Craftman 80-100-150 Restores

[ckadams00]

There are quite a few Craftsman 100 & 150 drill press restoration posts already but I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring as well. When I picked up my first 150 in 2012 I really didn’t know anything about them other than I loved the way they looked. It was a learning curve figuring out how to disassemble the spindle and the tension spring, but I was able to restore the machine to almost new and it has served me well.

And that would be the end of the story, except this is GJ, and too much is never enough. So I bought a second, and then completely threw myself into the deep end when an estate sale with a full collection of late 50’s machines came up on Craigslist (more on that later).

So my intention here is twofold: one, to share anything I can about restoring these great machines. Two, to consolidate some of the other posts and ideas others have had to make the beginner’s job a bit easier to find help. Please feel free to post up any pictures or thoughts you have on these machines and don’t worry about hijacking - the more info the better.

If you haven’t already seen them, the 'ground zero' threads regarding 100s and 150s restoration are by jtbinvalrico:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146523&showall=1

and FrankLee:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227480

I also strongly recommend you check out the glorious photo section of member posts over at Vintage Machinery:
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/default.aspx

*Hint if you are sorting by manufacturer, look under “Sears-Craftsman” - you won’t find a listing under Craftsman.

As I have time I will also link to others who’ve posted about 80s, 100s and 150s.

JZiggy picked up a VERY nice 100:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300630&highlight=Craftsman+Drill+Press

He is also the man to contact if you want a slow speed pulley for your resto:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5459127#post5459127

Taking one apart? Check out evintho's very well done post:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51384&highlight=Craftsman+Drill+Press

Member Ilya found one with a very sought after slow speed attachment (including video):
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171868&highlight=Craftsman+Drill+Press

Chrispyny picked up a nice '80' benchtop and a really sweet '100' floor model:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304501&highlight=Craftsman+Drill+Press

 

[ckadams00]

Well I might as well start at the beginning. I had never seen a 150 before 2012 and this is the photo that bit me: (Dave Lopez in the Vintage Machinery photo archives).

That's all she wrote. I pretty much did nothing for the following two weeks except check Craigslist every ten minutes.

My “first time” was from a machine shop in Hampshire, IL, a little used but not too badly abused. Small arc of shame, but it came with a motor and everything worked. Also, I had no reference at that point what to look for, so I couldn’t get $100 out of my pocket fast enough.

A week later before I had even taken the first one apart I found a second (private seller, garage, 1 hour south of me). Drove down to pick it up, paid $75 with original motor.

I don’t have any “before” photos of these (what for?) since I only joined GJ in late 2012. But I do have a photo of the “twins” as I was restoring them together. My plan was to sell one and keep one, so I cherry picked the parts a bit (kept the better table of course!).




I spent WAY more time on these than I could have but I was learning. New power cords on both, and you can see how I hooked up switches attached to the motor mounting plates.

Since I seem to have these stacking up I'm going to follow FrankLee's lead and call them by number (though I certainly can't churn them as well and as quickly as he does!).

DP#3 came to me in an estate sale purchase of a "set" of late 50's CM tools. Until recently I thought it had been a "100" but I remember the column being thinner than those on the 150s - otherwise I would have taken the collar you see under the table for my own press. Looking more closely Looking through the 1957 catalog I now see it was an "80" (double handle) - it looks like a floor stand 80 was only available for about 2-3 years according to the catalogs. This one was cleaned up and sold to a friend of mine.

 

[ckadams00]

Here we go on DP#4 and DP#5!

#4 came from a machine shop this past spring and was listed on CL as a “standing drill made by Craftman” - had an auction tag on it so they probably picked it up to flip. This was an example of being over optimistic, as I overpaid for it at $125 but once I drove and hour to get it I wasn’t going to leave without it. The guy in the shop didn’t speak a lot of English and didn’t know anything about it (again, auction I think). Now that I know much more about what to look for I might have left it there. Digging into it once in my shop, here’s the damage:


In the PO’s shop. Auction tag. Beer can may have been for size reference, or maybe the boss was at lunch?


Tag beat to hell. 113.24511 which puts it about 1964-68 manufactured by Emerson Electric Co.

In addition to the stock table this machine had a second table attached sitting on the base. I was talking to FrankLee about this as he has the same table on one of his - this is a stock table from a CM drill press in the 1968 catalog Drill Press 113.24561. It doesn’t have the deep lip on the edge like the 100s and 150s so it is actually much easier to clamp. Not sure what I;m gonna do with it - I have seen some people put a lower table as a “shelf” for bits, etc, thinking about that . . . .this is the one “plus” of this purchase.

Headstock. At first in the dark PO shop I thought the badge was all messed up, turns out it is paint and I think it will clean up.


