Auction Win Delta Rockwell 15-665 Drill Press

[jives]

I began another thread on this topic asking about the color of this D-R drill press. Model and serial number put it in the mid-60s, was probably used in an old National Cash Register factory, which could be why it was painted tan. No rust to speak of, runs like silk, moderate arc of shame, needs a deep clean. Won if for $130, plus $35 in auction fees and taxes.

Anyway, I am in the beginning stages of planning out a cabinet storage system underneath by modifying an old tanker desk (no pics, buried in the shed, very typical style) that was a freebie. Essentially, I plan to disassemble the tanker desk to separate out the drawer units, move them closer together to surround the DP support post, place them on wheels on a plywood support. If I can reuse the top, great. If not, cut a new top. Free free to comment on such a blasphemous idea of hacking up a tanker desk.

DP pics. . .

 

[ScottsGT]

I have the same drill press, or one very close to the same model. I need a new chuck or rebuild mine. It has a little wobble to it. Warning, that table is real heavy! I do miss not having a crank system on it.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Are you sure it is the chuck and not a slight bent spindle?

 

[ScottsGT]

Are you sure it is the chuck and not a slight bent spindle?

Hell, at this point I'm not positive. I've got to dig into it. But I'm pretty sure it's the chuck. The outside of the chuck spins pretty straight, but anything mounted in the chuck has some wobble.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I would unscrew the chuck collar and have it dislodge the chuck from the spindle taper. Them you can use a dial indicator on the spindle when turned by hand to see the run out of the spindle. Those Supreme or Jacob's chucks with the locking collar are not that common on the used market.

 

[jives]

So, here is my plan to build a table underneath the DP. I dug out an old tanker desk from the shed. Actually picked up by my son, but he has moved on. No center drawer, and thus no manufacturer's label. Very typical tanker.. . probably Steelcase. Had to take the legs off to get it out of the shed.

It pulled apart in about 30 minutes with mostly just a screwdriver. Had to use the impact driver on the bolts holding on the table top. As a side note I noticed how I purposefully and instinctively grabbed for the K-tools cheap slotted screwdriver for the slotted screws and the expensive Wiha driver for the Phillips. The tri-lobe K-Tool has the most comfortable and ergonomically efficient handle I have used, while the Wiha tip fits the Phillips the best.

On the inside of the cabinet panels looks to be a black coating troweled on with a notched trowel. I've read that it could be asbestos to improve fire resistance. Anyone have a more definitive answer?










Below is the mock-up of how it will work. The drawer units will sit on a plywood base with casters. The DP itself will be on a mobile base. The cabinet unit will be able to slide in and out around the DP post.So, the plan was to cut down the table top, essentially shorten by about 20 inches in the middle, along with a cut-out for the DP stand. I cannot see how I can pull that off with my non-existent metal fabbing skills. I have an angle grinder, JB Weld, and well, a drill press. I have resigned myself to making it from wood in a typical counter top fashion.



I'll now save the table top for another project. I've got two other tanker tables and one small tanker desk already serving roles in the garage. Love 'em.