CL Find - Delta Drill Press - Worth it?

[ultimateplayer]

I found this drill press on CL locally and contacted the seller. He has it listed for $100. Based on the photos below, do you think it is worth $100? Worth going after for a lower price?

Also, any idea on time period?

 

[930dreamer]

I only see red X.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I see

X's too.

 

[mitusa]

Looks like a good deal to me.....check the runout if you go looking. I'm not an expert...or even close...but I would guess it might have been built in the fifties. I'm sure someone will come along to help you with a better idea of vintage.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

As long as it works or it's easily fixable, I'd buy it. Bring $100 but offer $75 and see if he bites.

 

[ultimateplayer]

I only see red X.

I see

X's too.

Fixed.

 

[earlthegoat2]

By all means that press is worth it. That is among my favorite of drill press eras. I own a benchtop Atlas quite similar to that and though it only has 4 speeds, is excellent.

Well worth the money of only 100 dollars. Bring a friend to move it though.

Make sure the spindle spins true. If you can bring a dial indicator that would be ideal. If it is too bad though you should be able to feel it with your hand or see it as it is operating.

 

[Super Sport]

As long as it works fine, I would buy it.

 

[Rust]

Vintage 30's
Worth 100 bucks all day long. 75 is better if your a smooth talker.
That machine would look real slick all cleaned up.
Looks like it has an original switch too.

 

[Rust]

One problem I do see is,mix matched pullies.
The spindle has 5 steps and the motor has 4.
You'll have to find a match to get the full range of speeds.
And there is no slow speed attatchment.
Its gona take some work and cash if you plan to restore it.
But it has potential, I'd shoot low.

 

[Outlawmws]

Unless it has some hidden major flaws grab it. I believe it even has a table lifter! and its a floor model. see if the added top on the table is easily removed so you can see if the "arc of shame" is present.

Without knowing more, I'd definitely say go for it.

 

[ultimateplayer]

Table lifter?

Slow speed attachment?

I am very new to this type of tool. Can you elaborate?

 

[bobadame]

I think it's easily worth more than $100. This is a good deal on a good drill press. If you need a good drill press, pay the man what it's worth.

 

[ndnchf]

Agree with the above comments. That's a nice old drill press - don't let it get away. I just finished the complete restoration of a Walker Turner WT 900 from the late 1940s. Its a similar design. Here's a couple pics to show what is possible.

Before:

After:

 

[ultimateplayer]

Oh wow. Do you have a thread on your refurb? That looks really nice and is something I would love to do to this.

 

[Jslys13]

I saw a drill press like this at a garage sale for $175.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Get it.....if it's a total basketcase you can recover the cost by parting it out. You'll really enjoy that old machine if you put it to use:

 

[ndnchf]

Oh wow. Do you have a thread on your refurb? That looks really nice and is something I would love to do to this.

No, I didn't post a thread about it. But it was pretty straightforward. Disassemble, clean, strip, paint, install new bearings and reassemble. I did one modern upgrade - I added a 3/4 hp 3 phase motor, VFD and control panel to give me variable and infinite speed control using 115v input.

I just remembered that I posted a summary of this restoration on OWWM:
http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=113612&p=766589&hilit=WT+900#p766589

 

[Outlawmws]

Table lifter?

Slow speed attachment?

I am very new to this type of tool. Can you elaborate?

A table lifter is a rack and pinion with a crank handle to make adjusting the table height easier. I use mine nearly every drilling job. It's bad enough just getting the weight of the table moved, when you also have a heavy vise (Min is a ancient milling vise, so VERY heavy) and/or a heavy work piece on it...

Most direct (belt) drive DP's won't go slow enough for drilling an appreciable hole in steel, so are really designed for drilling wood and other softer materials.

The slow speed attachment is a third pulley, generally mounted on the post opening between the motor and spindle, that allows 2 belts and further speed reduction (or increase...) for drilling at slower speeds. you should be able to find a drill speed chart on line easily, for different work piece materials and for different drill bit materials. (but generally HHS is fine for 99.9% of the jobs)

Look at the top picture in jtbinvalrico's post for an example of one.

 

[ultimateplayer]

Can you upgrade and add a slow speed attachment?

 

[Rust]

Heres the original instructions to that machine.
I was wrong on the vintage its a 1941

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1715

There is no slow speed attatchment for this particular press, just slo speed pullies for the motorand spindle. Naturaly you'll have to hunt them down.

 

[Packard V8]

A steal at $100.

jack vines

 

[ndnchf]

There are universal slow speed pulley assemblies that fit in the top of the column. But kind of hard to find. That's one reason I went with the VFD set up.

 

[-Brent-]

That's a handsome drill press. You can't match the quality of that machine with a new model for that money. If you do buy it keep an eye on ebay for the proper pulley cover. I see them every so often.

 

[Rust]

There are universal slow speed pulley assemblies that fit in the top of the column. But kind of hard to find. That's one reason I went with the VFD set up.

Well your/our WT press,

the slow speed assembly mounts to the motor mount.
There is a guy making and selling them on Ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walker-Turn...023?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c64d60a87

 

[ndnchf]

Yes, but the WT slow speed assemby won't work on the Delta. I was referring to the column mount version to use on the Delta. I have since found an original WT slow speed assembly, but have not installed it yet since the VFD works so well.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Rust....that column arm extension is bad a$$.

 

[Outlawmws]

There are universal slow speed pulley assemblies that fit in the top of the column. But kind of hard to find. That's one reason I went with the VFD set up.

Also possible to make your own. I'd start with a Timing belt adjuster and go from there (and probably will For my old Atlas/craftsman)

 

[knotheads]

a word of caution on the old delta drill presses ,the bearings used on the spindle are opsolete and you might have trouble cross referencing a different bearing .

 

[Outlawmws]

a word of caution on the old delta drill presses ,the bearings used on the spindle are opsolete and you might have trouble cross referencing a different bearing .

My understanding is that there is a guy that makes an adapter sleeve for this application, and if there isn't, that is not a terribly difficult thing to have made.

 

[ndnchf]

My understanding is that there is a guy that makes an adapter sleeve for this application, and if there isn't, that is not a terribly difficult thing to have made.

I agree with Outlawmws, they are obsolete from bearing manuafactures, but there is a guy who modifies readily available bearings and advertises them on OWWM. So I wouldn't be too concerned about getting bearings.