11b30b4's Vintage Classic Craftsman Drill Press Information Thread

[11b30b4]

CK, you are most welcome and I never get tiered of look at that pic.

 

[Tammysue]

Can anyone help me identify this drill press? I absolutely love it. Used it quite a bit. It no longer holds the bits without them falling out. I’m assuming the chuck is wore out. I went online to try and figure out how to identify the year so I can then attempt to figure out how to fix this beautiful vintage piece of history. Any information for a novice, not trained junking hobbiest, would be appreciated.

 

[11b30b4]

Tammysue, here you go.

Craftsman Drill Press Information Belts, Bearings, Chucks, Keys, etc…1946-1984

Welcome to the newly Updated (May 2023) Craftsman Drill Press “go to thread”. If you have one of these types of drill presses, this thread is for you. Bookmark, subscribe, whatever; so that you can find it when you need it. This thread is primarily targeted at new owners of vintage Craftsman...

www.garagejournal.com

11b30b4's Vintage Classic Craftsman Drill Press Information Thread

I went back and forth over what I would do with this post. Should I make it an additional post to FrankLee’s Craftsman Drill Press thread, or should I start a new thread? I know there are enough of us experienced guys to carry on Frank’s thread but none of us have access to the thread to index...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Tammysue]

It would appear my drill press is 1947 bench top without the motor.
my motor is a GE with same specs as craftman.
now that I believe to have correct year, do you have any suggestions where I might find a manual on it.
my drill bits do not stay in and I truly want to be able to service it and fix it. I’m not really mechanically inclined but willing to try.
thank you for all your valuable information.

 

[Hoorn]

Sears | Craftsman - Publication Reprints - 103.23640 Craftsman Drill Press | VintageMachinery.org

Sometimes you just need to search around the internet to find what you need. Here you go, this is your DP manual.

 

[11b30b4]

Tammysue, the first link i previously posted has information and links for a replacement key for your chuck if you do not have one as well as a link to a replacement chuck if needed. From your comments, I am not sure if you are aware that the chuck required you to tighten it with a key? These chuck are not self tightening or hand tightening like you see on newer hand drills.
Also, I would recommend you check out some of the YouTube videos on these classic Craftsman/ King Seeley 100 and 150 series drill presses to become familiar with their operation.

Feel free to reach out to any of us here on the forum either in this thread or through private message for any questions you may have.

 

[Tammysue]

Sears | Craftsman - Publication Reprints - 103.23640 Craftsman Drill Press | VintageMachinery.org

Sometimes you just need to search around the internet to find what you need. Here you go, this is your DP manual.

Thank you so much for the link. It’s hard searching without a computer. I have a small phone. Now I will find someone to print it for me. I can’t wait to review when I’m off work. Maybe I can figure something out. Lol I really appreciate the help!

 

[TexTJ209]

Thank you so much for the link. It’s hard searching without a computer. I have a small phone. Now I will find someone to print it for me. I can’t wait to review when I’m off work. Maybe I can figure something out. Lol I really appreciate the help!

Based on the badge its more likely your drill press is mid 1950s. Probably 54-56.

It also has the safety chuck which wasn't a thing till 1952.

 

[Buzz179]

I stumbled across this group while looking for parts and advice. I am about to attempt to rebuild and refurbish my late father's Craftsman press. I cant even fathom how many hours I spent on that press as a kid with a sanding drum, just shaping wood. I am curious what the factory color was. It is currently a dirty rust color, and has the original motor. So, before I start sandblasting this beast, is there any advice that any of you wish someone had told you before you started?

Btw, I was 11B3J until 2006, then I was a straight 11B30

 

[TexTJ209]

I stumbled across this group while looking for parts and advice. I am about to attempt to rebuild and refurbish my late father's Craftsman press. I cant even fathom how many hours I spent on that press as a kid with a sanding drum, just shaping wood. I am curious what the factory color was. It is currently a dirty rust color, and has the original motor. So, before I start sandblasting this beast, is there any advice that any of you wish someone had told you before you started?

Btw, I was 11B3J until 2006, then I was a straight 11B30

Depending on the year, a bluish gray, "Power Bronze" which was a gold-ish color, or a black with a tinge of brown. Post some pictures of your drill press and we can probably narrow down to the correct color. The original motor should have a date code on it as well.

