Buffalo Drill Press # 15

[FMC1959]

I wasn't needing a DP as I have a cheap bench top one which has done the job till now, but saw a Buffalo # 18 at an auction I attended.



It was monstrous in person and built like a brick s**t house. I bid on it but it went to high for what I was willing to spend and let it go. But the bug had inserted itself under my skin. I looked around on all the local ads and Buffalo DP's definitely carry a premium price, as high or higher than General, Delta and Rockwell and any other I saw listed...at least that's the pricing in my area. I had heard of them in the past and were supposed to be good.

I just bought this a week ago (the pics are from the ad, so don't ask me about the nice PM table saw; it's not mine...)

.

I just started doing some reading on these recently. I see there is a "famed" Buffalo # 18 and #15; would those be the older vintage style DP's or would this one I bought fall into the category. BTW, what is so special of the # 15 & 18?

I was wondering if anyone who is familiar with Buffalo DP's knows around what period this one is from. Also, originality...this one does not have teeth on the post for the table to go up and down, it's just smooth. Not only that, the table doesn't even have a handle to tighten the the nut when you have adjusted the height, it has a nut and bolt...I need a wrench! Was this the case or a previous owner changed something on the table (the piece of would comes off easily, it isn't bolted, just form fit)?

I know that Buffalo were made both in Canada and USA. This one says made in Canada and the motor is a GE made in Peterborough, Ont.

Lastly, I have read posts where people say that used DP's can be had dirt cheap, around $50 or definitely less than $100. As with many items, I know that territory or region can dictate the price. In my area I can't even get the cheapest no name made in wherever land for $50. El "cheapos" I can get benchtops for just under $100. Otherwise they are $150 and top names in great condition can be $300 or more for Bench models. Any floor standing model start at $250 and up to over $1000.

I looked for over a month and over that time there were a few other Buffalo's, ranging in the $500 to $900 for a perfectly restored # 18, so the ad said.

This one, for whatever reason wasn't selling. It was at $500 when I first saw the ad and was lowered a couple of times to $375...I offered $350 and got it. So I wonder if no one went for it because the location wasn't easy to get to or because some had seen it and felt there were non original parts on it.

If anyone has any knowledge on the originality of this DP, love to hear your thoughts.

 

[paulsomlo]

I think that's a different kind of Buffalo - here's mine, a Buffalo 18:

 

[FMC1959]

I think that's a different kind of Buffalo - here's mine, a Buffalo 18:

That is a real beauty! Definitely more "vintage" than mine.

When I see older models such as yours, they are often in really bad shape, between rust, missing parts or odd looking parts that shouldn't be on there...and they ask for crazy amounts!

Do you know what years a DP like yours was made in?

 

[paulsomlo]

I don't actually know when it was made - it was on CL for a few months, started at $400, I watched 'till the price dropped to $300 and made an inquiry. The seller didn't know much about it, said he got it in trade for some work. It was sitting in a shed, he thought he could rig an extension cord to run it; didn't realize not only was it 220, but it was 3 phase. I replaced the motor with a $20 CL single phase, and replaced the quill/spindle bearings. Didn't bother to gussy it up, just took it apart and gave it a good cleaning. It replaced a 12" benchtop Delta, which I sold on CL for $40 - I was glad to get rid of that toy.

 

[crguy]

I had a Buffalo 18 for years and it was a very capable drill press. Currently have this Buffalo 16 and like it even better as it's easier to move the counterbalanced sliding head than cranking a table up/down. Even added riser blocks for more clearance.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Nice drill press! Probably about 1970 vintage. The full pulley cover was added starting in 1957 and the handles you have on your's are shown in the 1970 catalog but not the 1960 version. The power switch is not original and the table clamp handle (or lack thereof) is non-original also. Very well built drill presses.

In regard to the power switch, if you want to keep a toggle switch, you might consider changing to a metal cover plate instead of the beige plastic one. They are cheap at Home Depot, etc. Also, you might want to make sure the switch is a heavy duty variety and not a cheap generic light switch. While the amp ratings are the same, the heavy duty ones are rated for inductive loads like motors. Also available at Home Depot, etc. Or look for an original push button switch on Ebay. I do not believe the original switches were specific only to Buffalo Forge.

