New (used) Drill Press.

[Kscardsfan]

Got this off Facebook marketplace yesterday for $50. Runs like a sewing machine. I was so used to cheap Chinese imports I was a little shocked by how quiet it was. Everybody on here seems to think they’re very good tools, especially for someone like me as a weekend mechanic/tinkerer. Next step is to get a better set of pulleys and degrease and lightly lube everything up. I’m thinking of building a cart like some I’ve seen on here using an intermediate chest or top box for storage and counterweight as well as making it more user friendly for someone who is 6’+ like my wife and myself.

 

[captain14]

Good buy. Post up the base you build for it. I’m 6’7” so I know the feeling operating “short” tools.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Personally I would take it apart and cleal/lubricate everything.

The two big improvements I made to mine was:

Glue 2 ball handles to the ends of the drill handle. It makes drilling so much easier

Mine did not ship from the factory with a motor. I bought it with a 1725 rpm washing machine motor, which with stock pulleys has a minimum speed to 700 rpm. For drilling steel this speed is a bit high for larger drills. I changed that motor out with an 1140 rpm motor which lowered to minimum speed to 500 rpm.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Personally I would take it apart and cleal/lubricate everything.

The two big improvements I made to mine was:

Glue 2 ball handles to the ends of the drill handle. It makes drilling so much easier

Mine did not ship from the factory with a motor. I bought it with a 1725 rpm washing machine motor, which with stock pulleys has a minimum speed to 700 rpm. For drilling steel this speed is a bit high for larger drills. I changed that motor out with an 1140 rpm motor which lowered to minimum speed to 500 rpm.

Need to sit down when I get some free time and see what motor it has and calculate the RPMs on it so I can know what I’m working with. Hadn’t considered adding some ball handles to the lever. That would make it a lot more user friendly. Thanks.

 

[exmaxima1]

Got this off Facebook marketplace yesterday for $50.

I hope you also bought the grinder and the big vise sitting on the ground next to the DP.

 

[lilredex]

I'd be inclined to make up handles like the old Toros. if I were to modify the handle.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Need to sit down when I get some free time and see what motor it has and calculate the RPMs on it so I can know what I’m working with. Hadn’t considered adding some ball handles to the lever. That would make it a lot more user friendly. Thanks.

Changing out the handle for a 4 spoke handle is an even better improvement.

 

[macgee]

Nice score,

Thats a Delta Homecraft mdl #11-120 with what looks like a vintage 1/4 hp repulsion induction motor by Sun Motors or by GE? Those motors are very powerful for the rated size and very smooth, it should serve you well.

They're awesome machines and totally underrated, I prefer it to the DP-220.

I've completely rebuilt one and added some mods to it. Being 6'+ I would say 38" surface height would be good.

Here's a vintage publication you might like to see by Delta about this DP:

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/3209.pdf

Here's a pic of the one I rebuilt:

I hope you also bought the grinder and the big vise sitting on the ground next to the DP.

+1

Looks like a really nice grinder.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I hope you also bought the grinder and the big vise sitting on the ground next to the DP.

Was not offered, but he said he was going to be listing more stuff in the near future, so they’re on the table.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Nice score,

Thats a Delta Homecraft mdl #11-120 with what looks like a vintage 1/4 hp repulsion induction motor by Sun Motors or by GE? Those motors are very powerful for the rated size and very smooth, it should serve you well.

They're awesome machines and totally underrated, I prefer it to the DP-220.

I've completely rebuilt one and added some mods to it. Being 6'+ I would say 38" surface height would be good.

Here's a vintage publication you might like to see by Delta about this DP:

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/3209.pdf

Here's a pic of the one I rebuilt:

+1

Looks like a really nice grinder.

Well now I have a new goal. You nailed it. It’s a GE, I need to pull the shaft diameter off of it to order pulleys. Thinking I’ll upgrade it to 5 sheaves if I’m going to do it.

 

[Packard V8]

Agree, the Homecraft DP is a great small shop bench unit. Because of the smaller footprint, I've used one in my basement shop for many years in preference to the larger Delta units in the garage shop.

As to spindle speeds, one shouldn't be asking the Homecraft to drill deep 1/2" holes in steel.

jack vines

 

[Kscardsfan]

Agree, the Homecraft DP is a great small shop bench unit. Because of the smaller footprint, I've used one in my basement shop for many years in preference to the larger Delta units in the garage shop.