 

[Buzz179]

Here are a few pics, I will try to get some better ones tomorrow. The Model appears to say 115 6962

 

[TexTJ209]

Here are a few pics, I will try to get some better ones tomorrow. The Model appears to say 115 6962

The date code is stamped on the bottom of the motor plate. Looks like 48, for 1948, which I'd say is correct based on the features of your drill press and the badge.

That paint will probably clean up okay with some wd40 and a scotch brite. It's the original blue/gray color.

 

[TexTJ209]

The date code is stamped on the bottom of the motor plate. Looks like 48, for 1948, which I'd say is correct based on the features of your drill press and the badge.

That paint will probably clean up okay with some wd40 and a scotch brite. It's the original blue/gray color.

Also, do NOT use anything abrasive on the aluminum band, the engine turned finish is very easy to remove accidentally.

 

[Buzz179]

Thank you for your advice. I will try scrubbing it and see what happens

 

[Ted D]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. I came across this thread a long time ago and have even clipped some information from it. I have a couple questions:

1. I have an old Craftsman DP that most people refer to a CM/Walker-Turner that was built in 1935. I've been looking for information about this for about 5 years. Some people think of it as "rare", but I have found, and have photographs of 6 of them on the net. Mine, a 15 in floor model, is the 7th I know of. These DP's seem to have come in 3 sizes, that is to say, I have pictures of them in 3 sizes, 10 in, 13 1/2 in, and 15 in. and all sizes in either bench or floor model.

Does anybody have any information about these DP's? A manual or parts diagram perhaps?





A number of folks link this to a Craftsman ad from 1935, but as I look at the picture and read the ad text, this series of DP is very different. For one ... the ad only talks about a 10" model.

2. Who is/was Frank Lee? Is there a chance he may have information about this DP?


Again, sorry to dig up an old thread. If my questions are inappropriate to this topic, could you please direct me to the proper place? Thanks!

T.

 

[11b30b4]

Ted, see the links in post #43 above. Also check out this link:

Sears | Craftsman - History | VintageMachinery.org

There is a tab for publications reprints.
FrankLee is a member here on the forum and the creator of the Classic Craftsman Drill Press Thread. It was the go-to thread PTU (Prior to update). The update broke all the links and the thread lost a ton of information. Regardless, Frank is a personal friend and he responds to private messages. So feel free to reach out to him through the message feature of the forum.
Can you locate a model number on that drill press? Also we often date drill presses based on information found on the motor. If its the original motor then is may also have information to assist you. Often a stamped # on the data tag will be a date code. You have a nicer drill press there.

 

[Hoorn]

Hi Ted, welcome to GJ. As for that Walker Turner made Craftsman DP, they are uncommon for sure, but not rare. In the last 16 months I have obtained 3 in the SoCal area -reconditioning one and reselling it, parting out two not worthy. I was not able to find an exploded view or manual for this particular DP but that doesn't mean one is not out there.


Obviously what makes them a unique design is the inverted spindle pulley, depending on the amount of rust or wear, removing this spindle pulley can be a straightforward process, or a white-knuckle, lots of cursing experience such as the last one I dissembled. Replacement parts for them are not easy to find. I sold a spindle pulley from one of the machines I parted out and the buyer sent me an emotional email, telling me he had been looking for over 5 years for a WT inverted spindle pulley to resurrect a machine that had sentimental value for him.

Yours seems to be complete, and nice addition with the Delta retirement light.

 

[Ted D]

1. Ted, see the links in post #43 above. Also check out this link:

Sears | Craftsman - History | VintageMachinery.org

There is a tab for publications reprints.

Thank you very much, but I have been there a LOT in the past 5 years ... both in the Sears AND the Walker-Turner sections. I recently exchanged emails with the historian who runs the place. No info on this DP. But, if you go to the patent search section, there are a couple Walker-Turner patents that MIGHT be helpful.

2. FrankLee is a member here on the forum and the creator of the Classic Craftsman Drill Press Thread. It was the go-to thread PTU (Prior to update). The update broke all the links and the thread lost a ton of information. Regardless, Frank is a personal friend and he responds to private messages. So feel free to reach out to him through the message feature of the forum.

