Dayton Drill Press - worth the effort?

[maverick302]

I got this as my first drill press a few weeks ago. I had been looking around for something a little more decent but found this 5 mins away for next to nothing, so I figured it couldn't hurt to get my feet wet with. It was (is) rough... has quite a few hacked repairs. When I got it, the column rack (broken) was held on at the bottom by hose clamps, the wiring was exposed in the junction box, things were loose...

It has a newer looking 1/2hp dayton motor, but clearly the wrong pulley. Either the quill spring assembly is the wrong size or the depth stop mount is, because they interfere - the PO rounded out the hole on the spring holder. Since the quill spring is broken, I'll try to find one that fits correctly.

Runout seems ok without using DI, and everything seems to run fairly smooth otherwise. My question here is: Should I throw a new belt on it and just run it as is until I feel the need for something nicer? Or do you think it is worth putting some time and money into to fix the quirks?

 

[royesses]

Looks savable to me. I like to bring a tool back to spec and enjoy the challenge. If it were me I'd repair properly and enjoy it.

 

[rsanter]

If it works use it and don't put much money into it fixing it up.
Keep looking for another drill press. If you find another one at a reasonable cost you now have options.
Keep new one and sell this one.
Keep one for metal and one for wood
Combine the two into one good unit and sell off the remains from there

Bob

 

[maverick302]

Looks savable to me. I like to bring a tool back to spec and enjoy the challenge. If it were me I'd repair properly and enjoy it.

I enjoy it as well, but it has to be worth saving in the first place. I'm just wondering if this drill press is worth the money or I would be better off spending it on a better unit.

 

[Lassen Forge]

My guess is the replacement motor shaft wasn't long enough, the quill is a 6 pulley (THAT would be pretty cool in itself), the motor only a 5. Me? Heck yeah, for what it cost you, as long as the bearings in the quill aren't shot (and it doesn't look like it was ridden *too* hard) can't hurt to fix it up.

I'd see if there's a part number on the drill head assembly and call Granger (after all, it's a Dayton so they know *something* about it), see what it originally had for pulleys and a motor. Or at least get matching pulleys for it.