Link to 1970 manual:
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=3150

In regard to handles, while not original the adjustable position handles as shown here on McMaster are pretty nice.

https://www.mcmaster.com/handles/handles/adjustable-handles-6/

 

[FMC1959]

I don't actually know when it was made - it was on CL for a few months, started at $400, I watched 'till the price dropped to $300 and made an inquiry. The seller didn't know much about it, said he got it in trade for some work. It was sitting in a shed, he thought he could rig an extension cord to run it; didn't realize not only was it 220, but it was 3 phase. I replaced the motor with a $20 CL single phase, and replaced the quill/spindle bearings. Didn't bother to gussy it up, just took it apart and gave it a good cleaning. It replaced a 12" benchtop Delta, which I sold on CL for $40 - I was glad to get rid of that toy.

As far as I am concerned, you got a super nice DP and at a pretty good price

 

[FMC1959]

I had a Buffalo 18 for years and it was a very capable drill press. Currently have this Buffalo 16 and like it even better as it's easier to move the counterbalanced sliding head than cranking a table up/down. Even added riser blocks for more clearance.

Very cool DP. That is the first one I have seen that the drill head goes up & down rather than the table...nice!

 

[FMC1959]

Nice drill press! Probably about 1970 vintage. The full pulley cover was added starting in 1957 and the handles you have on your's are shown in the 1970 catalog but not the 1960 version. The power switch is not original and the table clamp handle (or lack thereof) is non-original also. Very well built drill presses.

In regard to the power switch, if you want to keep a toggle switch, you might consider changing to a metal cover plate instead of the beige plastic one. They are cheap at Home Depot, etc. Also, you might want to make sure the switch is a heavy duty variety and not a cheap generic light switch. While the amp ratings are the same, the heavy duty ones are rated for inductive loads like motors. Also available at Home Depot, etc. Or look for an original push button switch on Ebay. I do not believe the original switches were specific only to Buffalo Forge.

Link to 1970 manual:
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=3150

In regard to handles, while not original the adjustable position handles as shown here on McMaster are pretty nice.

https://www.mcmaster.com/handles/handles/adjustable-handles-6/

tool_scrounge, thanks for responding. I was starting to wonder if getting this DP was a mistake compared to the older (beautiful) vintage models.

I will probably take a look at changing the switch like you said...easy fix.

I was already thinking of getting some kind of a lever for the table height adjustment, but after looking at the manual you linked (thanks for that, super helpful), I saw the "table-raising screw assembly", which I would love to have. Never even thought of adding something like this. Anyone know if this is something that can be found, easily or next to impossible these days?

As always, wanting to keep original parts is always nice, but for ease of use, I would consider getting another brand (Delta, Rockwell,,,etc) if they make a similar attachment and are much easier to find.

Another possibility, if I could find a DP being sold for parts, I could change the whole post for one that has the teeth on it...but this would also require having to change the table, as the post and table need to work together.

As mentioned above, if I could find a Buffalo "table-raising screw assembly", that would be my first choice.

 

[tool_scrounge]

If you take a look at 15" Buffalo Forge drill presses in the user photo links below, you will see the optional table raising mechanism was not very common. So finding a factory one now 50+ years later will not be easy. But keep looking and you may find one.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=129&tab=4&sort=3&th=false&fl=

In what I presume to be later catalogs, the table raising mechanism was not an option for 15" drill presses.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=23128

 

[FMC1959]

If you take a look at 15" Buffalo Forge drill presses in the user photo links below, you will see the optional table raising mechanism was not very common. So finding a factory one now 50+ years later will not be easy. But keep looking and you may find one.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=129&tab=4&sort=3&th=false&fl=

In what I presume to be later catalogs, the table raising mechanism was not an option for 15" drill presses.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=23128

Very cool, thanks

 

[FMC1959]

I also saw in the manual the foot pedal feed attachment. I am wondering if this is very practical, or more specifically, what user would find this a must or valuable accessory.

Also, when installed, you still have the ability do use the hand lever or is this removed for the foot pedal assembly? If the latter, doesn't seem practical unless you really need your 2 hands free at all times.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Sorry, I have never used the foot feed attachment on a drill press. They are more of a production thing. I like the fine force control of using my arm.