Atlas 15" Drill press value

[will335i]

I have been wanting to get a new drill press for the shop and wanted one that could be converted to a VFD down the road.

I found an Atlas 15" floor model drill press and just want to understand what is a reasonable price on these. The drill press has a single phase motor and appears to be complete. The center pulleys are also available for it. Seller is wanting $315 for it.

If everything checks out is this a good price? Is upgrading this to a VFD even possible?

 

[Zeus36]

A photograph would be helpful to determine pricing. Center pulleys may be worth half the asking price.
VFD is doable with a single phase motor with exceptions, but you likely have a capacitor start.

Single-phase input drives are typically horsepower (output amps) limited and have very specific compatibility options when it comes to pairing with different types of single-phase motors.

Here’s the list of what motor applications would be considered compatible/incompatible with single-phase designed drives:​

Compatible	Incompatible
Permanent Split Capacitor (PSC)	Split Case
Shade Pole Induction Motor	Capacitor Start
AC Synchronous	Repulsion Induction
	Series Universal (AC/DC)
	Any motor with starting switch (centrifugal or relay)
	Any motor with separate starting winding

 

[GeoBruin]

Extremely hard to answer this without knowing the age and condition of the press and even some pictures. What's the model number? Have you been able to kick the tires? Are the spindle bearings in good shape does it come with a chuck?

 

[will335i]

I assume this is a 73 since it is the floor model. 1/2hp motor. I will test operation in person before buying just want to know if it is even in the ballpark.

I don't think that table is original but I really don't know enough about these to be sure.

I suspect it will need some cleaning up and possibly a rebuild which I am completely fine with and capable of.

 

[subroc]

What is any old thing worth? A complete, overhauled, restored, finished and running vintage press is one thing. A parts machine is another thing. Everything in-between is something else. Pay for what is there. Don't pay for potential. Potential is your labor.

 

[Zeus36]

Looks like a Craftsman motor, may not be stock. It has the extended nose for MT2 taper, which is a plus. Can't see the condition of the table. Does it have the Arc of Shame?

I'd start the offer at $275.

 

[will335i]

No Arc of Shame but there is at least one mark in the table.

 

[paulsomlo]

There's no way in hell I'd pay $315 for that, $175 tops. And you'll need a 3ph motor if you want to run a VFD.

 

[GeoBruin]

Looks like a Craftsman motor, may not be stock. It has the extended nose for MT2 taper, which is a plus. Can't see the condition of the table. Does it have the Arc of Shame?

I'd start the offer at $275.

Is the spindle itself extended or is that just an adapter? I have an old Rockwell that came with the male jacobs taper on the spindle and the nutty old timer who owned it before me actually completely cut down and rebuilt the spindle so he could mount the adapter up inside the head rather than letting it stick out like that.

 

[will335i]

Here is a better look. I just noticed the wiring to the original switch is cut as well.

There's no way in hell I'd pay $315 for that, $175 tops. And you'll need a 3ph motor if you want to run a VFD.

I am aware I would need a 3ph motor for VFD I am just double checking that I can mount up a 3ph motor can mount up without much headache. What are you basing your $175 figure on? Heavy equipment like this doesn't pop up all the time so we don't get it on the cheap like other parts of the country.

 

[Davefr]

DP prices are very regional. I wouldn't pay $315 for a 15" machine with non original motor and lack of features like table lift/table tlit and only 4 speeds.

If you're going to VFD a DP, at least start out with a higher end 17" machine worthy of the upgrade process. Sometimes you can get lucky and find a 17"+ DP that already has a 3 phase motor. A lot of buyers will shy away from 3 phase so it might give you some negotiating power.

 

[Packard V8]

It has the extended nose for MT2 taper, which is a plus.

Agree to disagree on this. I consider the MT2 spindle to be a minus. The additional length puts the point of the drill that much farther from the bearings, thus increasing the runout. I much prefer a JT33 spindle for home shop use. Since most use an adapter and a chuck in the MT2, I say just start with the spindle which directly mounts the chuck.

jack vines

 

[subroc]

MT2 is a plus if you actually have and use the full variety and sizes of MT2 drills. Like maybe a shop setting where the tool makers are keeping them sharpened. If you are just putting a chuck in there it adds nothing.

