Show us your cool, "old" drill press

[Paul S]

my Boice Crane Helmet Head
wired for three speeds plus pulleys

 

[Jim C.]

I very recently picked up this 1948 Craftsman DP.

Jim C.

 

[wout]

Maybe someone can help me out on this one? My vintage sacem drill falls down every time I lose the handle. I suppose there’s a (leaf-)spring in it somewhere that is broken or came loose but can’t figure it out. I don’t have any documentation on it so I’m kind of blind searching on this problem. The drill works well and very smooth but it’s really annoying I have to hold the drill up all the time. Really want to solve this little issue so any help is much appreciated!

Post this in my 'more vintage tools' topic to and got suggested it may sit in the 'button' so I added some pictures about that to. Had that button off before but didn't got any wiser then.

Checked some more and seems that my drill probably was missing the spring when I got it.

Wout

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I very recently picked up this 1948 Craftsman DP.

Jim C.

Wow. That thing has led a charmed life! Congrats on the find Jim.

 

[dutchgray]

Maybe someone can help me out on this one? My vintage sacem drill falls down every time I lose the handle. I suppose there’s a (leaf-)spring in it somewhere that is broken or came loose but can’t figure it out. I don’t have any documentation on it so I’m kind of blind searching on this problem. The drill works well and very smooth but it’s really annoying I have to hold the drill up all the time. Really want to solve this little issue so any help is much appreciated!

Post this in my 'more vintage tools' topic to and got suggested it may sit in the 'button' so I added some pictures about that to. Had that button off before but didn't got any wiser then.

Checked some more and seems that my drill probably was missing the spring when I got it.

Wout

If you cant get an original spring, which is likely as they are almost never available for old drills, I would suggest seeing a good clock repairer as its basically a large clock main spring that you need.

 

[Jim C.]

Wow. That thing has led a charmed life! Congrats on the find Jim.

Thanks! For the most part it has been lightly used and is totally original. It’s still bolted to its factory original wooden shipping pallet. It had a lot of paint splatters on it and needed to be cleaned up. Unfortunately the tilting table flange was cracked. I had to track down another table. I’m still ahead of the game however, because the drill press was free.

Jim C.

 

[crguy]

Checked some more and seems that my drill probably was missing the spring when I got it.

Wout

You can also buy various sizes of flat spring steel stock at McMaster Carr.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks! For the most part it has been lightly used and is totally original. It’s still bolted to its factory original wooden shipping pallet. It had a lot of paint splatters on it and needed to be cleaned up. Unfortunately the tilting table flange was cracked. I had to track down another table. I’m still ahead of the game however, because the drill press was free.

Jim C.

Wow. You can't beat that with a stick!

 

[wout]

You can also buy various sizes of flat spring steel stock at McMaster Carr.

Thanks! We don't have that brand of stores here but think I know where to look now.

Wout

 

[ClappedOutBport]

I love McMaster, but their ground flat spring steel will hurt you. Prepare your wallet.

 

[BMWBOB]

I've been trolling Craigslist and Facebook for a good older drill press - either a floor model or bench top would work, but hit the jackpot today: Craftsman King-Seely 103.24810, for FREE! A guy my age (early 60's) just retired and he and his wife are down-sizing (he's also got 2 really nice Harleys for sale....) He tried to sell the drill while I was out of town, but got no takers (his ad was terrible, 1 side pic only, no brand and back-lit: couldn't tell if it had paint on it or not)

Anyway, I knew it would be heavy, and it was. Missing the lid and chuck key, but seems to work fine even though it doesn't look like it has seen a new drop of oil in a few decades. (Pics as-found)

I'm not sure if I'm going to rebuild this or just clean it up and use it, but I definitely need to find a chuck key...
Is there a part number I can search for?

THANKS!
Bob

 

[FrankLee]

I've been trolling Craigslist and Facebook for a good older drill press - either a floor model or bench top would work, but hit the jackpot today: Craftsman King-Seely 103.24810, for FREE! A guy my age (early 60's) just retired and he and his wife are down-sizing (he's also got 2 really nice Harleys for sale....) He tried to sell the drill while I was out of town, but got no takers (his ad was terrible, 1 side pic only, no brand and back-lit: couldn't tell if it had paint on it or not)

Anyway, I knew it would be heavy, and it was. Missing the lid and chuck key, but seems to work fine even though it doesn't look like it has seen a new drop of oil in a few decades. (Pics as-found)

I'm not sure if I'm going to rebuild this or just clean it up and use it, but I definitely need to find a chuck key...
Is there a part number I can search for?

THANKS!
Bob

A Jacobs K3 key fits that chuck.

The lid you refer to... do you mean belt cover? If so, that was an optional accessory available from '53 to '56 and they are quite rare.

 

[BMWBOB]

A Jacobs K3 key fits that chuck.

The lid you refer to... do you mean belt cover? If so, that was an optional accessory available from '53 to '56 and they are quite rare.

Thanks Frank!

That key should be easy to find. Didn't know about the belt cover being an option - safety was not as big a deal back then....

I don't think this drill has seen much use: the table hasn't moved for a very long time, no marks at all on the table, the chuck pilot holes and splines are crisp, but at the current (2nd fasted) belt setting it is vibrating a bit, and its faster than I want to drill metal with. I doubt it will be as bad when I get her bolted to a good heavy stand at a more reasonable speed.

