1950's Craftsman DP Bearings Question

[zacker01]

Ok So I have this old 1950 something Craftsman DP. its a pretty beefy machine, not like what Sears is selling today. I also have the chuck that screws on with a collar to use milling bits and other stuff like router bits, grinder attachments and the little planer bit they sold back in the day. Anyhow, I have used this DP to mill wood a few times and it works well for that, I was wanting to try it for some really light milling in metals, nothing fancy, nothing big just some very light shaping or hole elongating in steel tube. (I have seen this done with great results with, of all things, a craftsman radial arm saw with a chuck attached to the arbor... so I know it can be done) my question is this... Can I replace the spindle bearings with thrust bearings? would it make that much a difference? I know milling machines use them because they are supposedly good for side to side pressure where as supposedly, the ball bearings are only good fro up / down pressure. Also, if I did change to thrust bearings, would it make it any different in the drilling process? I do a lot more drilling than I ever would do milling.

Thoughts?

Oh, and before you say "Buy a mill" Im gonna say... Don't be teasin' me... lol I want one so bad but I cant afford one, cant even find a dead one I could afford to buy and rebuild it, and I have no room in my cramped **** garage / shop / storage / car hole... lol

 

[Smiliesafari]

I've used my drill press for the same light milling. There's no adverse effects on the bearings.

 

[zacker01]

nice to know. I asked because I was reading someplace that the thrust bearings will make it stronger with less side play. I know I have a tiny bit of "wobble" in mine but I don't know if its the old bearings, bent shaft or something else... lol it seems that using it to drill only, it would be difficult to bend these shafts, they are pretty solid. But that being said, when I got it the motor was missing and the motor mount (not the plate that slides in and out of the press, the part that's attached to the motor its self) was broken so im wondering if it was knocked over or hit by a fork lift or something...