Almost as soon as I hit "reply" on my above post, I got a welcoming PM from Mr. Lee. Nice guy! Unfortunately no info on this DP.

3. Can you locate a model number on that drill press? Also we often date drill presses based on information found on the motor. If its the original motor then is may also have information to assist you. Often a stamped # on the data tag will be a date code. You have a nicer drill press there.

One of the ways of ID'ing this DP ... is from it's total lack of any numbers whatsoever. There is no data tag, no where. It has NO model number on it. I don't even think there's a casting number anywhere. The motor on my machine is a replacement, with a fairly modern stamped-steel mount. It's really beat up and much painted over.

If I cannot get any information on this thread about this machine, I'm thinking of starting a thread on it, maybe call it "The Craftsman Mystery Drill Press", maybe do a disassembly of mine. As a new guy, I don't know if that is OK on this websight. Thoughts??

Thanks for the reply.

T.

 

[Ted D]

Hi Ted, welcome to GJ. As for that Walker Turner made Craftsman DP, they are uncommon for sure, but not rare. In the last 16 months I have obtained 3 in the SoCal area -reconditioning one and reselling it, parting out two not worthy.

FAROUTFAROUTFAROUT!!!!

If you could, could you PLEASE PM me photos of what you have? I'm trying to keep some sort of a loose data base. I already have photos of 7, with your 3 I'm up to ten. And if you are parting out, could you include a list and prices??? I do need a couple things.

As I mentioned in the post above, I think I might start a thread about these old guys. It would really be good if you could share.

I was not able to find an exploded view or manual for this particular DP but that doesn't mean one is not out there.

I've been looking for over 5 years and I got nothing. Not even a parts diagram. And that's really weird ... I have a number of Craftsman badged cast iron tools and have manuals for all of them. I always thought that was one of the best things about Sears tools.

Obviously what makes them a unique design is the inverted spindle pulley, depending on the amount of rust or wear, removing this spindle pulley can be a straightforward process, or a white-knuckle, lots of cursing experience such as the last one I dissembled. Replacement parts for them are not easy to find. I sold a spindle pulley from one of the machines I parted out and the buyer sent me an emotional email, telling me he had been looking for over 5 years for a WT inverted spindle pulley to resurrect a machine that had sentimental value for him.

Yours seems to be complete, and nice addition with the Delta retirement light.

I think the "right-side-up", smooth-sided bowl as part of the head casting as an iconic feature, especially with that cast-in flange detail under it. That, and it's complete lack of any id tags or model numbers whatsoever.



I really hope to kick up as many of these as I can ... and maybe make them even less rare!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

There's a few different versions of this machine, all based off the WT D-700. Yours is unique in that I've never seen a floor model. Nothing Sears did or procured back in the day surprises me anymore. Here's a bench model I picked up a couple years ago (Wearing a horrible color choice which will be corrected one of these days). Worst design for a drill press I've ever encountered based on the spindle pulley Hoorn mentioned.

It's interesting in that for, what we assume, is a relatively short run, there are at least two different head castings out there with the Craftsman brand. One runs the word Craftsman horizontally, the other at an angle. There's other minor differences as well.

That's a cool machine you've got there Ted.

 

[Ted D]

There's a few different versions of this machine, all based off the WT D-700.

I've read a couple different versions of what these are based off, the W-T 920 series gets a number of mentions as do earlier CM DPs, but I have not seen anything "formal" from W-T or Sears. Could I ask how you came by your information? Have you ever seen any manuals or parts diagrams for your machine?

Yours is unique in that I've never seen a floor model. Nothing Sears did or procured back in the day surprises me anymore. Here's a bench model I picked up a couple years ago (Wearing a horrible color choice which will be corrected one of these days). Worst design for a drill press I've ever encountered based on the spindle pulley Hoorn mentioned.

... and yours is unique with that fancy motor mount with lift!!!!! VERY cool. I've only seen that in the Sears ad. As I mentioned, in 5 years I've only gotten 7 pictures on the 'net of these things. Yours looks REAL good, VERY pretty. Could I ask the size? You KNOW I'm adding this picture of yours to the file.

It's interesting in that for, what we assume, is a relatively short run, there are at least two different head castings out there with the Craftsman brand. One runs the word Craftsman horizontally, the other at an angle. There's other minor differences as well.

