- Location
- GA
- Price
- 200
Price shipped USPS: $200 via PayPal
1/6/26 -- Almost 5 years supplying the upgraded kits with consistent positive feedback from customers. Slight price adjustment reflecting increased cost of materials.
10/9/21 -- I am kicking off my new and upgraded design! There are a couple ready to go and I'm making more presently.
Here's my own Craftsman drill press thread complete with the original design and ideation of my aftermarket slow speed pulleys. The design has been updated from what is shown in this thread.
I have been offering these pulleys for sale since 2015 and have had great reviews. It's been great fun to work with so many GJ'ers to adapt and customize these pulleys to fit their vintage drill presses. Awesome to get ya'll drilling sloooowww!!
Disclaimer: I'm not a machinist, and I'm not doing this for money. I enjoy putting quality, vintage tools to work and helping others do so. I like coming up with creative mechanical solutions. These pulleys are made with a Craftsman 100 drill press, a Craftsman belt sander, a vise, and hand tools. No mill, no lathe.
What your $$ will get you... One slow speed pulley and an adapter shim (if needed): Pic 1 in attachments
The pulley allows up to a 3:1 reduction or increase. So for a standard Craftsman drill press with a 4-step pulley system having a 700 rpm minimum speed, this would allow a slow speed of about 200 rpm. I measured 188 rpm with a tach on my own machine. You can also flip the belt and increase the maximum speed but I don't recommend it since the spindles aren't designed to go much about 5000 rpm.
These pulleys fit many Craftsman and Delta drill presses with round columns having machined IDs between 2.375-2.500". I will supply an adapter sleeve to fit ID's over 2.375". I can customize these to other ID's from 1.5"-3" and possibly more. The pulley position can also be raised to adapt to older style presses with "swoopy" head designs. So if you're not sure please just ask -- I have made pulleys for lots of different drill presses!
The concept is the same as the factory multi-speed pulley. The assembly drops into the top of the column, tightens against the spindle belt, and is locked into the column with an angled set screw.
Pic 2 -- Column shown with adapter in place (adapter only needed for 2.450-2.500" columns)
Pic 3 -- Slow speed device installed, pulley removed showing only the base so you can see how it fits into the column.
Pic 4 & 5 -- Here is the slow speed pulley installed. The front belt is tensioned by putting a 7/16" wrench on the flats of the shaft and rotating it. Once you get the correct tension a 5/32" allen wrench locks the set screw against the ID of the column (wrenches not included)
Pic 6 -- The motor belt is then tensioned in the usual way (however your drill press was originally designed to tension it) and you're ready to drill!
The pulley kit is made with four sets of needle roller bearings to make sure it moves smoothly in rotation and if there is up/down thrust from belt misalignment. The bearings are easily regreasable if needed in the future.
I also encourage you to refer to GJ member 11b30b4's very nice writeup of my pulley install (older design shown)!
What other parts do you need?
1) A pair of v-belts. Usually a 29" and 27" are what you need for a Craftsman drill press. These standard part numbers are 4L290 and 4L270. I ask users to source belts on their own in case a different size is needed for the application. If you want me to get belts for you I'm happy to help.
2) A 7/16" or 11mm or smallish adjustable wrench
3) A 5/32" allen wrench (does not have to be tee-handled)
Feel free to PM me if you need more information.
note: thread edited and revised 1/6/26. Prices updated to reflect increasing cost of materials.
1/6/26 -- Almost 5 years supplying the upgraded kits with consistent positive feedback from customers. Slight price adjustment reflecting increased cost of materials.
10/9/21 -- I am kicking off my new and upgraded design! There are a couple ready to go and I'm making more presently.
Here's my own Craftsman drill press thread complete with the original design and ideation of my aftermarket slow speed pulleys. The design has been updated from what is shown in this thread.
I have been offering these pulleys for sale since 2015 and have had great reviews. It's been great fun to work with so many GJ'ers to adapt and customize these pulleys to fit their vintage drill presses. Awesome to get ya'll drilling sloooowww!!
Disclaimer: I'm not a machinist, and I'm not doing this for money. I enjoy putting quality, vintage tools to work and helping others do so. I like coming up with creative mechanical solutions. These pulleys are made with a Craftsman 100 drill press, a Craftsman belt sander, a vise, and hand tools. No mill, no lathe.
What your $$ will get you... One slow speed pulley and an adapter shim (if needed): Pic 1 in attachments
The pulley allows up to a 3:1 reduction or increase. So for a standard Craftsman drill press with a 4-step pulley system having a 700 rpm minimum speed, this would allow a slow speed of about 200 rpm. I measured 188 rpm with a tach on my own machine. You can also flip the belt and increase the maximum speed but I don't recommend it since the spindles aren't designed to go much about 5000 rpm.
These pulleys fit many Craftsman and Delta drill presses with round columns having machined IDs between 2.375-2.500". I will supply an adapter sleeve to fit ID's over 2.375". I can customize these to other ID's from 1.5"-3" and possibly more. The pulley position can also be raised to adapt to older style presses with "swoopy" head designs. So if you're not sure please just ask -- I have made pulleys for lots of different drill presses!
The concept is the same as the factory multi-speed pulley. The assembly drops into the top of the column, tightens against the spindle belt, and is locked into the column with an angled set screw.
Pic 2 -- Column shown with adapter in place (adapter only needed for 2.450-2.500" columns)
Pic 3 -- Slow speed device installed, pulley removed showing only the base so you can see how it fits into the column.
Pic 4 & 5 -- Here is the slow speed pulley installed. The front belt is tensioned by putting a 7/16" wrench on the flats of the shaft and rotating it. Once you get the correct tension a 5/32" allen wrench locks the set screw against the ID of the column (wrenches not included)
Pic 6 -- The motor belt is then tensioned in the usual way (however your drill press was originally designed to tension it) and you're ready to drill!
The pulley kit is made with four sets of needle roller bearings to make sure it moves smoothly in rotation and if there is up/down thrust from belt misalignment. The bearings are easily regreasable if needed in the future.
I also encourage you to refer to GJ member 11b30b4's very nice writeup of my pulley install (older design shown)!
What other parts do you need?
1) A pair of v-belts. Usually a 29" and 27" are what you need for a Craftsman drill press. These standard part numbers are 4L290 and 4L270. I ask users to source belts on their own in case a different size is needed for the application. If you want me to get belts for you I'm happy to help.
2) A 7/16" or 11mm or smallish adjustable wrench
3) A 5/32" allen wrench (does not have to be tee-handled)
Feel free to PM me if you need more information.
note: thread edited and revised 1/6/26. Prices updated to reflect increasing cost of materials.
Attachments
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