Awesome Atlas Drill Press Find

[sti491]

My good friend is "de-cluttering" his shop as I am just starting mine. So he is giving me this wonderful old drill press. It will be a restoration project I look forward to. Cord is cut and it has a heavy rust patina. The drill bit chuck works and it spins like the motor isn't seized.

It's an Atlas drill press. Get this as the story goes, it was his friend's Grandfathers, who got it off a World War II battleship! How cool is that? Does WWII vintage seem plausible? Sometimes stories get missinterpreted...

Does anyone know much about these? What do think is the best way to de-rust it? I think there are some chemical metal de-ruster solutions available, Anyone have experience with those? I don't want it to look brand new, but I don't want it so rusty it gets on your hands or doesn't work smoothly as it should.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[exmaxima1]

I had one like that a few years ago and it was a real nice, smooth running driill press. Yours looks to be in great shape, and would clean up in a few hours. Good luck

 

[American Locomotive]

If it actually came off a ship, I'd imagine there would be some markings on it indicating such?

 

[Davefr]

My good friend is "de-cluttering" his shop as I am just starting mine. So he is giving me this wonderful old drill press. It will be a restoration project I look forward to. Cord is cut and it has a heavy rust patina. The drill bit chuck works and it spins like the motor isn't seized.

It's an Atlas drill press. Get this as the story goes, it was his friend's Grandfathers, who got it off a World War II battleship! How cool is that? Does WWII vintage seem plausible? Sometimes stories get missinterpreted...

Does anyone know much about these? What do think is the best way to de-rust it? I think there are some chemical metal de-ruster solutions available, Anyone have experience with those? I don't want it to look brand new, but I don't want it so rusty it gets on your hands or doesn't work smoothly as it should.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

It doesn't look that rusty. Start with a steel brush or die grinder/brush on the base and table. Then use a DA and start with about 80 grit and go finer until you're happy with the results.

The other parts should clean up a lot easier.

You could also fill a tote with 90% water and 10% feed grade molasses and let the rusty parts soak for a few weeks. (easiest and cheapest method)

 

[Musicinabottle]

Nicely done!

 

[crguy]

Then use a DA and start with about 80 grit

No, oh HELL no!

 

[Davefr]

No, oh HELL no!

Works just fine for me. I think I stopped at around 600 grit