Apparently banging on the table adjust handle was a “thing” in this poor *******’s life . . .


The other good news is that the DP had a ½ HP Dayton motor with a date stamp of 7/80, I’m not going to keep it on her but at least I picked up a decent motor. LOL the wiring however needed to be addressed as the PO to the PO must have been an idiot.






Yes, bare exposed wire and all is how they were running it. Facepalm.

After removing the 150 faceplate it looks like this was originally CM gold . . .


And one of the handles has a small chip at the base - other than that they are in good shape.


I am not sure why this happens on the pot metal handle spindle but I have seen this before: the outside of the thread housing breaks and separates. Either people are screwing the handles in too deeply of the spindles were just crappy to begin with. . . .on this DP all three are like this.


They don’t call it the Arc of Shame for nothing. Honestly, I hope somewhere someone can’t sleep at night.


DP#5
I originally went to pick up a CM tablesaw because it had the blade guard. When I rolled up the seller asked me if I was interested in a DP - both came from the same person he bought them from and the prior owner was the original owner. Neither had been used much, and though I may not keep the table saw, I think this "100" is in such good shape that it may replace my shop "150". We'll see in the next week or so as I start the teardown.







Very good shape - the bands on the headstock and motor are almost perfect. I believe this is a pre1952 machine and will most likely be taking space in my shop.

 

[LesserSon]

About colors: I picked one up around Philly a few months ago and started disassembly. Even under the Craftsman 150 band, the head casting is black. The table and base are reddish orange. The model number plate was missing but from scrutinizing catalogs, I'm positive this is Emerson Electric from the mid 1960s.
Have you seen such a color combination?

 

[ckadams00]

About colors: I picked one up around Philly a few months ago and started disassembly. Even under the Craftsman 150 band, the head casting is black. The table and base are reddish orange. The model number plate was missing but from scrutinizing catalogs, I'm positive this is Emerson Electric from the mid 1960s.
Have you seen such a color combination?

I haven't seen black - or orange - on any of these that are original. Most of the ones I have seen that have been repainted - the owners didn't do a great job and often didn't remove the trim pieces. You can see on the 150 I posted that the original color was the CM gold and they repainted it grey.

As far as "original" I have seen: a battleship grey, gold, dark blue, and a "bronze". Those are the only original colors I am aware of, but I really think color is up to the owner - whatever makes yo appreciate the drill more. If you are after "original" color then there are a few on GJ with posts that can help you - I'll see if I can dig up the specifics.

FrankLee posted some different colored examples though I do not believe many of these are original.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5166180#post5166180

 

[S4cruiser]

My 150 was originally black and is from the later 60s. I think the later ones toward the end of this head style were black.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5288456&postcount=910

 

[econotrk]

Love that style of Craftsman drill press, I have a bench top model that gets used on a regular basis. It is still in original gold paint, Sears name for it was "Power Bronze".

 

[ckadams00]

My 150 was originally black and is from the later 60s. I think the later ones toward the end of this head style were black.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5288456&postcount=910

Cool thank you for posting - I have seen the dark grey but did not know these were also offered in black.

 

[ckadams00]

Very nice, CK!

If you're going to keep only one, I agree with you about keeping #5. There's nothing like nice original paint. Do you have a model number on it? Because it has the safety collar on the chuck, I think it may be later than '52. And because it has the threaded steel head frame lock cylinder, it could be several years later than that.

Thanks FrankLee - looks like I have a bit more investigating to do when I start the teardown.

 

[D. Patina]

Great thread. I picked up a 150 few months back. I'm really liking the bronze color when the time comes. Right now it's a crusty work horse on the bench.

 

[vertguy]

I picked up this 150 a couple weeks ago from the original owner's son and only plan to do a light clean up along with bearings eventually as the paint is in great shape. This one appears to be a very dark gray and has the shorter 62 inch column. The seller thought his dad bought it in the late 40's, but based on FrankLee's comments it would be a '56 plus.

I am off work this week and plan to get this one back into nice shape before the weekend.

 

[vertguy]

The 150s were introduced in 1958. Because yours does not have the external spring tension knob, is a later version. If the model number starts with 113, it's an Emerson, likely 1964 or later.

More very helpful info... thanks!

Model # 103.24511

 

[paulm12]

awesome post CK. Great info and love the pictures. I don't have one (yet) and don't need one (so what). So I'll be on the lookout for one in the future.

 

[Cruzan80]

Frank, I also have a 62" post, 103.24510 so the evidence builds. Also has the internal spring for tension. Maybe the last digit is the 64-66 year (0, 1, 2?)?

