i have my grand fathers drill press and am wanting to restore it the switches on both sides no longer work and i am wanting to replace them. i am wondering where to get the parts from and how to get the switches switched since its one piece of cast iron. i am hoping someone can help me i found one that was restored and can not post on it to ask him where he found the parts.
1940s Craftsman Drill Press
- Thread starter mealc001
- Start date
454ragtop
Well-known member
Can you post a pic of the switches? That style usually used a simple toggle switch, may be inside the head, but usually accessible from underneath or from the top, the head casting is hollow.
Jim
Jim
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
There's a reprint of the manual for that drill press here: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=5439
It's hard to tell from the manual, but it does appear to use a standard toggle switch. You didn't mention where you are located, but a local electronics store or surplus store will probably have a suitable replacement, otherwise you can buy them online from eBay or places like Digi-Key, Mouser, or Newark.
edit: Not sure why you have two switches, it would seem only one is required to start and stop the motor. Maybe one failed at some point, and someone simply added a second one without removing the first one.
It's hard to tell from the manual, but it does appear to use a standard toggle switch. You didn't mention where you are located, but a local electronics store or surplus store will probably have a suitable replacement, otherwise you can buy them online from eBay or places like Digi-Key, Mouser, or Newark.
edit: Not sure why you have two switches, it would seem only one is required to start and stop the motor. Maybe one failed at some point, and someone simply added a second one without removing the first one.
jakemac
Well-known member
I think the second switch is the one that came on the motor, which was then wired to the switch on the DP.
454ragtop
Well-known member
Unlikely that drill press had reverse, and would most likely need a more sophisticated switch if it did, assuming those are both spst toggles. Other switch may have controlled a lamp at one time. Fairly simple to replace, undo that nut on the outside, push the switch in and fish it out of the casting, add new switch and reassemble. Check the condition of the wires while it's apart, look for frayed or brittle insulation, and consider rewiring with a 3 pole plug, if it only has a 2 pole.
Jim.
Jim.
jakemac
Well-known member
You may be right about reverse. The second switch may have been added by a previous owner. My DP has a second switch added to the motor for that purpose. It's also a simple toggle switch.
the wires are looking bad i had the covers off and put back on last night i was looking on sears and i think they have replacement parts still i just need to call them. the catalog its hard to see some parts too so it will be nice to talk to someone who may know what the part is
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
I have had that model drill press in the past. The motor had a FWD/REV switch. Please note that the drill press often did not come with a motor, so there could be a number of different motors used. On mine the motor died but I may still have the switch. I'll take a look. The drill also had the on/off switch on the front right side of the casting.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Here is a picture of the motor switch.