Yeah, there are a number of differences in the castings. Check out the pictures I posted. Did you see the detail in the yellow circle ... now look at yours. All of the ones I've seen have the sharper "flange" feature like mine, not soft and rounded like yours. Some have the belt adjustment lock on the left, others have it on the right. Some are in Sears blue, others, like mine is in red.

That's a cool machine you've got there Ted.

Not near as good looking as yours. Thank you for posting this.

 

[11b30b4]

Ted starting your own thread is perfectly fine. Perhaps consider a title like Craftsman Walker Turner Drill Presses Pre 1946 or something similar.

 

[11b30b4]

I started a YouTube Channel that will spotlight the Craftsman Drill Press. Anyone interested click HERE

 

[gpstraub]

I started a YouTube Channel that will spotlight the Craftsman Drill Press. Anyone interested click HERE

This is awesome. I just subscribed. Thanks for sharing!

 

[subroc]

Finally!!!!




I know in a past thread I indicated I would never pay a crazy premium for one. But, that didn't mean I wasn't hoping to find one.

I just paid $50 for a floor model and it included this. Motor is good. Table is OK and nothing is broke.



In the immediate future I am just going to put it back together and just use it.

 

[gpstraub]

50 dollars?!? For that haul? Wow. I can't get a half a tank of gas for 50 bucks these days....

 

[Provincial]

subroc, you ****!!!

Enjoy that thing. It will last you a lifetime.

 

[Hoorn]

With the original "Craftsman drill press" thread locked, we can go ahead and make this the de facto Craftsman drill press thread moving forward. I just picked up a Craftsman 100 benchtop for $100. There was only one picture of it in the OfferUp ad.



All you savvy Craftsman drill press guys probably noticed like I did that the motor pulley was inverted which told me there was most likely an MSA pulley hiding in there. I reached out to the seller and sure enough it had a gorgeous multi-speed attachment. Nothing unusual about this one, Hoover bearings.



This was one of those OfferUp deals that you only dream of. While on the way the seller reached out to me and mentioned that the DP belonged to his recently deceased father who was a machinist. He said he has boxes of machinist tools and other "junk" and would I like to take those as well, included with the $100. I replied that I would have no problem taking those boxes.

When the dust settled and I got home, here is a partial list of some of the items in the boxes:

2 Cardinal speed vise 3 & 4"
1 Brown & Sharpe 6" milling vise
15 Huot drill indexes filled
9 Union drill indexes filled
10 National reamers indexed filled
Numerous Starrett gauges
One bazillion drill bits
Numerous all US made taps and dies
And for the topper:



Seven Albrecht chucks, one Starrett chuck and a cool T handle chuck. And I have not gone through all the boxes yet, and he's reached out to me again and said he has several more and would I like them also?

Albrecht chucks are the real deal and probably the best made in the entire world. Keyless, they turn like absolute butter and they have the tightest tolerances possible. New Albrecht's start at around a grand or more, micro chucks around $500. Was pretty happy with my $100 purchase.

 

[Provincial]

You ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[subroc]

WoW!!!!

Very nice. I

While I occasionally get a good deal like this or the 150 I am using now that included a float vice for $60, rarely have i got a great deal like that. I did pick up a craftsman 12" lathe that included at least 2 sets of change gears, 3 chucks including a 4 jaw, 3 jaw and 6 jaw buck chuck, a steady rest, a follow rest, a milling attachment, an atlas xy compound table as well as a tool box full of stuff for $600. While I paid a bit for it, assembling that list without the lathe would have cost twice that. While not quite a sweet deal, it was a real good one.

 

[Jayman17]

Hoorn please leave some crumbs for the rest of us.

Jay

 

[Hoorn]

I picked up this DP today 2 cities over for $100.



Beyond the DP, which was in great condition, was this very uncommon 1955 Craftsman Repulsion Induction motor. I have never run across "Sears vendor 551." before and it may be a while if I ever do again. This motor was made by Leland Electric Co, in 1955 a division of American Machine and Foundry. Believe it or not, this motor is wearing its original paint! It almost looks NOS.









Here is the commutator cover side, where directional travel can be adjusted by rotating the brush ring.



