Buffalo vs. Walker Turner

[bahmi]

Do Walker Turner drill presses reign the top shelf of the vintage small machines and does Buffalo sit near the top, also? Looking at both a Buffalo 15 and a couple WT's at present, just wondering what the status of both these machines are. Going to buy either one of these, trying to balance out pros and cons and seek the help of those who have been around these far more than I have.

WT bearings are tough to find and expensive, Buffalo bearings are readily available, a big plus for Buffalo.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, No, Maybe.

In order to answer your questions, you'd have to specify exactly what size and models you're comparing.

Walker-Turner, Delta/Rockwell, Atlas, Buffalo, et al, made many sizes and qualities of DPs. Some were homeowner cheap light duty and some were industrial quality. Some Delta and W-T bearings were proprietary as were some Buffalo parts.

It's really uncommon to have to make a choice between two identical size, condition and quality antiques. Usually, with 50-100-year-old machines, it comes down to what's available, how hard they were used, how complete what condition and at what price.

jack vines

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have both WT and Buffalo 20" drill presses of the same vintage late 1940's, IMHO the Buffalo is better. The quill is heavier and the parts just seem to be a bit nicer overall.

Steve

 

[1982fxr]

Proprietary bearings!? Why? Supply issues? Quality control?

I haven't done bearings on the old stuff but weren't there companies specializing in that? With all the standard sizes needed?

 

[crguy]

Proprietary bearings!? Why? Supply issues? Quality control?

I haven't done bearings on the old stuff but weren't there companies specializing in that? With all the standard sizes needed?

You don't seem to understand the profit motive in using proprietary bearings.

Many companies use them in all sorts of machinery. That way, when you need to replace a bearing, the only place you can get it is thru the company for a much higher price.

The bearings were still manufactured by the major manufacturers, but that particular size would only be sold to the company they were designed for.

 

[95riosnake]

There is a company still making bearings for the WT drill presses, but they are not cheap. I have a 20" WT DP that I began restoring, but had to pause when I bought a new house and relocated. Anyway I had priced bearings through the company, called Walker Turner Serviced Machinery LLC. For the 4 bearings and necessary spacer, including shipping to me, was just north of $200. I decided to just leave my existing bearings in place, as they're not too bad yet. The proprietary bearings are definitely something to keep in mind buying one of these. Either buy a machine with bearings in good shape, or buy one cheap enough to still feel good about dumping another $200 in bearings into it.

 

[Carla]

Do Walker Turner drill presses reign the top shelf of the vintage small machines and does Buffalo sit near the top, also? Looking at both a Buffalo 15 and a couple WT's at present, just wondering what the status of both these machines are. Going to buy either one of these, trying to balance out pros and cons and seek the help of those who have been around these far more than I have.

WT bearings are tough to find and expensive, Buffalo bearings are readily available, a big plus for Buffalo.

As a generality, the Buffalo equipment was a good bit higher quality in details than was the W-T machinery, and, presumably, a good bit higher priced when new.

That said, if you are looking at 50-plus year old machinery, each machine is an individual, in terms of condition. In the case of light drill presses, for example, look for wear or scoring in the quill to its bore in the head casting sliding fit, wear or abuse marks in the feed-shaft and pinion, or any evidence of little cracks starting in any of the castings.

Its pretty easy to see the difference between a light drill press which saw years of 'three-shift' production service in a manufacturing plant, as compared to one which saw 'light duty' in a maintenence shop.....or 'really light' duty in someone's home hobby shop.

cheers

Carla

 

[1982fxr]

You don't seem to understand the profit motive in using proprietary bearings.

Many companies use them in all sorts of machinery. That way, when you need to replace a bearing, the only place you can get it is thru the company for a much higher price.

The bearings were still manufactured by the major manufacturers, but that particular size would only be sold to the company they were designed for.

I understand the theory behind it, it just seems like making standard service items proprietary would be a deterrent to purchasers...? e.g. this thread.

How did they go about it? Use existing patented bearing designs and then make odd size shafts/housings/etc so the existing design would need to be only minimally/cheaply altered?

Or did they come up with different designs and patents? Was there ever an innovation factor or was it always always always 100% pure profit driven? Did it ever backfire and hurt a company? I know the very mention of it would make me run the other way.

Did the bearing manufacturers use innovation and then sell exclusively to the highest bidder in given markets?

My main experience with bearings is just Timkens and motorcycles. Pay $46,000 at the dealer for an import or $4 from a supply house for the real thing.

 

[1982fxr]

As a generality, the Buffalo equipment was a good bit higher quality in details than was the W-T machinery, and, presumably, a good bit higher priced when new.

That said, if you are looking at 50-plus year old machinery, each machine is an individual, in terms of condition. In the case of light drill presses, for example, look for wear or scoring in the quill to its bore in the head casting sliding fit, wear or abuse marks in the feed-shaft and pinion, or any evidence of little cracks starting in any of the castings.

Its pretty easy to see the difference between a light drill press which saw years of 'three-shift' production service in a manufacturing plant, as compared to one which saw 'light duty' in a maintenence shop.....or 'really light' duty in someone's home hobby shop.

cheers

Carla

So from small presses up to bigger stuff like 17" and 20" was Buffalo the overall best out there? If price isn't a factor...back when they were new. homeowner line vs homeowner line, mid level vs mid level...etc