Walker-Turner drill press on CL - go for it?

[GirchyGirchy]

I've been keeping my eye on older drill presses on CL recently and think I found a keeper. It's a Walker-Turner Light-Heavyweight, looks to be a 1200 Series floor model. From pictures it's generally crusty but looks like it could be cleaned up. The ad says it works, and they only want $50.

What say you guys? I think it looks like a good candidate for cleaning up.

 

[bungy42]

If you told me where that was it would already be in my garage. Go get it!

 

[mopar66]

No question just go and give him the $50 and bring it home.

 

[spongerich]

That art deco Cutler Hammer switch alone is worth $50.00

I have a Walker Turner 20" drill press and a 14" Band Saw. They're fantastic machines.
The only downside is that the bearings are oddball sizes and only available from a few sources, so they're not cheap... but since that drill press is pretty much free, you NEED to go over there NOW and get it.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Sounds like a universal "yes." Just need to finish here at work and take the truck over there. Thanks guys!

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Well, it's sitting in the garage (after nearly giving myself a hernia) - wonder if my wife will notice tonight. Hmm.

It's a 3-speed 1216-42 with a Peerless 1/3 HP 120/240V motor. Wired for 120V now. Needs a new power cord but the rest seems golden - don't think it needs new bearings! I'll likely use it as is for a while until I have time to clean it up.

Now, just have to decide whether or not I want the $50 lathe they had as well. Had a nice looking Westinghouse motor on it. No play in the bearings. New belt's needed but other than that, don't see much. This one I'll have to ask my wife about because it'll have to go in the basement. That's what they're for though, right?

 

[spongerich]

Excellent score! That definitely earns a YOU ****!

 

[A_Pmech]

That's a good price on the drill press. Walker Turner made nice machines.

I'd let them keep the lathe. That pile of junk belongs in the dump.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

I'd let them keep the lathe. That pile of junk belongs in the dump.

You think? It honestly felt pretty solid, and for what little I'd probably use it (and what I would make with it...pens, legs, stuff like that) I think it would be fine. As long as the motor seems to work I think I could get by with it.

 

[930dreamer]

Nice score on the Walker DP.

 

[wb2vsj]

It's a keeper. As a Drill Press collector myself, you will enjoy that one. To get rid of that "arc of shame" on the table, you can use JB Weld or Devon and then sand it down. Or just bolt a sacrificial aluminum plate on it.

As for hernias with these old iron beats - I picked up a 16" Delta-Rockwell floor DP last summer. Took 3 of us to get it into the minivan with killing anyone and 4 of us to get it out.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

It's a keeper. As a Drill Press collector myself, you will enjoy that one. To get rid of that "arc of shame" on the table, you can use JB Weld or Devon and then sand it down. Or just bolt a sacrificial aluminum plate on it.

As for hernias with these old iron beats - I picked up a 16" Delta-Rockwell floor DP last summer. Took 3 of us to get it into the minivan with killing anyone and 4 of us to get it out.

Great, thanks for the tip! I noticed that but wasn't too concerned. I found a couples on eBay if I really get sick of it, but I may go with the plate on top.

The hardest part was maneuvering it around while trying not to destroy the belt guard. The guy I bought it from helped me get it into my truck (which has a topper so, like your van, not that easy), but I got it out myself and walked it into its new corner.

 

[Rust]

That's a good price on the drill press. Walker Turner made nice machines.

I'd let them keep the lathe. That pile of junk belongs in the dump.

Quoted for truth..lathe is toast. Some good parts if you get it free...
Press has potential. 50's...ish

 

[gatewaysysop]

Another 'You ****' from me, that is a steal on that drill press. Very nice find and it looks to be in good shape too. That base plate is just huge, no wonder it's so heavy. Took two people to move my 1946 Craftsman floor model, and I don't think its base was that big.

Great find!

 

[Rust]

That art deco Cutler Hammer switch alone is worth $50.00..............

.............you NEED to go over there NOW and get it.

I quite agree Go!

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Another 'You ****' from me, that is a steal on that drill press. Very nice find and it looks to be in good shape too.

Everybody gets lucky every once in a while! One day I'll hopefully make it pretty again.

 

[bobadame]

That's a good price on the drill press. Walker Turner made nice machines.

I'd let them keep the lathe. That pile of junk belongs in the dump.

It's a wood lathe, how good does it need to be to peel wood chips?

 

[daveroy]

Lathe:
It doesn't need to be great to make chips...
But you can get a decent/inexpennsive new one with more features etc. for very little cash. And the one pictured looks to be home made/cobbled together, so I doubt there is any value in restoring it. If its free (or very close to it) or it comes with a bunch of tooling then go for it.

 

[A_Pmech]

It's a wood lathe, how good does it need to be to peel wood chips?

Bigger!

Oliver #66:

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Lathe:
It doesn't need to be great to make chips...
But you can get a decent/inexpennsive new one with more features etc. for very little cash. And the one pictured looks to be home made/cobbled together, so I doubt there is any value in restoring it. If its free (or very close to it) or it comes with a bunch of tooling then go for it.

Any recommendations on new cheap ones? I'd looked at a Jet when thinking about them a few years ago, seemed to be the best decent starter out there, for $300+. The $200 Craftsman models get **** reviews.

The only thing cobbled on is the motor mount. I can easily make a new one with aluminum plate and the new drill press.

 

[Zrexxer]

It's a wood lathe, how good does it need to be to peel wood chips?

As with metal lathes, the key to a quality wood lathe is mass. Large sections of cast iron are rigid and absorb vibration. Junky little spindly lathes make junky little chattery turnings.

 

[bobadame]

Bigger!

Oliver #66:

Yeah, I'd give $50 for that one.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

As with metal lathes, the key to a quality wood lathe is mass. Large sections of cast iron are rigid and absorb vibration. Junky little spindly lathes make junky little chattery turnings.

I'll glue some rocks to the bottom of it.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Ugh, you guys were right. I stopped to take another gander and it's a sad little thing. No nameplate, very light, mounted on wooden blocks, and some wobble in the shaft when turned on. Plus I realized I likely won't use a lathe enough to need to keep one around.

A coworker overheard me talking about old tools and said he has a bunch of his late FIL's stuff they're going to sell. I'll see what bandsaw they have, I'd get much more use out of that.

 

[wb2vsj]

As with metal lathes, the key to a quality wood lathe is mass. Large sections of cast iron are rigid and absorb vibration. Junky little spindly lathes make junky little chattery turnings.

How about this one?

Saw it at the Georgia RR museum in Savannah yesterday