And the brushes and commutator. Note the darker ring of cast iron that was under the cover. I did a double take when I saw that, but the paint is indeed original and visible behind the badge, Further, the manner of the paint under the motor and the precise Craftsman blue gray that matches the drill press dead on confirms this. Even the inside of this motor is super clean and in great condition.



It sounds amazing and runs utterly smooth. This is unlike any Craftsman bullet motor of the era with its thick steel band and welded steel base. It more closely resembles a Delta motor of the era



Here it is in the 1955 Craftsman catalog. Part of the reason these motors are so uncommon was the price tag. $41.95 in 1955 is $458 today. The recommended 1/2 HP Capacitor motor for most machines requiring 1750 RPMs was $26.50, or $283 today. Since it was almost double in price and marketed for heavy duty farm or industry work, these don't pop up much and definitely not in this condition!



As a nice little added bonus it had this really cool drill index from Morse that attaches around the column and connects with a pin.

 

[TexTJ209]

I picked up this DP today 2 cities over for $100.



Beyond the DP, which was in great condition, was this very uncommon 1955 Craftsman Repulsion Induction motor. I have never run across "Sears vendor 551." before and may never again. This motor was made by Leland Electric Co, in 1955 a division of American Machine and Foundry. Believe it or not, this motor is wearing its original paint! It almost looks NOS.









Here is the commutator cover side, where directional travel can be adjusted by rotating the brush ring.



And the brushes and commutator. Note the darker ring of cast iron that was under the cover. I did a double take when I saw that, but the paint is indeed original and visible behind the badge, Further, the manner of the paint under the motor and the precise Craftsman blue gray that matches the drill press dead on confirms this. Even the inside of this motor is super clean and in great condition.



It sounds amazing and runs utterly smooth. This is unlike any Craftsman bullet motor of the era with its thick steel band and welded steel base. It more closely resembles a Delta motor of the era



Here it is in the 1955 Craftsman catalog. Part of the reason these motors are so uncommon was the price tag. $41.95 in 1955 is $458 today. The recommended 1/2 HP Capacitor motor for most machines requiring 1750 RPMs was $26.50, or $283 today. Since it was almost double in price and marketed for heavy duty farm or industry work, these don't pop up much and definitely not in this condition!

Those do pop up occasionally, but not sure I've ever seen one on a drill press. And that one is absolutely immaculate! Very sweet score.

 

[Hoorn]

@TexTJ209 I have been pretty active for several years on the hunt for vintage Craftsman and had yet to see one from Leland. I reached out to FrankLee, who has gone through an enormous amount of Craftsman drill presses, and he had not recalled one from this era either.

I have had one Craftsman repulsion induction before, but from the 1940s and not from Leland. Perhaps these were purchased more by farmers and can be found easier in America's heartland rather than SoCal. I assume most industrial manufacturers typically went with three phase, and more industrial geared manufacturers of the time, Walker Turner, Delta, etc.
You bring up a good point about not finding them on a drill press as that was overkill.

 

[Southern83]

With the original "Craftsman drill press" thread locked, we can go ahead and make this the de facto Craftsman drill press thread moving forward.

What!?!? Why would that get locked?

 

[Hoorn]

@Southern83 when the changeover occurred from the old format to the new, the majority of the OPs photos were lost as well as the entire index and shortcuts; thus the original foundation was lost. There is still outstanding information to be found on the thread but further commentary has been locked.

 

[Smokeshow69]

With the original "Craftsman drill press" thread locked, we can go ahead and make this the de facto Craftsman drill press thread moving forward. I just picked up a Craftsman 100 benchtop for $100. There was only one picture of it in the OfferUp ad.



All you savvy Craftsman drill press guys probably noticed like I did that the motor pulley was inverted which told me there was most likely an MSA pulley hiding in there. I reached out to the seller and sure enough it had a gorgeous multi-speed attachment. Nothing unusual about this one, Hoover bearings.



This was one of those OfferUp deals that you only dream of. While on the way the seller reached out to me and mentioned that the DP belonged to his recently deceased father who was a machinist. He said he has boxes of machinist tools and other "junk" and would I like to take those as well, included with the $100. I replied that I would have no problem taking those boxes.

