Craftsman 100 Series Drill Press

[NC Homestead]

I had been looking for a old Craftsman bench top drill press on Craigslist. Well I stumbled across this post on Craigslist. It was actually a posting for a metal shear and at the end of the post he said "oh yeah I also have an old Craftsman drill press for $100". Well I asked for pictures and the guy sent me a terrible blurry picture. I saw it was a floor model and bot in prime condition. I was thinking if it had the smaller base I could convert it to a bench top, but this had the big base, so I just let it slide.... Well yesterday he emails me back and was like $80 and it's yours, I still was not sold, but I emailed him back that it still really wasn't what I was looking for, but I could spare $50 on it. Well lo and behold he writes back, "Come get it!" So off I go last night on an unplanned outing to pick this thing up. When I get there I find that it is not in prim shape but not terribly neglected either. It runs without any crazy noises or vibrations. Less visible run out than my Harbor Freight model (the reason I am looking for a new drill press). Everything is there and in working order. And to top it all off, the table is clean, no "Arc of Shame"! He did put on a coat of paint on the top (not a good job so it will be coming back off). All in all I think I did OK on this one. Interested to see if there is a model nameplate under all that crud on the base. I am going to have to get my pressure washer back up and running to find out! Sorry for the rough pics I snapped them with my phone on the way out the door this morning.

Will

 

[drivesitfar]

NC: i do like those old Craftsman heritage tools. nice looking DP and hoping you find a spot for it in your garage.

 

[zkling]

That's a nice machine and you're a cheap azz.

 

[NC Homestead]

It will live there for the moment, I will fix it up and get it restored. I love the look of these models. If push comes to shove one day and I find that I still need/want a bench top unit at least I will have a legitimate tool to trade. The lines are just beautiful on these presses. You can see I am measuring up front, I am trying to see if there is room to squeeze in and on/off switch up front. I would have thought someone would have done it by now if there was, but I am curious. I found a picture of one of these restored and painted read on Vintage Machinery and I thought it looked stellar!

 

[NC Homestead]

Frank Thanks for the info, I will measure it out when I get back home. I wouldn't say that I am desperate for one. I still really don't know which way I am headed with my shop. So I just threw out a low ball offer tot he seller to see if he would bite and sure enough he did. I did not feel too bad about it, his listing was terrible and looking at the paint job, he sure wasn't in it for the love of the tools. I was just going over your thread you have some beautiful drill presses. I need to see if I can locate a multi-speed attachment.... how much do those usually go for? Or do you know of anyone that has the specs for one as I do have access to some CNC equipment and could try to fabricate the parts? Mind if I as what you did/used for paint on your DP's they turned out looking very nice!

 

[NC Homestead]

Does anyone know if semichrome polish will clean up the head band or will it take the jeweling off?

 

[jakemac]

The machine turning is VERY light. Any abrasive will risk taking it off. NO WIRE WHEELS.
I've had good luck with Nevr-Dull polishing wads and elbow grease.

 

[NC Homestead]

Frank What primer did you use? Do you also recall what you used on the block grinder in post #16. I about had a "When Harry Met Sally" moment here in my cube this morning when I laid eyes on that beauty! I now must have one of those grinders!

And yes if you have all the dimension on the multi-speed attachment I would love those...

 

[7th Kahuna]

That was a great find at a great price. For $50 I would buy almost without question. That is a $150 drill press around here. I love ads with the 'I also have' notes at the end. Every now and then you turn up a jewel.

FrankLee, what is the story on the 62" column? I purchased a 1958(?) model 100 drill press a couple years ago. Last August I had the opportunity to pick up another and was surprised to find it taller than my first one. The 62" had been hung from the ceiling at some point. I thought maybe it had been cut. I was all set to exchange columns but the 67" was pretty bruised up. I have since passed it on.

 

[7th Kahuna]

The column height is a clue to the age. The column height on the 100 was reduced from 67" to 62" in the 1956 model year.

Thanks. I wonder if the column was shortened to improve stability, simplify shipping, or reduce costs.

 

[NC Homestead]

Frank I measured up the shaft and it is coming in closer to 67" (looked like about 66") I also scrubbed where the model number name plate should have been and no luck, looks like the plate was lost at some point. Any clues to figure out what the model number is?

