Clausing Drill Press

[DavidB]

I've been on the look out for a floor standing drill press for a while and one finally turned up on Craigslist! I went to pick it up from the guy and he showed me around. Apparently he likes to fix up old Porsches and had the drill press came as part of a deal for a lathe he wanted (Southbend he was in the middle of cleaning up). The Drill Press is a model 1670, 15", 3/4 hp, variable speed and runs pretty well. Theres some noise with the belt when it's running and at higher speeds the belt flutters a lot. But I'll get that fixed soon. Obviously, it needs some clean up but for $200 I'm happy with it!

Here's the pic to prove it happened!

 

[jteck75]

Those are top-notch machines,you will be happy with it.

 

[quattrojon]

David,

That should clean up really nice, sounds like a good deal to me.

Jon

 

[woody 73]

The are very nice machines I think you will be very happy with it.

 

[Mickey_D]

Looks just like mine. These things are bullet proof and very useful.

 

[RAYJAY]

they clean up really good lol

and for all the clausing fans.....

both manuals

step speed drill press


vari speed drill press

 

[35mastr]

Those are a good quality press. You will not be disapointed.

 

[toolchaser]

We've got about a dozen of those at work, VERY good machines!

 

[Mickey_D]

Mine had a very stiff belt when I got it but after checking on the price of a replacement, I lived with it. After a week or two it quieted down a lot and I don't even notice it any more. Clausing has replacement parts and very good support for their products.

 

[Zrexxer]

I went to pick it up from the guy and he showed me around. Apparently he likes to fix up old Porches

Front porches or back porches?

 

[DavidB]

Front porches or back porches?

Hahaha ok so I'll go edit that. I'll blame it on late night posting...yeah thats it.

Yes, I've heard folks speak well of Clausing and I know it's super heavy. I'll have to check the pdfs later. Thanks!

 

[Zrexxer]

Yes, I've heard folks speak well of Clausing and I know it's super heavy. I'll have to check the pdfs later. Thanks!

On a serious note, Clausing is absolutely top-shelf, and that's a great deal. As one person posted above, parts availability is excellent, but the downside is that apparently Clausing started manufacturing their spare parts inventory out of 24K Gold - or at least they think they do... Keep posting pics as you get 'er cleaned up!

 

[mjozefow]

Nice drill press! No cheapo plastic parts on that one!

 

[DavidB]

I emailed Clausing and they said it was made in 1978 and sent me a pdf copy of the operating instructions!

 

[ironheadtom]

Great find !

 

[DavidB]

they clean up really good lol

and for all the clausing fans.....

both manuals

step speed drill press


vari speed drill press

I'd say. Yours cleaned up really well. Do you have any more pictures of it?

I was cleaning it up tonight and noticed that the key for the top motor pulley has been sheared off. I hope to find a replacement tomorrow and that it'll help with some of the vibration.

I did get the chuck cleaned up tonight atleast!

 

[RAYJAY]

here is a before picture ..a lot has changed in the garage since that picture

 

[A_Pmech]

Looks like a fun rebuild project!

 

[larry4406]

Well - this thread sold me. I bought a 15" model 1640 for $230 from craigslist. It had originally been a 3 phase unit, and someone swapped the motor to 120V. The original style push on/off switch has been replaced with a single pole light switch. The table does have the "arc of shame". Any reasonable repair methods to the table? Source for replacement tables? I would prefer a table with grooves.

The motor is reversable, so I want to wire a 3-way or 4-way switch to achieve the directional change, then use a foot switch for on-off. This was explained somewhere on how to do this, but can't find it now.

For those of you that restore your machines, any particular paint you use to be near original? Source of decals?

 

[DavidB]

Well - this thread sold me. I bought a 15" model 1640 for $230 from craigslist. It had originally been a 3 phase unit, and someone swapped the motor to 120V. The original style push on/off switch has been replaced with a single pole light switch. The table does have the "arc of shame". Any reasonable repair methods to the table? Source for replacement tables? I would prefer a table with grooves.

The motor is reversable, so I want to wire a 3-way or 4-way switch to achieve the directional change, then use a foot switch for on-off. This was explained somewhere on how to do this, but can't find it now.

For those of you that restore your machines, any particular paint you use to be near original? Source of decals?

Ha well glad I could help! If you haven't found www.owwm.com and www.owwm.org be sure to head that way. The .com side should have a manual for your machine if you're interested. Off hand I'd say you could still get tags and decals from Clausing. I've heard they can supply any part needed but it's kind of expensive.

I started cleaning up the table and found some more drill spots on my table. I've got a pretty nice arc of shame too. Worse though I found out that the lower bearing that goes between the spindle and the quill froze up. As a result it wore away at the spindle in that area to where it is not touching anymore. So, I've either got to find someone to fix the spindle or find a used one.

 

[larry4406]

Any idea why they mill the flat surface on the base and include the dove tail grooves? What would one possbily mount on the floor stand base? I haven't looked yet, but am half inclined to convert the base to a new table.

 

[toolchaser]

For big pieces you swing the table aside and mount the work to a riser or directly to the base if its REALLY big!

 

[DavidB]

Larry, forgot this earlier.... I've read that Ace hardware has a "Machinery Grey" spray paint that is supposed to be popular for use on old machinery. I'll probably try to find some for mine when I get to the painting part.

 

[larry4406]

....Worse though I found out that the lower bearing that goes between the spindle and the quill froze up. As a result it wore away at the spindle in that area to where it is not touching anymore. So, I've either got to find someone to fix the spindle or find a used one.

