Craftsman 150 with Vari - Slo Speed Control

[propmaker]

Found a cherry Craftsman 150 drill press at an estate sale yesterday. Can't believe how this thing hums. I had to pull the Vari - slo out to free up some of the linkage. A little penetrating oil and it freed right up. Almost embarrassed to say I got it for 50.00. Also got a 1/3hp Craftsman 6in grinder with light for 20.00.

 

[exmaxima1]

I'll be the first

 

[Roberts210]

You stole it!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sweet deal!

 

[Shiftless]

 

[Luntz]

I second all of the above! Well done Sir!

 

[CKS1955]

Great deal.

Jay

 

[Shelbylex]

Propmaker, this is great drill at an amazing price!

 

[Hoorn]

Outstanding condition, very well done! Even has the original warning sticker on the feed hub.

 

[subroc]

nice get

 

[Smokeshow69]

Yup, you ****! Nice work

 

[SquareWave]

Nice find

 

[Corndoggeh]

I wonder why these vari-slows aren't more common? Were they very expensive at the time? I have a modern variable speed drill press and I cant imagine buying an older drill press that would have me go back to flipping belts around to get the speed I want.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I wonder why these vari-slows aren't more common? Were they very expensive at the time? I have a modern variable speed drill press and I cant imagine buying an older drill press that would have me go back to flipping belts around to get the speed I want.

They are made from Zamak (aka pot metal) and tend to wear from what I have seen. The center third pulley accessory was a more robust design. But folks do pay $$$ for vari-slows.

 

[gatewaysysop]

They are made from Zamak (aka pot metal) and tend to wear from what I have seen. The center third pulley accessory was a more robust design. But folks do pay $$$ for vari-slows.

Yep. In addition to being prone to wear and easily damaged, Vari-Slo doesn't quite get down as low RPM as the center pulley design either, so that might have been another factor for some folks in choosing one over the other.