 

[7th Kahuna]

The missing model number isn't super important. You know it's generically a model 100. The other number tells you who made it and how it was outfitted. Frank may be able to help you dial it in, if not I will give it a go. However, based upon Frank's earlier comment, I'm thinking it's perhaps an updated version of the 103.23140.

FYI: A second clue to the date is the motor tag. A production date should be stamped to the left of the motor's model number. Of course that assumes that the two were purchased at the same time.

 

[NC Homestead]

Frank The previous owner seems to have removed the head band when he painted the unit, and decided to use self tapping sheet metal screws for reassembly. So based on that and the fact that he/she buggered up all around where the screws/rivets would have gone, I am going to go out on a limb and say they were probably in there with rivets. They also removed the front nameplate and put it back on with JB weld. It is a good thing that they don't actually take any pride in their work and do proper prep, so the JB weld just popped right off.

 

[bczygan]

In that condition, $50 is a very good price.

It looks like the chuck has the safety collar, and with the tilt table, that one was likely manufactured between 1952 and 1956. What is the height of that column; 62" or 67"?

Nice!

If you are really desperate for a bench base and column, I may be able to help.

another thought... if you plan to keep that in your garage with a high ceiling, that could still work on a bench.

One guy drilled a hole in his bench and placed the base on the floor below the bench. The column comes up through the hole and the table and head are above the bench.

 

[NC Homestead]

One guy drilled a hole in his bench and placed the base on the floor below the bench. The column comes up through the hole and the table and head are above the bench.

My original plan was that I purchased a Craftsman rolling tool chest. I planned on setting the DP on top of the tool bock and using the drawers to store all of my bits and accessories for the drill press. That way the drill press is portable and where ever it goes I have everything I need with it.

 

[7th Kahuna]

103.23141 is probably a good guess.

I just went back and looked. The one I just sold was a 103.23140. Based upon the motor tag, I decided it was a 1954 production. 103.23140 is the floor standing model with the tilt table. 103.23141 is the floor standing model with tilt table and Vari-Slo adapter I believe.

I am not sure how that all jives with your experience Frank.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

My original plan was that I purchased a Craftsman rolling tool chest. I planned on setting the DP on top of the tool bock and using the drawers to store all of my bits and accessories for the drill press. That way the drill press is portable and where ever it goes I have everything I need with it.

I don't know that you'd be happy with that setup, for safety reasons. I have a Craftsman 100 benchtop DP in the project queue, and it came mounted on a cabinet on casters. It's very top-heavy to move around - tippy and dangerous. I'm not going to keep it in that configuration.

Here's a plan that might interest you.

It's an article for building a storage cabinet on casters that slips over the base/pole of a floor-mount press, and includes plans for a sled to mount the DP base on. This allows some level of portability for the floor model DP.

 

[NC Homestead]

Bill That was plan B. Turns out that when I started cleaning the garage I needed the tool box for actual tool storage.... In fact I need to pick up a couple more tool boxes!

 

[NC Homestead]

OK Might be a 103.23140 after all. Date code on the motor is 1950, and I don't think this is a stock chuck. It Got to looking tonight there are no ridges on it. It is a Supreme Chuck Model 6T33C - 33 Taper, I did find some additional markings under the head band a plate stamped "Z" and a plate stamped "K13".

 

[NC Homestead]

The columns have a top and bottom. The inside of the top end was machined about 2" deep for the Multi-Speed Attachment. Early 100's were machined to roughly 2-3/8" ID; later 100's to ~2-1/2" ID. Which is your's? I haven't been able to determine when this occurred.

So I went a measuring this evening and discovered that it is indeed a 2-3/8" ID in the top of the shaft.

On a side note I really need to paint the base and get it in a real mobile base to make working on this bad boy much easier!

 

[NC Homestead]

Man these badges are tough to work on they don't make a paintbrush small enough... well here are some before and after pics, after all this time I was hoping they would look better... time to get a printer that prints on aluminum and just redo these guys from scratch!

BADGE BEFORE


BADGE AFTER

 

[7th Kahuna]

Nice job, and it's got to be far more satisfying than just printing one.

 

[Ledman_70]

When I need to redo something like that I just spray paint the whole thing then use a razor and 0000 steel wool to take off the paint in the areas I want to shine. Two-tones work the same way, you just have to mask it.
Jeff