Converting a Bowling Ball Drill Press

[oholto]

So I found what seems like a pretty good deal on an old Delta DP, but there is one problem...it is outfitted for bowling ball work. I thought it might be as simple as taking off the jig they use on the DP table, however it seems the table is fixed in a low position without any way of moving it up and down.

So my question is what will it take to get it back to a standard drill press? Is it worth the price?

Original ad states "$100 or best offer for bowling ball drill press"

I will get the pictures as soon as possible

 

[oholto]

Some more

 

[CobraChevelle]

if you learn how to drill bowling balls you will have that paid off in no time.

 

[oholto]

Last one

 

[nic6paul]

Remove the ball fixture and it should be good to go. Looks like it has the larger table on it. If that popped up here for $100 it would be in my garage already. The tanle moves up easily by loosening the back plate on the column clamp. Not sure if it has the raising gears but you could move it by hand.

 

[nine4gmc]

Easily worth that, looks like it has the production table with crank lift option on it. I think you could remove the jig and loosen the table lock screw, then raise/lower the table. I would be on that in a heartbeat and I am a tightwad.

Edited, maybe no table lift but looks like the production table under that jig?.

 

[warmpancakes]

should make decision easier

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bow...401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a39da3d9

 

[Davefr]

I agree. That table should be adjustable without any problem by loosening those clamps.

If all that DP did was drill bowling balls it's had a very easy life and should be nearly mint condition.

Go get it!!!

 

[exmaxima1]

Remove the ball fixture and it should be good to go. Looks like it has the larger table on it. If that popped up here for $100 it would be in my garage already. The tanle moves up easily by loosening the back plate on the column clamp. Not sure if it has the raising gears but you could move it by hand.

I have a DP-600 as well. Just loosen the clamp on the table and turn the crank. If the crank is missing, temporarily use a pair of vise grips. If there is no crank mechanism, the table should slide---but keep in mind that production table weighs close to 100 lbs!

 

[rsanter]

buy it now, unless it is close to me then let me know where it is

remove the fixture and just see if the table will move. it is possible that they installed a set screw or pin so that the table does not shift. if that's the case then remove said item and that should free up the table

bob

 

[exmaxima1]

buy it now, unless it is close to me then let me know where it is

It's a few miles west of Madison WI, so probably too far to drive from California....

 

[404]

Motor is huge. What HP and RPM?

 

[exmaxima1]

Motor is huge. What HP and RPM?

Judging by the size of the motor and capacitor housings, I would guess it's a 1140 rpm motor and 3/4 or 1 hp.

Has anyone else noticed it has a friggin' ALBRECHT chuck on it?

 

[Davefr]

Hope the OP snags it and reports back.

It was posted on CL 6 days ago. The odds of it remaining unsold for a whole week can't be that great.

99% of these have been abused in a school, worn out in a factory and left to rust away in an old damp warehouse.

Imagine this thing spending it's life in a bowling alley shop and only being used a couple time a week.

 

[exmaxima1]

Hope the OP snags it and reports back.

It was posted on CL 6 days ago. The odds of it remaining unsold for a whole week can't be that great.

99% of these have been abused in a school, worn out in a factory and left to rust away in an old damp warehouse.

Imagine this thing spending it's life in a bowling alley shop and only being used a couple time a week.

Keep in mind----that drill press weighs every bit of 500 lbs with that production table and big-*** motor. It's not a simple ordeal to just "grab it" or I'd be driving that 2 hr trip myself...

 

[fatfillup]

Looks like a replacement motor, and a good one at that. TEFC

 

[beamrider]

****,punch up 2 balls with it and it's paid off. No brainer.

 

[Davefr]

Looks like a replacement motor, and a good one at that. TEFC

It's a Baldor!! I wonder if they put on a different (ie slower RPM) motor since bowling balls have large holes.

 

[exmaxima1]

It's a Baldor!! I wonder if they put on a different (ie slower RPM) motor since bowling balls have large holes.

I have a Baldor 56-frame 3/4hp 1140 rpm on my Wilton drill press (shown with cover removed). It has the same square cap housing, but it looks slightly shorter (maybe). The motor on the "bowling ball DP" might be a larger frame size since that Delta needs a 3/4" diameter shaft, so possibly a 284-frame. I'm thinking it's 1hp and weighing in over 80 lbs!

 

[zkling]

Good deal on a good press!

 

[exmaxima1]

should make decision easier

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bow...401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a39da3d9

That auction ended with no takers. Price listed is therefore meaningless.

 

[404]

Has anyone else noticed it has a friggin' ALBRECHT chuck on it?

Going by the rest of it the chuck is probably genuine not Chinese..

 

[nic6paul]

So any update on this? Don't get discouraged about the weight. Having a second person to help will make breaking this down a breeze but it can be done alone with minimal effor. These can be taken apart very easily. First remove the belt guard and then loosen the bolt that holds motor/motor plate to the head and remove that. The head comes off by loosening the bolts on the back plate same with the table. The column is held to the base by 4 bolts if memory serves me right. I have moved one of these in a Honda Civic with no problem. I also moved a 20" Walker Turner drill press in the same car....not the smartest thing I have done but doable and that is what I had access to at that particular time when the seller wanted it gone.

 

[1Garageman]

I wonder if you could remove that jig and then sell the jig for a decent price???

 

[Packard V8]

I wonder if you could remove that jig and then sell the jig for a decent price???

Maybe, but bowling is dying out even more rapidly than golf. Mostly old farts aging out of the sports.

jack vines

 

[oholto]

Unfortunately it sold before I even got there

 

[warmpancakes]

Maybe, but bowling is dying out even more rapidly than golf. Mostly old farts aging out of the sports.

jack vines

you cant get near the bowling alleys here in the winter, leagues 6 night a week

 

[warmpancakes]

That auction ended with no takers. Price listed is therefore meaningless.

shows as green for me , meaning its sold

 

[WhiffySpark]

Maybe, but bowling is dying out even more rapidly than golf. Mostly old farts aging out of the sports.

jack vines

Not even close. Bowling is a major sport.

Not nfl popular, but it's far from dying. League play 7 nights a week is normal.

 

[warmpancakes]

cant drink beer and play football at the same time, plus its too cold to play softball and golf in the winter, (other 2 sports you drink beer while playing)

 

[Murphy4570]

Yeah, bowling is popular as hell around here. There's two bowling alleys within a 15 minute drive of me. Used to be a third down the street, but that closed years ago and is now a gym and health food restaurant.

 

[stage20]

Unfortunately it sold before I even got there

you missed out!

 

[Vvmvbb]

Not even close. Bowling is a major sport.

Not nfl popular, but it's far from dying. League play 7 nights a week is normal.

some data

 

[Packard V8]

Thanks for taking the time to share the documentation. Those who shared anecdotal evidence of your local alley is interesting and those which remain may be crowded, but the facts are the facts. The data don't lie. Bowling alleys are closing only slightly faster than golf courses.

jack vines

 

[warmpancakes]

some data

Walmart had 3868 stores in 2012

In 2012 there were 4061 bowling alleys

In 2012 bowling must have been more popular than walmart

 

[warmpancakes]

Thanks for taking the time to share the documentation. Those who shared anecdotal evidence of your local alley is interesting and those which remain may be crowded, but the facts are the facts. The data don't lie. Bowling alleys are closing only slightly faster than golf courses.

jack vines

Golf courses and cemetery's are the greatest waste of prime real estate in the USA

 

[oldldh]

Golf courses and cemetery's are the greatest waste of prime real estate in the USA

You should give Ol' George Carlin writing credit for that...

It's almost football season---

Roll Tide---Roll!!!