1943 Delta Dp220 14" Bench Top Rebuild or Replace

[Kraig]

I have a Dp220 I picked up a few years ago as part of a package buy with a mig welder. I only wanted the welder but it was all or nothing. Price was right so the press and cold saw were vertually free.

Anyway, I have some free time so I thought I would clean it up a bit and get it mounted on a rolling cart so it can be used more. It is greasy as heck with years of saw dust packed in. Anyway, the bearings are all running rough and when I checked availability I was happy to see them around, but the cost seems high given the cost of these presses. Hammerscale.com has all three but at a cost of $175 for all I am a little hesitant to pull trigger. Press will be in good shape after cleaning, though missing the belt gurad that goes behind the "crown" in front and the motor has been replaced at some point. Table has a few marks in it etc. I'ts nothing overly special so tossing $175 into it when for a few bucks more I can buy a floor model makes not a ton of sense to me. Is there anything special about these compared to new ones other than it's 75 years old built like a tank? Thanks

 

[JHuston]

You couldn't begin to replace a Delta drill press for two hundred dollars. Drill presses are like hand planes, new ones have nowhere near the build quality. The specialty bearings in the quill have a workaround, if you know someone who can run a lathe; by buying replacement bearings with a larger ID, you can machine inserts ( I glued mine in place with green loctite) to replace the slotted, extended race OEM bearings and give the spindle and retainer something to index against.

James Huston, happy owner of a 1935-ish Delta 14" drill press

 

[Kraig]

James,

I figured that would be the response given current build "quality" of most things these days.

I don't have access to anyone with a lathe so stuck with the OEM style it seems. Vertually nothing was spent on the press, so $175 for a good machine isn't too bad in the end.

The replacement motor is a Walker Turner 1/3 HP, no idea of it's age, but appears older, so it probably has many years left in in it.

If I keep it though I have to get the grime off it. I've cleaned many a greasy car engine but this is something else. Brake clean barely dents the caked on grime of 75 yrs. The castings are going to take some serious soaking in degreaser.

 

[Bobioz1]

I used normal bearings in mine. As in no fancy inner race. Just used it today, works great.

 

[exmaxima1]

I tend to agree with you as to spending $175 for bearings for a DP that rarely sells for more than $150 in excellent condition. I would sell it as is and look for something with a wider speed range (as in SLOWER speeds) and longer spindle.

You didn't show a pic, so I'll add one from a local seller. He's asking $150 and it looks pretty good. It even has the coveted "retirement lamp".

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, $175 for the bearings is a rip.
No, you don't have to go there. As above, the machine will function just fine with over-the -counter inexpensive bearings.
Yes, the Delta is a fine benchtop DP.
No, I can't imagine the environment which got yours so coated with impervious crud.
Yes, it's definitely worth fixing.

jack vines

 

[Kraig]

Ordered the bearings from Jim Liechty and sand blasted the cast parts and I'm painting them now. Thought about powder coat, but figured a good prime and several coats of paint will suffice. Polished the bare metal as much as I could. Not going full resto here just making it clean and fully usable is the goal. I didn't take apart the motor as it appears to be working well with no noice or bearing play. Hoping to have it back together this weekend.

I do need a pair of knurled nuts for the depth guage. Few on the big auction site and you can get them new from Hammerscale, but not sure $38 makes budget sense.

What do you guys put on the bere metal to keep it from rusting again? Thinking light oil or a carnuba wax.

Now I need to build a stand to get this guy up off the floor and easily usable.

 

[JHuston]

I'm partial to gulf wax ( the stuff used for canning ) for unpainted surfaces.
-James Huston

 

[Corndoggeh]

I use either ballistol or a basic paste wax, for long term storage i tend to cake the wax onto the metal and not wipe it off until its ready to be used.

 

[Kraig]

Thanks for the info on the wax and balistol.

 

[Kraig]

Got it all back together but the quil qill not return. This was not working prior but just figured it was tons of gunk in there. I have light oil on the quil and rack. Not sure what else it could be. The return spring is cranked a ton and still doesn't return. It should not need to be that tight in my opinion. Thoughts?

 

[exmaxima1]

Got it all back together but the quil qill not return. This was not working prior but just figured it was tons of gunk in there. I have light oil on the quil and rack. Not sure what else it could be. The return spring is cranked a ton and still doesn't return. It should not need to be that tight in my opinion. Thoughts?

Have you tried adjusting the quill clearance? There should be a bolt below the quill lock that adjusts clearance.

 

[Kraig]

What I beleive to be the quill clearamce screw is not even tightened so I don't think that is the problem. I think I will pull the spring off and see if the quill floats freely through the stroke range and go from there.

 

[Kraig]

Re: 1943 Delta Dp220 14" Bench Top Rebuild or Replace COMPLETED

Well took it all apart and honed/sanded with 400 the inside of the casting where the quill travels up and down and and reassembled. Works great. Using probably a crude method to find run out, I used a quality bit with the dial indicator mounted on the deck, I get around 2k, so I am very happy with that from a 75 yo machine, and it will suit my needs fully. Before the rebuild it was around 10k, so improvement and fully functionality back. Not to mention looking 100% better. Only regret is I should have sprung for powder coating as I don't think the rattle can paint job on the forward areas will hold up very well. We will see. Thanks for the help and advice!