Rockwell Delta Drill Press- 15-231 w/ table assist!

tarbellb · Mar 15, 2017

Found this on a Ebay auction, "local pickup only" which I feel like definitely improved my odds.

Got it for just under $200 sight unseen except blurry photos.

Model # 15-231 Made in Canada!? 3/4hp 15" w/ 6" quill travel AND .... table lift assist!

Everything is in excellent condition, barely used and the lift assist was complete and fully functional!

Got it home and everything was in excellent condition, I dont really care about the few peck marks since I will be using this and not just looking at it.

Came from a old HS getting rid of a bunch of equipment.

Rewired the momentary finger operated switch?? for a foot switch, a awesome upgrade I must admit.

Enough gloating...

tailshaft56 · Mar 15, 2017

I missed a nearly new $1200 jet drill press at an auction. Dumb be didn't know the auction house took plastic. unit sold for about $300

bubinga · Mar 15, 2017

Nice!

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Jarhead0408 · Mar 15, 2017

You ****. Congratulations though man.

Davefr · Mar 15, 2017

Looks like a "cream puff".

Is that table lift original or homemade? I've never seen anything like it.

tarbellb · Mar 17, 2017

Davefr said:
Looks like a "cream puff".

Is that table lift original or homemade? I've never seen anything like it.

I've never seen one either!

Definitely looks mass produced, the action and quality are great.

bubinga · Mar 17, 2017

bubinga said:
Nice!

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tarbellb said:
I've never seen one either!

Definitely looks mass produced, the action and quality are great.

Again, Nice, Almost looks like you restored it, as in gave it a "face lift"
Interesting to note the pulleys have six groves. Are those 3/8" groves, and a 3/8" belt?

Mohawk Dave · Mar 17, 2017

You killed it!

Start kicking around the idea of a 3ph motor with VFD. I get 3ph motors around here for 30-40 bucks. That will allow instant speed change. Most guys set pulleys at low torque, and then over speed the 3ph motor for small fast drilling since you don't need a lot of torque. You can almost pretty much get away with never touching the belt change again

454ragtop · Mar 18, 2017

bubinga said:
Again, Nice, Almost looks like you restored it, as in gave it a "face lift"
Interesting to note the pulleys have six groves. Are those 3/8" groves, and a 3/8" belt?

RE the pulleys, that's the more desirable 6 X 6 15" drill press, 6 speeds and 6" quill travel. I suspect the table raiser is a non Delta aftermarket add on, not unlike some of the speed reducers that have been found, possibly made by the same company. Might want to post it over on OWWM.org, they may well have more info over there.

bubinga · Mar 22, 2017

6" quill travel is nice.

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nine4gmc · Mar 22, 2017

bubinga said:
6" quill travel is nice.

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TWSS

scooternut · Mar 22, 2017

Nice grab! Love the table assist but I do no now the origin as mine does not have one. Enjoy, it is beautiful.

I was initially puzzled by the 15-231 as it looked exactly like my 15-665. I'm no expert on the model numbers but I read that the 6 is for speeds, second 6 for quill travel, and I forget the 5. Yours seems to have these things but with a different model number.

I filled my table sins with JB weld and then sanded them out. They color slightly different but you forget all about it.

tarbellb · Mar 23, 2017

Thanks again guys, I am very happy to have it grace the shop.

When doing research on it I also had a hard time figuring out exactly where it falls in the Delta/Rockwell line up.

If anybody has more info on this model or how it breaks down to others that would be appreciated. Regardless, its going to be a pleasure to use in the shop.

Rockwell Delta Drill Press- 15-231 w/ table assist!

tarbellb

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tailshaft56

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bubinga

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Jarhead0408

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Davefr

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tarbellb

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bubinga

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Mohawk Dave

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454ragtop

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bubinga

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nine4gmc

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scooternut

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tarbellb

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