Floor Style Drill Press to Bench Top

[freebo86]

Found a Walker Turner drill press, thats a floor model with foot control to lower the head. Curious if anyone knows anything of these drill presses and if they are any decent? I'd be looking at Metal work. But the looks of it has 4 pulley positions.

I am curious to know if anyone took a floor style drill press and converted it to a bench top style and how doable this is.

 

[tarbellb]

Sounds like you found very nice, heavy duty model. Post some pics, lots of info floating around here.

You could convert it, I would suggest buying a new column to fit instead of chopping the (highly sought after) original.

If the price is right, ****** it up!

 

[freebo86]

Here is some pictures.

 

[2oolhound]

I agree with tarbellb, don't cut that one down. The only thing I'd do with that one is add a middle pulley.

Bench top DP's are generally cheaper to buy. Why not get both?I have a foot off/on but I'd love to try a foot feed.

 

[Jack Olsen]

My Delta Rockwell 15" came to me in pretty sad cosmetic condition. I showed flagrant disregard for the value of the pillar and cut it in two so the drill press would fit on my bench.

Space in my little two-car is too valuable for a standalone drill press.

 

[freebo86]

The reason for bench top is because floor space just as Jack Olsen mentioned is too valuable. I have a 2 car garage with space being maximized.

Anyone comment on if this drill press is actually worthy of taking on? Like I said I'd be using it for drilling through metal for the DIY stuff I attempt to do

 

[lafester]

Considering you could sell the foot feed and probably come out ahead I would say go for it. You did not say how much they are asking though.

 

[freebo86]

$125 CDN. Needs a new ON/OFF Switch though.

 

[nickleone]

Cut a hole in the bench and put the column thru it.
Keep it working as designed.

Nick

 

[Davefr]

Those foot pedal DP's are very scarce. If you don't want it as a floor model then sell it as is and get a bench top model. Amputating it would be a travesty.

 

[redragoon]

Not sure how your setup looks, but is it possible to cut a notch in the workbench to that the drill press post passes through and the pad is on the floor? Keep the work table above the bench and bolt to the floor. Then the drill press footprint is kept within the same space as the workbench.

This picture isn't exactly what I mean, but it is the closest that I could find.

 

[lafester]

Yeah $125 is a great price. Save or sell the foot feed and make your bench top if you want. Use the money from the foot feed to get a slow speed pulley.

 

[freebo86]

Yeah $125 is a great price. Save or sell the foot feed and make your bench top if you want. Use the money from the foot feed to get a slow speed pulley.

These foot feeds that sought after?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bogie1632]

Just a thought...

Buy it, sacrifice some floor space to restore it. Sell for a good profit and buy a bench model that best suits your needs. IMHO, you could easily offload that foot pedal assembly but it'd be worth much more paired with a restored DP....likely enough to cover the cost of restoration and your new DP. A win, win if you have the time.

V/R
Bogie

 

[freebo86]

Just a thought...

Buy it, sacrifice some floor space to restore it. Sell for a good profit and buy a bench model that best suits your needs. IMHO, you could easily offload that foot pedal assembly but it'd be worth much more paired with a restored DP....likely enough to cover the cost of restoration and your new DP. A win, win if you have the time.

V/R
Bogie

Honestly, I’ve been looking for a used drill press for a year now on local classifieds. Stuff doesn’t come up that often unless it’s like a POS toy like drill press that can probably barely go through cardboard.

I wouldn’t have time to fully restore this.. if it’s a heavy duty unit I’d use it for my own self but would obviously need to cut it down as I can’t sacrifice the floor space. He’s been trying to sell it for over a week now so clearly not much interest for that around here.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[lafester]

These foot feeds that sought after?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

They are pretty rare... Most people who will want one already have the press. The Delta's are way more common but still sought after.

Looks like your table might be designed for the feed to fit as well... I'm not familiar enough with Walker Turner to be sure.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[lafester]

You could also get another short column to use and save everything in case you change your mind later. No real need to cut anything.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[trents99]

The reason for bench top is because floor space just as Jack Olsen mentioned is too valuable. I have a 2 car garage with space being maximized.

Anyone comment on if this drill press is actually worthy of taking on? Like I said I'd be using it for drilling through metal for the DIY stuff I attempt to do

For that price I would be all over it and I all ready own a WT.

It's a worthy DP but you have to consider that it being in pieces you can't be certain if the quill has excessive run out due to worn bearings.

Also if you wanted to use larger bits for metal you need to source the slow speed third pulley as mentioned.

Sent from my SM-G955U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[tarbellb]

Buy it! Honestly I come from the "make it work for you" with a hard lean on keep it original if possible camp. If that means chopping the column, do it (dont tell GJ). Columns are the easiest piece to replace on these machines.

But, also consider how much floor space it really takes, and/or if you can afford or find a replacement column?

And yes, that foot operated table mech is sought after, keep it. Chop the column.


Fun question: have we ever had a "is this full size DP column OEM?" thread...

 

[gnpenning]

Not sure what part of Canada you live in, I'm close to a boarder and would gladly trade my bench mount Delta or a floor mount I have.

As mentioned you could notch your work bench.

 

[2oolhound]

ME too, I'm after gnpenning. I'm on the island and wouldn't butcher that. It's a lot of work to end up with only a 4 speed DP. I'd buy new to get a 12 speed before investing in that (unless I wanted it for the complete unit with foot control). You say you don't have time to restore it but you're inviting a lot of work instead of getting a 3 pulley (12 speed) bench top like what you should have from the get go.

You should post your approximate location in your profile.

 

[freebo86]

Well ended picking up the drill press today. Unit looks to be in good condition, was used for wood working due to saw dust on it. The guy didn’t know much about it as it was passed down to him and he has no use for it.

Has the original switch housing still on it as well as the original 2 prong plug (it’s cracked so I may replace that). Also has a cover at the top of the head that almost looks like a chimney that you open the flap to oil the unit from above? Looks neat.

It’s in the garage in the pieces as the pictures so I’ll have to put it together and see how it runs. It’s a heavy unit for sure!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[gnpenning]

Glad you picked it up.

You may want to show it off here.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116677

 

[freebo86]

Well I got a little carried away today..

Bearings appear good. Little muck in there but will blow out and regresses unless special stuff should be put in the bearings?







Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app