When the dust settled and I got home, here is a partial list of some of the items in the boxes:

2 Cardinal speed vise 3 & 4"
1 Brown & Sharpe 6" milling vise
15 Huot drill indexes filled
9 Union drill indexes filled
10 National reamers indexed filled
Numerous Starrett gauges
One bazillion drill bits
Numerous all US made taps and dies
And for the topper:



Seven Albrecht chucks, one Starrett chuck and a cool T handle chuck. And I have not gone through all the boxes yet, and he's reached out to me again and said he has several more and would I like them also?

Albrecht chucks are the real deal and probably the best made in the entire world. Keyless, they turn like absolute butter and they have the tightest tolerances possible. New Albrecht's start at around a grand or more, micro chucks around $500. Was pretty happy with my $100 purchase.

I am absoluley at a loss right now....this haul was yesterday and that amazing RI motor from today what the heck ? Do you have lucky unicorn tatoo with a 4 leaf clover or something. This is crazy, especially in a high congestion area like so cal. One day when I grow up I will be like you and find an MSA for my 13" DP

 

[11b30b4]

Smokes, Hoorn lives in the land of machines. His access is unprecedented. I would not want to live in CA for other reasons but the amount of vintage Craftsman and Delta tools he finds is just amazing and you are probably correct about the tatoo .

 

[11b30b4]

Well brothers and sisters, I am hoping to upload video #2 tonight. It is a quick evaluation of the craftsman drill press and a brief overview of web based resources such as this thread, GJ and vintage machinery. I have all the raw foot shot for the disassembly and assembly videos but those will take longer to voiceover, edit, and break into a series of videos. So things are moving along. I may be reaching out to a few of yall (Hoorn) for some home made videos of accessories and other things I do not have on hand here in Dixie.

Also Jziggy is local and stopped by a week ago to share with his newly acquired (near mint) very rare Craftsman slow speed converter for band saws to play with so I will be doing a video on that as well as his slow speed pulley system for the Craftsman Drill Press in the near future.

Accessories that I do not own and I will be looking to highlight will be:
Multi-Speed Attachment
Production Table
Vari-Slow Speed Control
Varible speed 1/2 HP motor
Tilting tables
Mortising kit
Table lift system
and any other accessories sold by Craftsman during this era.

So feel free to reach out to me is you have some of this stuff and are willing to knock out some video with your cell phone and send it to me for use. Before anyone asks, I am a poor government employee so no, you will not be paid for the content and I need 1000 subscribers before I could ever monetize my youtube channel. Besides, I am not do this for money, the entire purpose of my channel is to share the information to anyone who finds it useful.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smokes, Hoorn lives in the land of machines. His access is unprecedented. I would not want to live in CA for other reasons but the amount of vintage Craftsman and Delta tools he finds is just amazing and you are probably correct about the tatoo .

I understand that his schedule allows him to drop things at a moment’s notice to go grab machines but I think he is perhaps rivaled in location only by Chicago or perhaps Pennsylvania or some of the other old states with tons of machine goodie’s! At any rate he finds the best stuff!

Well brothers and sisters, I am hoping to upload video #2 tonight. It is a quick evaluation of the craftsman drill press and a brief overview of web based resources such as this thread, GJ and vintage machinery. I have all the raw foot shot for the disassembly and assembly videos but those will take longer to voiceover, edit, and break into a series of videos. So things are moving along. I may be reaching out to a few of yall (Hoorn) for some home made videos of accessories and other things I do not have on hand here in Dixie.

Also Jziggy is local and stopped by a week ago to share with his newly acquired (near mint) very rare Craftsman slow speed converter for band saws to play with so I will be doing a video on that as well as his slow speed pulley system for the Craftsman Drill Press in the near future.

Accessories that I do not own and I will be looking to highlight will be:
Multi-Speed Attachment
Production Table
Vari-Slow Speed Control
Varible speed 1/2 HP motor
Tilting tables
Mortising kit
Table lift system
and any other accessories sold by Craftsman during this era.

So feel free to reach out to me is you have some of this stuff and are willing to knock out some video with your cell phone and send it to me for use. Before anyone asks, I am a poor government employee so no, you will not be paid for the content and I need 1000 subscribers before I could ever monetize my youtube channel. Besides, I am not do this for money, the entire purpose of my channel is to share the information to anyone who finds it useful.

I am looking forward to it! I don’t have any of those accessories but if I do find one soon would help contribute. Thanks for taking this on!