 

[bmw57isetta]

The last digit refers to floor standing vs. bench top, same four preceeding digits for either one. 1=Floor standing, 2=Bench top.

 

[Cruzan80]

So what would the 0 on mine be for? Self standing?

 

[bmw57isetta]

Let me amend that last statement. Up to a certain point, a 0=bench top, 1=floor standing. The chart bears out the fact that this sequence wasn't used throughout production. Sorry for the blank round.

Look at each "bench and floor" column and you'll see what I mean. Never knew the first four digits referred to the catalog number. Makes sense though.

 

[Cruzan80]

I understand what you are saying now, but I was referring to the 24510 vs 24511. Both are floor models, look the same, but I was guessing that the last one may refer to the year of production.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Could be that one came factory-equipped with a motor and the other didn't. You've got me scratching my head on this one.

 

[vertguy]

My 150 is cleaned up and ready to make some holes. The link belt just arrived on Sat. and this one runs so much smoother than its baby brother (think it is an 80).

 

[ckadams00]

Well when it starts to get cold in IL I don't get a lot of "project time". I have a small basement shop but mostly I work in the summer in the driveway on things like a rebuild. As you can tell since I haven't posted since last summer! Sorry for the long lapse - I recently went back and read through almost all of Frank Lee's drill press thread and it got me motivated to get back to these. Also, I don't want to hijack Frank's thread, so progress will be posted here!

Here are the three current victims:

L-R
103.23141 with the 67" post and original motor.
103.24511 with original motor
113.24511

 

[ckadams00]

One major accomplishment today was cleaning up the columns. As you can see one is a 67" from the older press and the two from the "150"s are the shorter 62" One was in ok shape the other two were very rusty (sorry I missed the 'before' photos). I tried Frank's method of using a belt sander belt but I am WAY to impatient for that so I went to town with a nylon paint removal disk on a grinder - worked great! I'll need to polish them up but for now at least they are clean and have a coat of wax to keep them from rusting. The rust at the bottom is just from replacing them in the bases temporarily. That was one messy job I wasn't looking forward to but happy its finished.

 

[ckadams00]

Thanks FrankLee - looks like I have a bit more investigating to do when I start the teardown.

Well with a bit more digging I think Frank may be right, my "100" could be from 1954-5. It's obviously not from '52 or '53 because for some reason those model years did not have a machine turned band. But '54 or '55 (last year of this model) could be right. When I do the teardown I'll see if there are any other details that date it.

 

[ckadams00]

For anyone looking there is a Craftsman Pressmate table lift (appears NOS) on fleabay right now with two days to go (ends 5/28).

For the money they seem to bring I've never been able to justify one for myself (now if I find one on an old DP that will be a different story!) but I know some people seek them out. Good luck!

 

[ckadams00]

Well time to get back into the swing of things. Sorry for the lapse, I took a couple of days off (four, over two weeks) to finish an adirondack chair for my wife for our 23rd anniversary. Would have loved to have been working on cleaning up a whole bunch of drills but needed to get this done in time. Turned out great and was really happy with the results.

 

[ckadams00]

SO: here is the current batch. I thought about one-at-a-time but I am learning more (and making more progress) by tackling all of them together. I get to learn about the little differences in the machines as well as moving the whole bunch forward (my garage needs the space!).


Left -to -right:
103.23141 "100" - jury is still out on the origin date. It is not a 52/53 when no band was used. FrankLee has me thinking it is later than '53 but it also has the early('48-'52) depth stop. So: more investigation needed.
I have a whole shop full of mid-50's machined-band CM tools, so even though I have a 150 in use, this will probably be the machine I fix up for my own shop. I am thinking this is going to be my "Franken-Drill" with the best parts from the four. Won't be "correct" but I''m building a DP I'll keep for the rest of my life.

Middle drill: 103.24511 probably 1956. 1/2 Craftsman motor 113.19656 most everything in good shape

Right side: 113.24511 1964-1966 with a Dayton 1/2HP motor. Several issues including a small crack in the base, and a terribly abused table.

Onward.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Well time to get back into the swing of things. Sorry for the lapse, I took a couple of days off (four, over two weeks) to finish an adirondack chair for my wife for our 23rd anniversary. Would have loved to have been working on cleaning up a whole bunch of drills but needed to get this done in time. Turned out great and was really happy with the results.

Very nice work on the chair! Keep it up [emoji108]


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[Packard V8]

but I''m building a DP I'll keep for the rest of my life.

Doesn't matter if it's the wife or the internet, when an irresistible deal on a better DP comes along and this one has to go, you'll get your nose rubbed in that statement, guaranteed, so best not ever go there ;>)

jack vines

 

[FrankLee]

SO: here is the current batch. I thought about one-at-a-time but I am learning more (and making more progress) by tackling all of them together. I get to learn about the little differences in the machines as well as moving the whole bunch forward (my garage needs the space!).