As to spindle speeds, one shouldn't be asking the Homecraft to drill deep 1/2" holes in steel.

jack vines

That seems like pretty reasonable limitations

 

[tool_scrounge]

Agree, the Homecraft DP is a great small shop bench unit. Because of the smaller footprint, I've used one in my basement shop for many years in preference to the larger Delta units in the garage shop.

As to spindle speeds, one shouldn't be asking the Homecraft to drill deep 1/2" holes in steel.

jack vines

Yes, but occasionally I need to drill stainless steel and at 700rpm the max drill size is 3/16" from the speed charts I was looking at.

 

[Jayman17]

Nice score,

Thats a Delta Homecraft mdl #11-120 with what looks like a vintage 1/4 hp repulsion induction motor by Sun Motors or by GE? Those motors are very powerful for the rated size and very smooth, it should serve you well.

They're awesome machines and totally underrated, I prefer it to the DP-220.

I've completely rebuilt one and added some mods to it. Being 6'+ I would say 38" surface height would be good.

Here's a vintage publication you might like to see by Delta about this DP:

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/3209.pdf

Here's a pic of the one I rebuilt:

+1

Looks like a really nice grinder.

Macgee, what is the sleeve for on your dp post? It looks like cardboard.
Nice job on the dp!

Jay

 

[Kscardsfan]

Yes, but occasionally I need to drill stainless steel and at 700rpm the max drill size is 3/16" from the speed charts I was looking at.

Thought about one of those slow speed adapters for sale in the classifieds section here?

 

[macgee]

Macgee, what is the sleeve for on your dp post? It looks like cardboard.
Nice job on the dp!

Jay

Jay,

Yes, that is a thick vintage high quality (If there is such a thing) cardboard tube That I believe was original.

When doing my homework researching this model and I saw quite a few others vintage untouched ones with the same cardboard tubing, I decided to keep it. I like it and it makes sense why they do it. The cardboard tubing Protects the column from banging items into it and helps column from getting rusty. It just floats there and easily moves when you adjust the table height.

When I got the drill press and raised the cardboard tubing, the column underneath it was in pristine condition with zero rust.

 

[Whitworth]

That is a handsome looking older Homecraft.

Spindle pulley is proprietary. And I don't think there's a slow speed (3rd) pulley for that column (I think it's like 1 7/8" diameter).

 

[tool_scrounge]

That would work too. I am pretty sure I have one of the original factory Craftsman or Delta 3rd pulley assemblies that have a pair of sleeves that will adapt it to large or small center post diameters. But since I had a spare 1140 rpm Baldor motor I just used that to replace the open frame appliance motor.

 

[macgee]

That is a handsome looking older Homecraft.

Spindle pulley is proprietary. And I don't think there's a slow speed (3rd) pulley for that column (I think it's like 1 7/8" diameter).

Thanks,

I agree on this, plus there's no room inside the belt cover to accomodate a larger diameter pulley to slow it down and then the distance between the two pulleys is short, not giving you very much room to work with when thinking about installing and using a custom fabricated third slow pulley system. If there is a OEM orig. 3rd pulley, then that would probably cost to acquire way more than the DP itself.

After all the hassle and money needed to make a third pulley work, it would be way smarter to find an old 3 phase motor and use a VDF to give you any speed your heart desires without having to modify a vintage piece and no more belt changing and dial in the exact speed needed; that would make this drill press very nice to use as long as you DON'T try or expect to use it like a 20" Powermatic.

I'm pretty sure mine is slower than 700 rpm, I need to measure it. I've been able to drill steel holes fairly easily, in fact it did great and not burn up any drill bits while doing so.

No matter how nice or incredibly expensive or awesome your drill press is, without having or using the proper rpm's, you're destined to smoke and dull bits. Know your drill press and it's limitations.

 

[tool_scrounge]

My 11" delta is only 4 speed, so probably why the minimum speed is higher. An alternative to slow the motor down is a variable speed Leeson or Baldor motor DC motor + controller. VFDs are great, but in a quite environment I find the audible whine is annoying. I also find procuring controllers with NEMA 4 sealed enclosures easier for DC controllers.

I found it odd that this drill press was barely used when I saw it. It became obvious when I lowered the quill. Delta has machined the main casting just slightly too small and the quill would not automatically retract no matter how much the return spring was preloaded. It was a nuisance to use. But the price was right so I bought it. The solution was easy - just add a heavy duty spring washer to the quill clamp to slightly spread the casting apart when the quill was not locked. It fixed the problem completely.