Delta / Rockwell drill press questions

[scottd03820]

Hello,

I've been looking for an old drill press. I found this Delta/ Rockwell for sale locally and had a few questions. I know it is more than I will need but I'd like your opinion on this one. Can someone tell me the year? Does it look original? It's 3 phase 220/440. They're asking $350.00 which seems steep to me. Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[rsanter]

Way way too much money
Typically a three phase DP was sold for industrial or school use so they were used hard.

And...most people don't have three phase at home.

So that DP should be no more than $150

Bob

 

[Whitworth]

$300 and up seems common at auctions for any functional American made drill press, 3 phase or single, single pushing the price somewhat higher.

And then there's the Garage Journal schizo-logic, --no one has 3 phase in their home so it should be cheap but it's easy and cheap to add a VFD. --- so what is it?

 

[bubinga]

$300 and up seems common at auctions for any functional American made drill press, 3 phase or single, single pushing the price somewhat higher.

And then there's the Garage Journal schizo-logic, --no one has 3 phase in their home so it should be cheap but it's easy and cheap to add a VFD. --- so what is it?

Bargaining card.......................
0r just change motors if you have one already.

 

[ez-duzit]

I wouldn't want it at any price.

 

[rsanter]

$300 and up seems common at auctions for any functional American made drill press, 3 phase or single, single pushing the price somewhat higher.

And then there's the Garage Journal schizo-logic, --no one has 3 phase in their home so it should be cheap but it's easy and cheap to add a VFD. --- so what is it?

Fact, the vast majority of people do not have three phase in their garage.
Fact, three phase equipment was typically sold into industrial applications.
Fact, industrial applications typically use their tools for lots of hours.
Observation, the picture shows a major arc of shame on that table
Fact, a major arc of shame typically it connected to heavy usage
Fact, changing to a single phase motor is an added expense
Fact, adding a VFD is an added expense.

So, what is it..

Bob

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, it's a quality Delta DP.
Yes, since it's 3-phase, another $150 for a VFD is real. But then, I've got a single phase motor on the shelf, so no worries there. Your ability to find a single phase motor for a good price may vary.
No, I wouldn't pay $300 for what I see in the photo.

jack vines

 

[bubinga]

"Fact, a major arc of shame typically it connected to heavy usage"
Yes, Or a bunch of kids in high-school.
Or like they let the belt sanders keep running when they go way off track, and cut slices in the side covers of the nice H-S Delta and powermatic sanders.
Both are SO EASY to avoid.

 

[scottd03820]

Thank you all for your input. I somehow knew felt I was going to get those responses. I guess I was hoping to find a diamond in the rough. I think its over priced and over worked. Thanks again.

 

[exmaxima1]

Looks like a 14 or 15 inch machine, circa late 50's/early 60's. Bent handle could also mean issues with the quill. Until you spend several hours cleaning/degreasing you really have no idea what is under all the mess.
I would not pay more than $75 for it. I would hold out for a DP-600 (17-inch) model if I was looking to spend >$250.

BTW, what area do you live in?

 

[Davefr]

Hello,

I've been looking for an old drill press. I found this Delta/ Rockwell for sale locally and had a few questions. I know it is more than I will need but I'd like your opinion on this one. Can someone tell me the year? Does it look original? It's 3 phase 220/440. They're asking $350.00 which seems steep to me. Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

First of all 3 phase is a benefit since you can VFD it. (why would you convert it to 1 phase??)

The price seems reasonable assuming it was in good condition which it's not. It looks pretty beat with that bent quill handle and major arc of shame.

In addition, a DP without table lift is worthless. (like a lathe without power feed.)

Lastly it's only 4 speed - probably woodworking speeds. (even more reason to VFD it)

Keep looking.

 

[ez-duzit]

...a DP without table lift is worthless...

Simply false.

A drill press without table lift is much faster and handier. A lift is only preferred where the table is excessively large and heavy.

 

[My Old Tools]

It all depends on where it is. Around here, that is a $150-200 machine, maybe less if they really want to move it. A 17" in that shape would bring considerably more. There is nothing there that can't be corrected if you want to work on it. In its favor, it appears all original, not cobbled up. If industrial equipment is scarce where you are, then it is worth more.

 

[Packard V8]

Simply false.

A drill press without table lift is much faster and handier. A lift is only preferred where the table is excessively large and heavy.

Absolutely X2 - I've been using 14" DPs without a table lift for general shop work for fifty years and no worries.

Yes, the larger machines, those with a production table, adding an X/Y vise, benefit from a table lifting mechanism.

jack vines

 

[bubinga]

Tell him you could go as high as $150.00.

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[Davefr]

Simply false.

A drill press without table lift is much faster and handier. A lift is only preferred where the table is excessively large and heavy.

100% disagree.

I've had both and will never use a real DP without table lift. (i'm not counting the little "toy" bench top units). I use the table lift crank more then the quill feed to make numerous small adjustments/tweaks in table height. It would take 100X the time to manually adjust the table each time.

 

[ez-duzit]

...It would take 100X the time to manually adjust the table each time.

More pure BS.