Left -to -right:
103.23141 "100" - jury is still out on the origin date. It is not a 52/53 when no band was used. FrankLee has me thinking it is later than '53 but it also has the early('48-'52) depth stop. So: more investigation needed.
I have a whole shop full of mid-50's machined-band CM tools, so even though I have a 150 in use, this will probably be the machine I fix up for my own shop. I am thinking this is going to be my "Franken-Drill" with the best parts from the four. Won't be "correct" but I''m building a DP I'll keep for the rest of my life.

Middle drill: 103.24511 probably 1956. 1/2 Craftsman motor 113.19656 most everything in good shape

Right side: 113.24511 1964-1966 with a Dayton 1/2HP motor. Several issues including a small crack in the base, and a terribly abused table.

Onward.

Very nice job on the chair! It's a future family heirloom.

I believe there were only two styles of feed stop rods. The 5/8-18 rod with two knurled nuts was used through the 1955 model year. I believe the rapid adjust feed stop was standard in 1957; the anniversary year with the introduction of the power bronze paint.

The 103.24511 is a 150, therefore, 1958-'63. However, I believe King-Seeley developed the integrated spring attachment. So, if it has a tension knob, it's the earlier end of '58-'63; without the knob it's the later end.

 

[ckadams00]

Thanks Frank! I'm going to go with "pre 55 but not 52/3" for now. I wish the casting on this one wasn't so crappy, but anyway it's a drill not a museum piece.

And Packard V8: I hear you: Before I got hooked on GJ I had a skil saw and a couple of screwdrivers. LOL.

 

[Smokeshow69]

This is a great thread and you do fantastic work and documentation! I just acquired one of the bench model beauties and am wondering if it is a 150 model as well as if anyone has a spare 3 knob handle? Mine is butchered badly and needs replacement!







Someone got welder happy[emoji16]


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[ckadams00]

This is a great thread and you do fantastic work and documentation! I just acquired one of the bench model beauties and am wondering if it is a 150 model as well as if anyone has a spare 3 knob handle? Mine is butchered badly and needs replacement!







Someone got welder happy[emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

This is a great thread and you do fantastic work and documentation! I just acquired one of the bench model beauties and am wondering if it is a 150 model as well as if anyone has a spare 3 knob handle? Mine is butchered badly and needs replacement!







Someone got welder happy[emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hi Smokeshow - thank you for posting the pics! Man the PO really did a number on that little guy - hurry up and get the handle and lamp off of it so it doesn't look so embarrassed! I've never seen anyone go to that much trouble to fix a handle LOL. I am eager to see how this one cleans up.

You should be able to source the hub and handles on fleabay or maybe OWWM, although I doubt it will be cheap. You might do better finding another donor machine and then parting out the pieces you don't need - just an idea.

That is not a "150" model but rather a "100" - I am guessing from about 1947-1953 mfg. by King Seeley Corp. Post up your progress!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Hi Smokeshow - thank you for posting the pics! Man the PO really did a number on that little guy - hurry up and get the handle and lamp off of it so it doesn't look so embarrassed! I've never seen anyone go to that much trouble to fix a handle LOL. I am eager to see how this one cleans up.



You should be able to source the hub and handles on fleabay or maybe OWWM, although I doubt it will be cheap. You might do better finding another donor machine and then parting out the pieces you don't need - just an idea.



That is not a "150" model but rather a "100" - I am guessing from about 1947-1953 mfg. by King Seeley Corp. Post up your progress!

I got it for the street value of $15 of things I traded for it so I think I did pretty good [emoji16] it looks worse than it is due to the ugly mods and dirty condition that I will clean up. I was hoping someone on here had an extra handle assembly but will keep an eye out on eBay for another !


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[ckadams00]

I'm in the middle of selling three floor models but I don't have anything to part out at the moment. I will keep my eyes open though! I am excited to see what you do to this little guy.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Sounds great... Sorry for hijacking your thread! Was just excited to join the fun and hopefully gain some of the amazing knowledge here !


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[ckadams00]

Sounds great... Sorry for hijacking your thread! Was just excited to join the fun and hopefully gain some of the amazing knowledge here !


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Not a hijack, I'm learning from everyone who posts. Post up some clean up pics when you can!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I won't have time to clean it for a few weeks but did this last night in about 10 minutes! I used the rubber grinding wheel pictured to remove the surface rust off the top table! The lower table is covered in thick grease so it should clean up nicer than this once I degrease it!



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