Are there tables somewhere for the rpm's that you are aware of?
Thanks again,
Bob

 

[FrankLee]

A Speed chart is in the owners manual. Check VM.

A new cogged belt will likely take care of that vibration.

 

[RanWhenParked]

my Boice Crane Helmet Head
wired for three speeds plus pulleys

I get a log in dialog when trying to access the video...

 

[smalltown]

Paul S needs to go back to the video and option it for public viewing.

 

[BMWBOB]

A Speed chart is in the owners manual. Check VM.

A new cogged belt will likely take care of that vibration.

VM?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Smokeshow69]

VM?


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Vintage machinery website


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Anyone able to save this old girl? Just too big for me.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/306137190434564/


http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1742/21216.pdf


Flat Rock, Al

 

[liliysdad]

Saw this one over a year ago, told the owner when she was ready to sell, let me know. She called me a little while back, told me to name a price and it was mine. After a lot of research and advice, I gave her what I thought was fair, and brought it home.

She told me her husband worked for Ford in the Cleveland Ford plant for 20 years. She told me he bought the press from that plant, and used it one time. She couldn't remember what year he bought it, but she knows they brought it with them to Oklahoma, and they moved here in 1971. He has since passed, and shes only now beginning to let things go.

I dont know the age of the press, but I am placing it sometime in the late 40s, early 50s. From that I can gather, it has the wrong top cover on it, from a newer machine. It has the original cast case 115v motor on it. It is has the adjustable head, and table, which is rare from what I have been told. I would like to build or buy a reduction pully setup to slow it down a little, but it works pretty great as is.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice find! Does the table crank as we as the head?

 

[liliysdad]

Nice find! Does the table crank as we as the head?

Yes it does.

 

[Outlawmws]

I figured it would!

 

[WisJim]

My daughter-in-law picked this up at a garage sale for $7.50. Only marking is "No. 1 1/2" It has no flywheel and has no way for a flywheel to attach. A bit rusty but no noticeable play in the shaft.

 

[Outlawmws]

Your daughter-in-law stole that! Tell the son she's a Keeper!

 

[Delta62onhalo]

Got this old Companion drill press of FB marketplace, from my research it was from around 1933 to 1940. Cleaned it up and painted it, works pretty well!

 

[liliysdad]

That companion is super cool. You just don't run across benchtops like that very often.

 

[Svt_ivan]

Putting these on my restoration list very soon!
Any recommendation on the route I should go?
DC motor with variable speed or just keep original? Thoughts...

 

[Outlawmws]

Delta, your pics aren't showing. - Google pics doesn't like this place much...

 

[liliysdad]

Delta, your pics aren't showing. - Google pics doesn't like this place much...

How odd, they worked for a while because I saw them.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think Google has a hit count block. And this place is BUSY...

 

[BMWBOB]

A Speed chart is in the owners manual. Check VM.

A new cogged belt will likely take care of that vibration.

Got a new cogged belt, tightened the drive pully set screw, lubed the motor bearings: no vibration now, but I don't know for sure what fixed it....

In the process of cleaning her up, there's a ton of surface rust. Got the table broke free and moving nicely, and its is square to the quill.

Thanks Frank!

 

[FrankLee]

Got a new cogged belt, tightened the drive pully set screw, lubed the motor bearings: no vibration now, but I don't know for sure what fixed it....

In the process of cleaning her up, there's a ton of surface rust. Got the table broke free and moving nicely, and its is square to the quill.

Thanks Frank!

Did you try, or were you able to remove the pulley from the motor shaft?

Most of the time, those loose pulley screws cause a burr to form which makes it impossible to remove the pulley without a puller.

​

 

[WisJim]

Your daughter-in-law stole that! Tell the son she's a Keeper!

Yes, she's a good kid. Every once in awhile I get a text with a picture of something she's looking at while out at garage sales, and she occasionally finds a goody like this. She's been learning what kinds of stuff I'm looking for.

 

[BMWBOB]

Did you try, or were you able to remove the pulley from the motor shaft?

Most of the time, those loose pulley screws cause a burr to form which makes it impossible to remove the pulley without a puller.

​

Yes I tried, but could not find my puller so its still on. It is definitely scored - I also could not get the set screw tight enough at the flat spot to stop the wobble so I rotated it and set the screw right on the shaft. I know that isn't the best, but I suspect the shaft is a mess anyway... When I get the pulley off, I'll deal with it.

Also, I was able to find a manual for a 103.24821 (Floor model, mine is a 24810 bench model) with the quill speed table on VM. The pic sure looks the same as my head.

Is it the same?

 

[FrankLee]

Yes I tried, but could not find my puller so its still on. It is definitely scored - I also could not get the set screw tight enough at the flat spot to stop the wobble so I rotated it and set the screw right on the shaft. I know that isn't the best, but I suspect the shaft is a mess anyway... When I get the pulley off, I'll deal with it.

Also, I was able to find a manual for a 103.24821 (Floor model, mine is a 24810 bench model) with the quill speed table on VM. The pic sure looks the same as my head.

Is it the same?

Yes, exactly the same.

 

[BMWBOB]

Yes, exactly the same.

THANKS again!

 

[bbbarracuda]

I saw this on FB marketplace. I assume this was not made this way? Looks really top heavy unless the base is really heavy.

 

[crguy]

I saw this on FB marketplace. I assume this was not made this way? Looks really top heavy unless the base is really heavy.

Cobbled up mess.

 

[Outlawmws]

And an accident waiting to happen...