Did you ever resolve this? Was Clausing able to provide parts? My used Clausing 15" press starting making bearing noises yesterday (5/8" hole in 3/6" plate). I assume it is the thrust bearing which I believe is with the spindle bearing. Will be taking it apart to look.

 

[35mastr]

Did you ever resolve this? Was Clausing able to provide parts? My used Clausing 15" press starting making bearing noises yesterday (5/8" hole in 3/6" plate). I assume it is the thrust bearing which I believe is with the spindle bearing. Will be taking it apart to look.

Take it apart. Get the bearing numbers off of each one and call or go to Motion Industries. I rebuilt a complete 1953 Vintage 20 inch Powermatic drill press with power down feed.

Everyone of the bearings were purchased through them including all the belts.

 

[Eric Commarato]

Here is mine. Put new bearings in it and it was good to go. It is 3 phase runs on a 1 HP TECO VFD.

 

[Kenwc]

I have an Atlas Clausing 1810 waiting in the que to restore. It's a huge beast at close to 450 pounds....it's complete and will end up looking like the motor in the second pic which a good friend of mine restored for me.

 

[larry4406]

Here is mine. Put new bearings in it and it was good to go. It is 3 phase runs on a 1 HP TECO VFD.

Eric - Nice looking press and virgin table. Did you restore it? If so, how did you fix the table?

When you put new spindle bearings in, did you loctite them to their seats in the quill? I have ordered new ones for my Clausing press.

 

[Eric Commarato]

Larry, I didn't do much to the machine at all. The paint was in excellent condition. The table didn't have a mark on it. Aparently it came from a shop where the owner took meticulous care of their equipment. The bearings rattled very much. I got new bearings at Accurite Bearing near Chicago. I didn't use loctite on the inside race, the pressed on easily with a snug fit.

 

[DavidB]

I've finally got around to working on my drill press again after a long hiatus so I thought I'd resurrect my thread.

I used a wire cup and an angle grinder to clean most everything up. Electrolysis was used on the pulleys. It isn't the most efficient way to go about it but it is what I have.

Parts here cleaned up pretty easily:

Paint on here was stuck really well and took a while to get off:

Some of the parts being primed:

Here's the base before:

After. I'm going to try to work on it a little more to even out color of the flat sections and then painted:

The post before:

The cleaned up post. It is still dark in places from rust but I didn't want to remove a lot of material:

I'll post more pics as I progress.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Nicely done! That is a lot of work.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Nice work. I'll be heading the same direction when I outgrow my present drill press.

 

[kngkong]

Looks like a solid drill press there. Have got an old drill press (not Clausing) in need of similar TLC.
Cheers!

 

[MBfreak]

Man , that ***** "Worse though I found out that the lower bearing that goes between the spindle and the quill froze up. As a result it wore away at the spindle in that area to where it is not touching anymore. So, I've either got to find someone to fix the spindle or find a used one. "

I would definitely repair it. A good machine shop can spray weld up the part and then machine it down to the correct tolerance. This will in no way weaken it and the repair is next to impossible to spot.

My luck with replacement parts, when I am too lazy to repair, is not very good. I get so carried away when I find a part that I only spot that " Gee that part is not broken like on mine" and pay for it. Closer inspection then often reveals a shoddy repair or that another section on the " replacement part" is destroyed.

Also, repairing stuff is a great way of avoiding garden work!

Ola

 

[DavidB]

Thanks for the compliments! I think it'll be worth it in the end.

I've been waiting for paint and primer to dry but have managed to make some progress.

First up some painted parts. Note if you're going to paint something light gray that you should get a primer that is not a little lighter gray. Note the difference between the middle part and the others.

Primered the base and another part.

The top housing with paint. For the curious, the four bumps in the middle are from where some internal structure was welded in.

I got around to cleaning up the quill which holds the bearings that let the spindle rotate. I cleaned up the bearing that went bad and found that somehow it looks like the shield on the bearing had been damaged and that is what may have caused it to go bad. I never noticed it before under the grease.

Cleaned up small arms and knobs on the speed adjustment.

Pulling the motor bearings for replacement.

My dad spoke with a machine shop that has done work for him in the past and they said it'd be cheaper for me to get a new spindle from Clausing than to have the part spray welded back up and then ground down. Anyone know what this operation might cost? It looks like the spindle is worn about 0.030" diameter.

 

[rodm1]

What brand of puller is that?

 

[DavidB]

What brand of puller is that?

OTC model #464

 

[1steve]

Thanks for the compliments! I think it'll be worth it in the end.

I've been waiting for paint and primer to dry but have managed to make some progress.


My dad spoke with a machine shop that has done work for him in the past and they said it'd be cheaper for me to get a new spindle from Clausing than to have the part spray welded back up and then ground down. Anyone know what this operation might cost? It looks like the spindle is worn about 0.030" diameter.

Do you have a picture of the damaged area of the spindle?

 

[DavidB]

Do you have a picture of the damaged area of the spindle?

Sure. Here's a picture showing the both areas where the bearings sit.

Here is a closeup.

Thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP
My dad spoke with a machine shop that has done work for him in the past and they said it'd be cheaper for me to get a new spindle from Clausing than to have the part spray welded back up and then ground down. Anyone know what this operation might cost? It looks like the spindle is worn about 0.030" diameter.

Call Clausing directly for parts availability and cost. if current production or NOS they aren't bad. they often do small job lots for certain out of production parts and those can get pricey...