 

[paulsomlo]

I am aware I would need a 3ph motor for VFD I am just double checking that I can mount up a 3ph motor can mount up without much headache. What are you basing your $175 figure on? Heavy equipment like this doesn't pop up all the time so we don't get it on the cheap like other parts of the country.

That's not what I would call "heavy equipment". I've got an 18" Buffalo with a 4" diameter column, and that's not even "heavy" enough.

Any 3ph motor with the same style/size base will bolt up fine. A lot of the installs I've seen sandwich a metal plate between the motor base and the mounting plate on the drill press, and mount the VFD on that.

I didn't even notice the lack of table lift - given that, I wouldn't even make an offer.

You're in Illinois? Whereabouts? Even in iron poor Colorado, large drill presses come up for sale with regularity.

 

[will335i]

Yea I used the term heavy pretty loosely.

I am just outside of St. Louis. There are a couple Buffalos for sale but they are asking $500 to $900 for those. Other than they it is used and abused imports and at that point I will just get a new one at Harbor Freight and call it a day.

 

[will335i]

I didn't even notice the lack of table lift - given that, I wouldn't even make an offer.

GOOD Catch I completely missed that. Yea I am going to pass.

 

[paulsomlo]

Keep an eye on those Buffalo's - if they want them gone, they'll drop the price.

 

[Davefr]

Yea I used the term heavy pretty loosely.

I am just outside of St. Louis. There are a couple Buffalos for sale but they are asking $500 to $900 for those. Other than they it is used and abused imports and at that point I will just get a new one at Harbor Freight and call it a day.

17" no name Taiwan DPs are actually pretty good. Decent TEFC motors, table lift, 3 pulley/wide speed range, easy to get parts and generally much better built then Chinese DPs. There were a gazillion made under many different brand names and probably all came out of the same factory. They are generally cheap on CL and there's usually lots to choose from.

 

[Zeus36]

Is the spindle itself extended or is that just an adapter? I have an old Rockwell that came with the male jacobs taper on the spindle and the nutty old timer who owned it before me actually completely cut down and rebuilt the spindle so he could mount the adapter up inside the head rather than letting it stick out like that.

That is the spindle and not an adapter in my opinion. I have a 16" Electro-Mechano 601J Drill Press that has a long MT2 spindle, an X-Y table, quick release vise, and variable speed with a back gear, plus a collection of MT2 drill bits and other MT2 adapters that can be used on my lathe. My ER32 holder with MT2 shank doubles the flexibility of the drill press by allowing the use of ER collets. 3-jaw chucks are designed for bits that are of softer material in order to grip the bit shank. A collet will allow you to hold hardened tooling including solid carbide drills, end mills and even router bits. Tool holders and tools can be swapped between the lathe and the drill press.

Gleaned from the web (and GJ):

Morse taper #2 sleeves allow using either Morse taper shank drills or a chuck with a Morse taper arbor. The extended length is to allow for the extractor slot to be accessible.

The reason for removing the chuck was that there were several accessories that could be installed on the drill spindle in place of the chuck to allow mounting Morse taper drills, buffing, grinding, routing and shaping wood. These can be used if you want the flexibility of being able to use Morse taper shank tools, either drill bits or different types of chuck.

Some are of the opinion that a #2MT has limited application in a small DP. These small DPs are mostly used with a chuck and round shank drill bits. The range of drills for the #2MT is 1/2"-3/4" and most of the holes a small DP drills are <1/2".

The #2MT spindle with an adapter and chuck puts the point of the bit several inches further below the bearings than where it would be with a JT33 chuck. This extra wobble makes a crude machine even more so.

One advantage of the MT2 is you could drill a hole down in a deep casting using a normal length drill bit.

You can buy drills with MT tapers on them and eliminate the chuck completely. These are usually used in machine shops and also lathe tailstocks. The drills are usually stronger and more accurate than drill chuck and will also slip less as most have a flat tang that locks in the drill press spindle.