Delta Rockwell Jointer and Drill Press

[jesse72]

I picked up these the other day and am excited to semi-restore them!

The drill press is a 1/2 hp and 5/8" chuck unit with 4 speeds. It needs a new shaft I think because there is a bit of wobble in it. I plan on making it into a bench top unit because I have no floor space for it.

The 6" jointer works perfectly but needs a little clean up.

Happy to have paid $150 for the set!

 

[Norcal]

Nice score, but I am partial to Rockwell/Delta.

 

[My Old Tools]

stole it

 

[rsanter]

Great deal. I would have bough them

Please don't cut that into a bench top unit....you will regret it later
Just pull the bench out and put a couple notches in it. The put the drill press in place and put the bench in front of it

Or
Shorten the bench a little as you will lose that portion of the bench anyway

Bob

 

[Lassen Forge]

I would say this almost approaches suckage...

Do NOT cut that pipe to make it a benchtop - When you eventually *do* get floor space, or you need the length for whatever reason, you'll kick yourself unmercifully.

Keep us posted - I need to get the rust and **** off the post on my new-to-me drillpress, it has the same issues as yours, and I don't want to mess up the grippage of the table.

 

[jesse72]

Thanks for the input guys, I am really torn on the bench top size for the drill press.

Is the pipe that is the upright on it a special type of pipe or couldn't I just save it and get a shorter pipe from the hardware store that is the same diameter to use for now?

I am going to take some oil to the rust with a rag and elbow grease and see if the surface rust will come off. It is minimal and only there because when I bought it, it began to rain on my way home! By the time I was home (30 minutes) it had already rusted,Salt Lake City rain I guess.

The plainer has some rust on the cast iron surfaces but it will clean up nice when I get a few minutes to get 'er done.

 

[rsanter]

Rust.....ha!
That rust is nothing.
Easy clean up

Measure the pipe. I think you will find that it is slightly smaller that standard pipe size as it has been hollow ground sanded so the outside has a smooth finish.

Cut a hole in the bench and insert the drill press through it

Bob

 

[macgee]

Cut a hole in the bench and insert the drill press through it.

+1

Drill holes just big enough for the post fit in the workbench and mount the base to the floor under your workbench or bolt to the bottom shelf. You'll get way more stability than a bench top and save the press from cutting it down. It doesn't necessarily consume a lot of space when done this way.

Nice looking drill press

You scored for the price, that's for sure.

 

[jesse72]

I decided to not cut the DP upright post in order to use it as a bench top model. I got lucky and simply lowering the DP head on the post made it perfect for the bench height and just barley fit behind the garage door track. Now I can use it a floor model someday when I have more room

It had a bit of spindle wobble so I tore it apart, and couldn't figure it out. The spindle is straight as far as I can tell, even using a surface plate to check it out. So Im going to replace the bearings and see if that helps.

Anyone have this experience? Thanks!

 

[jesse72]

I also sold the Delta Jointer the other day for the same price as I paid for both the Drill Press and Jointer together...so this is basically a free drill press! Score!

 

[Bob Hall]

Smart, simple solution! I like it.

 

[JohnK007]

Good thinking Jesse! That's using the ol' noodle!

 

[4307]

The wobble is most likely the bearings, at least that was the problem with my pre restoration Buffalo 15. After I replaced the bearings it ran true.
If you replace the bearings, use a bearing puller, makes life easy.

 

[bubinga]

I also sold the Delta Jointer the other day for the same price as I paid for both the Drill Press and Jointer together...so this is basically a free drill press! Score!

y'a should have sold it to me, I'd a give y'a $150.00 for it too.

 

[jesse72]

Thanks for the comments, Im glad it worked out!

The wobble is most likely the bearings, at least that was the problem with my pre restoration Buffalo 15. After I replaced the bearings it ran true.
If you replace the bearings, use a bearing puller, makes life easy.

Yeah Ill give that a try. Im not sure where to get the bearings from, but I assume there is a part number on them. Ill just search that. Thanks!

 

[Trainman]

Sweet drill press and jointer. Regarding new bearings, there's a whole thread on ordering bearings from a firm known as Accurate Bearings on the Old Woodworking Machinery forum:

http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=93322

I can't speak from any personal experience with Accurate Bearing, but I think lots of guys on the OWWM board have used them and have been satisfied.

 

[Marctrees]

You can buy them for more or less, but that jointer fair price as shown in your photos (assuming single phase, almost all ones that size are, as the drill press) is $300. and the drill press is $500 in my experience.

Major suckage. Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Primarily MN and a little TX price experience above post. Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Your chidren, their chidren, and their children will never need to buy those tools. Marc

 

[zkling]

Your spindle speeds have to be way high with that front pulley. How much run out does the spindle have on the taper?

You can buy them for more or less, but that jointer fair price as shown in your photos (assuming single phase, almost all ones that size are, as the drill press) is $300. and the drill press is $500 in my experience.

Major suckage. Marc

That is absurd, especially on the drill press.

 

[4307]

Thanks for the comments, Im glad it worked out!



Yeah Ill give that a try. Im not sure where to get the bearings from, but I assume there is a part number on them. Ill just search that. Thanks!

If you don't find a part number, measure the bearings dimensions. I'm sure you will find what you need.
Ebay is a good source. I hate to say it but the Chinese ebay bearing vendors have pretty much every size imaginable. I try to buy North American when possible, but in the past I've found 'hard to find' bearings very expensive through "local" industrial suppliers, or they want a minimum purchase order of 50-100 units + it will take 6 weeks for an order to come in only to find the bearings came from China anyway.

Measuring bearings...

http://www.bearing-king.co.uk/how-to-measure-a-bearing.php

 

[jesse72]

Thanks for the ideas everyone, I think the run out was about 1/8" - 1/4"? (didn't measure or anything, just by the way it looked) It wasn't a ton of wobble, but too much to drill accurately with for sure

The guy that bought the jointer from me had a nice collection of same era Delta/Rockwell tools such as a drill press, table saw, band saw etc... So it went to a good home. It was a single phase motor, so it my DP.

Ill check out those bearing websites, I haven't had much time this week but hopefully will get some ordered really soon. Your input is very appreciated!

 

[Marctrees]

Absurd? If someone has a $500 budget for a drill press, tell me what would be a better choice ??

I didn't say it couldn't be found cheaper, but if it can't, $500 will buy nothing better than this. Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Only thing it doesn't have is the table elevation crank mechanism, that is a pain not to have. Marc

 

[Marctrees]

O **** ! Also doesn't have the drilling depth adjuster. Just noticed that.

Ok, I'll go down to $350. Marc

 

[bubinga]

Sweet drill press and jointer. Regarding new bearings, there's a whole thread on ordering bearings from a firm known as Accurate Bearings on the Old Woodworking Machinery forum:

http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=93322

I can't speak from any personal experience with Accurate Bearing, but I think lots of guys on the OWWM board have used them and have been satisfied.

I can tell you this, if your bearings are late in shipping, don't call back a few times, and e mail a few times.
The one office manager agreed to send me a new order, then a day or 2 later the 1st order finally showed up, and she called me up and gave me all kinds of hell. Order was about 3 weeks late.
She was giving me hell, and said if I didn't mail the bearings (2nd order) back, they would charge my card.
I told her to do what she had to do, and I would buy my bearings else where next time, and hung up on her.
It's too bad really, cause she knew her product, and they were reasonable, and shipping was reasonable.
But You'll have this I guess.

 

[rustybutt]

Bought one just like that about 30 years ago and still use it several times a week (or more). Only things I have done are replace the chuck (20 years ago) and install a link belt a couple of years ago to get rid of a belt "thump".