arbor and not sure of the third (Is it craftsman labeled? There's a few other makers of similar attachment) Could be for slitting as you mention. I'll be converting my shaping/cutter attachments to er20 collet chucks (I'm actually putting shopping cart together if you want me to share). Before you do any milling, I'd advice you build one of the supports below. It will allow you to make cuts in one or two directions (depending on which you build) w/o putting load on the bearings or bending your spindle shaft:
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Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech...books.google.com
pg 180:
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Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech...books.google.com
edit: Added cheaper vendors of parts below:Thank you very much for the info, please do share how you are going to get the ER20 to work.
I sold mine this past weekend to a a guy who wants to restore it. Glad I was able to find it a home.There are a couple obvious issues that, if corrected, should help it sell.
First, the quill is fully extended. It could be that the spring is not tensioned. If that's the case, it's an easy fix.
Second, the spindle pulley is upside-down. Please post a photo of the pulley from the top.
Third, the belt is way out of alignment. The belt should be square to the motor shaft and the spindle.
It doesn't seem like you're going to tear it down completely, but for others, do not rely solely on Don's Engine video to rebuild this model of drill press. IMO, there are several things he did not understand about this machine.
Coincidentally, last Friday, I picked up one of these 12-1/4" machines, model 103.23621. I believe the original paint will clean up nicely.
View attachment 1974134