This is my first post here but I've been reading in the forum for the past few months. I want to thank all of you who have contributed your knowledge and shared experiences. Particular thanks to @FrankLee - your post from several years ago about how to do a one-person break down and transport of a Craftsman 150 has proven invaluable.
Yesterday I was able to pick up a very lightly used Craftsman 150 (model 103.24511, with Slow Speed attachment) that had been purchased by the owner in 1966 for his home woodworking hobby shop. He rarely used it and it appears nearly mint: the quill is perfectly tight when extended all the way down, there's not a bit of rust on it (well maybe a speck), the original paint is in excellent condition. It's now sitting disassembled per FrankLee's instructions in MY basement woodworking hobby shop. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture to share at the moment.
I'd appreciate some advice on what I should do to put this drill press back into service while I have it disassembled. Given the very light use it's gotten, I suspect there is little to no wear on any of the bearings, but I've not measured run out at the chuck. I don't plan to repaint it, the original paint is in great shape. There is a modest amount of sawdust and shavings accumulated in the head and around the quill and pinion gears.
My thoughts are to:
- Clean out all the saw dust and generally do a clean up of all the surfaces
- Clean all the bare metal surfaces and apply some sort of rust retardant (what?) or light coating of 3-in-One oil like I do on my hand tools.
- Put a bit of light machine oil (3-in-One?) on moving surfaces in the various locks (head, table, quill)
- Pull the quill and spindle from the head to clean and re-lubricate, but not pull any bearings.
Any corrections or suggestions to what I'm thinking to do? What am I not thinking about?
This is the first step in getting my home workshop set up once again after over 20 years of simply being too busy to devote some time with one. I'm looking forward to building a good joiners bench, putting in some other work tables and cabinets, and getting a place I can enjoy doing some woodworking once again.
