Drill press, maybe a Craftsman? Any good?

[biscuit141]

Hello All, I have been out of the drill press game for a while now, I was looking years ago for something decent, but never found it, now a friend mentioned her husband had an olde drill press in the basement he wanted to get rid of. She sent me these pictures, it looks like an older Craftsman to me, but not sure if all the pieces are there, what model it is or if this is even one of their decent models. Any advice before I go see it in person? Also, what's it worth as it sits? They said make them an offer. Thank you.

 

[Terry D]

That is definitely a Craftsman. The wheel to lower the quill has be modified. I defiantly would look into the reason for that.

 

[biscuit141]

That is definitely a Craftsman. The wheel to lower the quill has be modified. I defiantly would look into the reason for that.

Which piece are you referring to specifically?

 

[torqueman2002]

Which piece are you referring to specifically?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/craftsman-drill-press.227480/page-124#post-9173768
This is a picture of a correct CM drill press.
The threat it is in has a wealth of information.

 

[Toolfool]

Grab that thing and restore it. I've been looking for a nice one for years.

 

[biscuit141]

Grab that thing and restore it. I've been looking for a nice one for years.

What do you think is a fair price?

 

[evintho]

I bought mine a few years ago for $150.



Restored it and added a homemade low speed conversion setup and have been using it ever since.

 

[FrankLee]

Hello All, I have been out of the drill press game for a while now, I was looking years ago for something decent, but never found it, now a friend mentioned her husband had an olde drill press in the basement he wanted to get rid of. She sent me these pictures, it looks like an older Craftsman to me, but not sure if all the pieces are there, what model it is or if this is even one of their decent models. Any advice before I go see it in person? Also, what's it worth as it sits? They said make them an offer. Thank you.

That is a mid-'50s Craftsman 100, model 103.23140 or 23141.

IMO, it is in terrible condition.

• The feed hub has been removed and the handle rods were welded onto the pinion shaft.
• The pinion shaft looks replaced.
• The return spring looks to be missing.
• The motor is not original.
• The motor mount is not original.
• The motor mount rods were welded onto the replacement plate.
• The motor pulley is not original.
• The motor capacitor was replaced and mounted oddly.
• The head casting was repainted over the badge.
• The original feed stop nuts were replaced with a single hex nut.
• The condition of the table is unknown.
• I can't tell if those vertical marks on the quill are dirt or deep scrapes.
• The biggie... a previous owner sliced half-way up through the nose of the head casting. A nut and bolt were installed just above the quill lock presumably to adjust quill wear.

The good:

• It has a forward/reverse switch.
• The feed handle knobs look ok.

Franklee, that is a part(s) machine at best. I could not sell that as a working drill press to anyone, let alone a friend.

 

[racecougar]

Agreed with FrankLee; that drill press is in rough shape. Sure, it could be restored, but IMO, it isn't worth the effort.

 

[exmaxima1]

That is a mid-'50s Craftsman 100, model 103.23140 or 23141.

IMO, it is in terrible condition.

• The feed hub has been removed and the handle rods were welded onto the pinion shaft.
• The pinion shaft looks replaced.

It looks to me like the original handle hub was replaced with a sleeve and the handles welded to it. Much stronger than the original die-cast hub. Original pinion shaft--You can see the tapered pin is still intact so it is removable if desired.

• The return spring looks to be missing.

Could be the spring is intact but the quill is locked down to show its condition. The quill lock lever looks engaged.

• The motor is not original.
• The motor mount is not original.
• The motor mount rods were welded onto the replacement plate.

Looks like the owner tried to emulate the swinging motor mount from the 150-series presses. Looks ok to me.

• The motor pulley is not original.
• The motor capacitor was replaced and mounted oddly.
• The head casting was repainted over the badge.
• The original feed stop nuts were replaced with a single hex nut.
• The condition of the table is unknown.
• I can't tell if those vertical marks on the quill are dirt or deep scrapes.
• The biggie... a previous owner sliced half-way up through the nose of the head casting. A nut and bolt were installed just above the quill lock presumably to adjust quill wear.

The good:

• It has a forward/reverse switch.
• The feed handle knobs look ok.

Franklee, that is a part(s) machine at best. I could not sell that as a working drill press to anyone, let alone a friend.

I think it would be a decent DP at around $50-60. No need to restore, but maybe update the motor and switch. Not everyone needs/wants reverse and the reversing drum switch alone would fetch about $50 on the auction site.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Not to derail the thread, what kind of switch is that? I have been looking for something like that for a while and I am not sure what to call it. (Barrel switch???)

 

[seber]

Two position multi deck. Make sure the one you get can carry the current. They work best in conjunction with a VFD.

 

[exmaxima1]

Not to derail the thread, what kind of switch is that? I have been looking for something like that for a while and I am not sure what to call it. (Barrel switch???)

"Reversing drum switch"

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[joshmodelskidoo]

Check it out and if it works it’s got to be worth $50 anyway. Still cheaper and better than a hf bench top unit im sure