Delta 17 DP-600 Build

[lafester]

Thought I would share my recent drill press find with everyone. This is a 1945 model from the bomber plant in Omaha. I imagine it was a tapping press and was worked pretty hard in it's day. I believe it sat there until a few years ago when they finally shut the place down.

These are fairly common, but not really in my area although two did pop up after I got this one. These are a pretty big step up from the Craftsman 150 I am used to, yet still manageable for the home user. Main complaint is the quill lock is just a bolt with no handle and the table is pretty useless without t slots.

Here's a pic from the ad:



The motor is a very heavy 3/4 hp 3 phase so I got to learn and play with VFD for the first time. Seems like 1140 RPM is pretty unusual and with the slow speed pulley and VFD it can crawl with no problems.

Hooking up a VFD is pretty simple and works surprisingly well. At first nothing was moving and I thought the motor was bad but it turned out to be a bad connection in the original wiring. It's pretty amazing what these things can do and I'll be looking to set up the band saw with the same thing. Only down side is the noise it makes but it while using the press it isn't noticeable.

 

[lafester]

The chuck and spindle that came with it were shot. Never heard of a Supreme chuck before... very similar to Jacobs.

I got a new quill/spindle/chuck assembly off ebay and was able to finally test out the drill. I also had a line on a custom made jt 3 spindle from Jim Liechy on OWWM. I wasn't going to get it but since no one is ever going to make these again I figured I might as well, and am glad I did. The Superchuck is a nice upgrade and really looks at home on this drill over the smallish jt33 stock chuck.

 

[lafester]

I ended up getting a better spring cover, steel pulley cover top knob and rear shaft and a knob for the table lock from another member at OWWM. These were the last parts I needed to have a complete drill. It did come with a cast iron front pulley guard as well but it was not painted. I don't think you can see it but I also got another column lock to keep the head from crashing and so I can swivel the head if I need to.

On the table I put together a wood top and attached the float lock to the side. Works good but the lock does move a bit so I think I will get a sheet of aluminum or steel to put over the top.

 

[Davefr]

Thanks for sharing. It looks great and has had a very rich history!!

Since you have the VFD, you might want to add a remote control right at the head. It make start/stop and speed control so much easier then having to do that from the VFD.

 

[lafester]

Yeah I still need to fine tune the vfd.
A remote will happen at some point but first I will make a range of pre set speeds.

Thanks for sharing. It looks great and has had a very rich history!!

Since you have the VFD, you might want to add a remote control right at the head. It make start/stop and speed control so much easier then having to do that from the VFD.

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[454ragtop]

Looks great. How did you polish the column, send it out to be chromed? I made a quill lock handle for one of my Delta 17's, can see it in this pic.

 

[lafester]

Nah, check out the first pic... I bought it that way. I think the guy restored cars so maybe he did chrome it. Has a few scratches but still looks good.

I've seen you post that somewhere. Want to make another one?

Looks great. How did you polish the column, send it out to be chromed? I made a quill lock handle for one of my Delta 17's, can see it in this pic.

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