Clausing Drill Press

[Crank1]

Hey fellas,
I'm interested in locating a Clausing Floor model drill press for use in my shop when I return home. I've seen a few people talk about how they got one for a few hundred dollars but each time I look on ebay, they seem to be $800 up to around 2K for one, and I'm not looking to spend that much.
I love the way these old work horses look and have variable speeds, but I'm trying to get all the big items in my garage without breaking the bank, should I look for one for relatively cheap to rebuild around my area? Is that the only way I'm going to get a good one for cheap? Also what models is everyone going for?
Are there any drill press rebuilds that you'd like to post?

Any advice or anything on one of these drill presses would be greatly appreciated, thanks all!
Brandon

 

[Crank1]

****, wrong forum, can someone move this please?

 

[rsanter]

generally get the bast you can for what you can afford
a minor rebuild or refresh is fine as bearings or clean and lube is not a big deal
if you have some of the hard parts that have alot of wear then it can cost more
than the incremental cost of the better machine

bob

 

[GMBBS]

One on CL Dallas right now. Dunno where you are located...

 

[rocketpowered_keith]

I've been looking for the exact same deal.... And was watching ebay as well as CL for a Clausing 15" floor model drill press. I missed a really clean looking one on CL which was listed at 175... what a deal that would have been.

I watched what was actually selling on ebay and a clean machine (one that at least looked like it hadn't been abused sold in LA a few days ago for about 730 dollars. A new craftsman of comparable size sells for over 600.

I found one last week listed at 700 bucks, it didn't sell (was only listed on CL). I called the guy and bought it for 600. It is a sweet machine.

Save your pennies and buy a good machine, or wait for the deal of the century, in which case, you better act fast, because all the good deals go really quickly.

Keith

 

[Mickey_D]

I have a 15" VS floor model and love it. Took 10 years to find it and had to buy a whole shop out to get it but it was worth it. I use it almost every day and it is just a pleasure to run.

 

[Barry Tucker]

A good couple of weekends......

It started one weekend on Craigslist with purchasing a 6" Starrett Solid square and a little 4" combination square.

I then found an Atlas/Clausing drill press on Craigslist. Now I already have 2 drill presses, but one of them is this bench mounted 15" Clausing that I would like to turn into a floor model.

The guy said if he didn't sell his drill press by weeks end he was selling it for scrap. He was selling for $50.00 and I thought I would take the gamble that the column size was the same as my bench mounted so that I could use the base,table, and column. Well, it wasn't but it was a bigger 18" drill press that needed the three handles, quill return spring plus the three phase motor replaced. It also was filthy and painted typical factory green. I've torn it all apart,made some handles, and almost have it all painted,I need to remove the rust on the table too. It had some cool aluminum pulley and belt covers that I'm undecided on painting or just polish up.

Now for the next weekend. On Craigslist somebody had relisted an 18" Rockwell Radial Arm Saw with single phase motor that I thought about buying 6 months ago, but didn't. At that time he wanted $375.00, this time $325.00. It was a little rougher than I thought it would be and I got it for $250.00. It was a good day. But wait, it gets better. I told him that last week I bought a Clausing drill press. He said he had a 15" Clausing that he junked the head unit, because the variable speed was shot. I asked him if he saved the base, column, and table. He thought he had, and went to a barn that was full of metal and woodworking machines. He found the parts immediately and I bought the parts for a very fair $75.00.
Finally after years of looking, that bench model will be turned into a floor unit. I already have it cleaned up and painted. I just need some help to move the drill press head to it.

On the way home i stopped at a garage sale. I picked up these 18" calipers for $8.00, though I don't know when I'll use them, but hey they're Starretts.

Also the guy had this for $25.00, with a shaft bushing, perfect to replace the three phase motor on the Atlas drill press.

My day was going good. My truck has a cap on it, so I had to borrow a son in laws truck to haul the saw. It was loaded with a fork lift, so I really wasn't sure how I was going to get it off. When he called to see if he could get his truck back, I told him he should call my other sil to arrange a time when they both could help if he wanted his truck back anytime soon. They showed up a half hour later. We had to take the motor off to make it lighter, but we did get this monster in my shop.

There is crack in the pivot arm that I'll have fixed. Also the frame has rusted out at the bottom. I'll either make a frame out of lvl or get some metal and make it close to the original.The end of my Clausing drill press story. Regards Barry

 

[Kenwc]

Re: A good couple of weekends......

The guy said if he didn't sell his drill press by weeks end he was selling it for scrap. He was selling for $50.00 and I thought I would take the gamble that the column size was the same as my bench mounted so that I could use the base,table, and column. Well, it wasn't but it was a bigger 18" drill press that needed the three handles, quill return spring plus the three phase motor replaced. It also was filthy and painted typical factory green. I've torn it all apart,made some handles, and almost have it all painted,I need to remove the rust on the table too. It had some cool aluminum pulley and belt covers that I'm undecided on painting or just polish up.

Regards Barry

I have that same Atlas Clausing 1810 drill press in my que to restore. It has original pulley/belt covers but the one on yours looks very cool...I wonder if those were offered as an option or shop made. Great job on the restore also.

Ken

 

[Crank1]

I hate you all! Especially the ones with the good deals!

 

[willy3486]

Ebay just stinks anymore for me. I don't know why but a lot of the stuff I want they price it 5 to 10 times what its worth. I have been looking for a old delta sander without a motor. They want anywhere from 350 to 900 for one. The one I want is only about 8 inches wide. I have better luck on the local sales sites like craigslist. Don't give up on finding one. It has been in my experence to keep looking and pass on the ones too high. I wanted a scotty camper. I found one caving in about 8 miles from my house. I didn't care about it caving in since I wanted to redo all the wood. He wouldn't sell it for less than 600 bucks. I found one a year later for free if I promised to redo it. I had to drive 6 hours round trip but it was a great trip.

As far as tools I have had the same luck. I was looking for a old metal lathe to make parts for other old tools. I found one a guy had. It was a craftsman from the 40s, exactly like I wanted. It had been under a house for a long time and the guy found it there. the motor was gone and it had the gears missing. It was also rusted up completely. I couldn't get it less than 100 bucks. It was probably only good for parts. I then found one exactly like the craftsman the rustly one was like a few weeks later for 100 bucks. It had all the parts and even a motor and almost new belt. The only part I need is a spinner for the knob which I can make. It was a easy rebuild,basically a teardown,paint , then put back together. I have it together and ready to make the first part. I sold some old TV and other tubes I had for 100 bucks and bought it for that. They were pulls from junk sets. So you can find them. As a wise old man said once "young grasshopper just be paitient and the good priced vintage old iron will show itself for you".

 

[rocketpowered_keith]

You are right, wait and the deals will come, but BE FAST and search often.. The good deals go FAST.