Buffalo Forge wall mounted press ?

[Eric2576]

Here is a vintage press I may end up getting for a steal. I've been bitten by the vintage tool bug and am currently restoring a 40's Delta Unisaw and a 40's Walker Turner drill press. All is going well with those projects, just waiting to fix a broken sand blasting rig.

So as far as I've been able to determine, this is very likely a Buffalo Forge press in need of some love. The large wheel isn't the ornate style, but I think it's still worth saving.

Does anyone have any more info on this style press or better yet a restoration thread on one of these or similar?

I won't know till the end of the month if I can get my hands on it, but I'll give it my best shot. It may very well cost me less than $50, fingers crossed. This is the only pic I have for now. It looks like it may be missing parts like the hand crank?

 

[Eric2576]

After a little bit more research, it could be a Buffalo Forge 65R.

 

[Eric2576]

Don't know if I'm breaking a rule linking to a Tube video, but here goes nothing. This is a model 65r running with a gas powered motor:

 

[ndnchf]

There is a lot of great info on OWWM. I have a large Champion Blower & Forge hand crank drill mounted in my garage. It works great. I also restored a Walker Turner WT 900 drill press 5 or 6 years ago. I added 3/4 hp 220v motor controlled by a VFD. It's a great machine and runs on 120v single phase.

 

[Eric2576]

You're absolutely right, sometimes too much info to sort through over at OWWM, lol. I'm hoping the handle will be somewhere in the shop, but not very likely. Looking at old pics, it seems like the handle is nothing more than some flat stock with a wooden grip mounted with a bolt. Can't wait to get a look at it.

 

[ndnchf]

Yes, many used flat bar stock for handles. Here is mine.

 

[Eric2576]

Sweet! I noticed you're missing the latch arm on top. Probably wouldn't be too cost prohibitive to reproduce? Do you know the year (era), make and model? There are lot's of pics on the web with the ornate wheel you have, almost none with the less intricate one. Willing to wager yours is older than the one I'm eyeing right now. The arm on your machine is also a bit more detailed than most I've seen. It's got a curve to it and a forged bend at the handle. Nice.

 

[ndnchf]

If you mean the pawl that advances the down feed. It's there, just flipped back to the disengaged position. Mine is a model 4-1/2, probably made between 1900-1910. It is a 2-speed model (slow and slower). I have a set of original straight shanked bits for it, and as adapted modern 1/2" chuck to use modern bits.

 

[Eric2576]

Pawl, yeah, that's the ticket. Where did you pick yours up?

 

[DenisG]

Here's some more information on post drills:
http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm

 

[Eric2576]

Here's some more information on post drills:
http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm

Hey, that's great, haven't seen that one yet. Thank you.

Here's an interesting fact gathered from that site: "For safety, the hand powered crank handle and hub were removed when lineshaft power was in use." That would explain the missing handle on the PD I'm thinking of buying.

 

[ndnchf]

I found mine in Maryland from a guy who buys and sells old tools.

 

[Eric2576]

Looks like the press is going to go for more than I thought. Around $50 I was fine, but it's going for more than double that. Some other time.