Buffalo Machine Tools drill press

[harrytbagger]

After reading Red Leaders thread on his Retro Garage, I've got the bug for some older equipment. Came across this Buffalo Machine Tools drill press. Anyone have any info on these and what i should look for when I take a gander at it. Seller said that sometimes you have to start to spin the chuck by hand to get it started.

Any help would be appreciated from the tool gurus.

Here's the link.

http://quadcities.craigslist.org/tls/3184012423.html

 

[Carla]

Negative, I say again Negative.

That one is labelled 'Buffalo', but its an oriental joke machine with a deceptive label.

The shape of the castings alone is the obvious warning, like the rattles on a snake.

'Investigate before you invest'.......go to vintagemachinery.org, and look at the photos of old real Buffalo drill presses.

cheers

Carla

 

[Outlawmws]

Negative, I say again Negative.

That one is labelled 'Buffalo', but its an oriental joke machine with a deceptive label.

The shape of the castings alone is the obvious warning, like the rattles on a snake.

'Investigate before you invest'.......go to vintagemachinery.org, and look at the photos of old real Buffalo drill presses.

cheers

Carla

 

[harrytbagger]

Thanks for the advise, ran away from this one. Saved me $75.

 

[wb2vsj]

If we are talking about the real Buffalo Tools DP's, here's what my "No. 15" looks like

http://s1041.photobucket.com/albums...Drill Press/?action=view&current=DSCN4152.jpg

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I have 3 Buffalo drill presses, and not the chinese buffalo things. The old originals won't be called "Buffalo Machine Tools" they will be "Buffalo Blower and Forge" or "Canadian Blower and Forge" for the ones built here in Ontario by the same company.

 

[Jack Olsen]

The Buffalo 15 is a great drill press, and a really great looking piece of industrial design, too. I wanted this one, but missed out after the bidding went above $200.

Pretty much the same unit has been brought back into production. They aren't cheap -- but...

Instead I got a Rockwell from 1973. Which is also a good drill press, although it doesn't have as cool a look as the Buffalo.

As I got it:

After re-wiring and cleaning it up:

 

[kabasor]

Nice, I've been searching the same kind here in our country (Philippines) but can't find one. We are flooded of China made here. Pretty hard to find decent drill press with a good deal such as the one you have..... Great find Sir Jack

 

[PT Doc]

The Buffalo 15 is a great drill press, and a really great looking piece of industrial design, too. I wanted this one, but missed out after the bidding went above $200.

Pretty much the same unit has been brought back into production. They aren't cheap -- but...

Instead I got a Rockwell from 1973. Which is also a good drill press, although it doesn't have as cool a look as the Buffalo.

As I got it:

After re-wiring and cleaning it up:

Did you cut the post down or does it somehow go through the table? The latter would be great.

 

[RCStocker]

The link has been changed and is down.

 

[Outlawmws]

The link has been changed and is down.

That would be because the thread is from last March...

 

[Jack Olsen]

Did you cut the post down or does it somehow go through the table? The latter would be great.

That would be cool. Another option would be to have it go up into the cabinet above the drill press.

But I cut it.

 

[bczygan]

Mine (Was $100)
Former Navy

 

[fireplug]

Mine (Was $100)
Former Navy

Have you used yours much? Any opinion on it as a functional tool? I have been shopping for a DP and came across one of these (very beautiful too) but I don't want to get caught up in the romance of it and sacrifice usability.

I haven't been able to find any technical info on it, is yours model no. 5606?

 

[zkling]

Have you used yours much? Any opinion on it as a functional tool? I have been shopping for a DP and came across one of these (very beautiful too) but I don't want to get caught up in the romance of it and sacrifice usability.

I haven't been able to find any technical info on it, is yours model no. 5606?

They are good machines as long as you keep them in their work capacity, which is typically 3/8" and under in steel, will do 1/2" but a steady diet would be frowned upon.