Craftsman 150 Drill Press - Just got it! :)

[Cable_Hogue]

I'm new to the forum here. I've been lurking a bit and looking at restorations of the 150.
I finally picked one up this weekend off Craigslist and and pretty excited about it.
I'll probably be posting more pictures over time, depending how far I go with restoring it, but at least want to get it cleaned up and functioning well again.

Any info anyone can share about this one is greatly appreciated.

 

[Davefr]

What kind of motor is on it? It looks like a universal AC/DC brush style motor with a reostat speed control.

 

[CNGsaves]

Dude . . .you have the middle pulley . . and the Vari-slo option . . right ??

If so, you scored the Holy Grail . . . . well done !!

Without even telling us the price, also no arc of shame, AND since it's your first post . . . .
. . . yep . . .
. . . . . . . . you earned it . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOU **** !!!

Keep the pics coming and enjoy the journey of restoring that beauty.

 

[Cable_Hogue]

What kind of motor is on it? It looks like a universal AC/DC brush style motor with a reostat speed control.

The motor I think isn't original, but it is a craftsman. Don't know much about it.
It has a speed control on the side of the press, but also on the bottom of the motor?

 

[redintex]

+1 on the you ****!!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice score, and welcome to GJ!!!

Very nice - can't wait to find one myself!

 

[Cable_Hogue]

Dude . . .you have the middle pulley . . and the Vari-slo option . . right ??

If so, you scored the Holy Grail . . . . well done !!

Without even telling us the price, also no arc of shame, AND since it's your first post . . . .
. . . yep . . .
. . . . . . . . you earned it . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOU **** !!!

Keep the pics coming and enjoy the journey of restoring that beauty.

It does not have the vari-slow, but it has the middle pulley. I don't even know that much about it. Just been poking around reading about them a little and was sorry I bought the 1990s craftsman I did buy a couple months ago.
When this one came up, had to grab it. So I'll sell the other and this will be my machine.
Had to give 150, and that after bargaining down from 200. But the badge was so clean and aside from some light rust seems in pretty good shape.

I'm happy so far.

 

[bluebolt]

What kind of motor is on it? It looks like a universal AC/DC brush style motor with a reostat speed control.

It looks like the Craftsman variable speed 500-5000 RPM motor that was available in the 1960's. Two versions, one reversible and one not. An option was a remote speed control, that control looks later though. I have one of both motors, have one on my 150. If being used at slow speed need to let them cool of for a while but I love mine! Turn the dial on the motor never change belt position!

 

[bluebolt]

Cable was updating faster than me LOL. You have the reversible motor nice! Can you post a pic of the remote speed control and a close up of the middle pulley?

 

[Davefr]

The motor I think isn't original, but it is a craftsman. Don't know much about it.
It has a speed control on the side of the press, but also on the bottom of the motor?

I like that motor!! It seems like a better option then reeves style pulleys.

 

[bubinga]

l'd like to have that motor for my lathe.
I have never seen that motor and speed control.
I think the belts are a pain to change on the 150.
If all goes as planned, mine is getting a tread mill motor and controller.

 

[tedsters]

heck of a find i am still looking for one that is gonna be an awesome drill

 

[Davefr]

It looks like the Craftsman variable speed 500-5000 RPM motor that was available in the 1960's. Two versions, one reversible and one not. An option was a remote speed control, that control looks later though. I have one of both motors, have one on my 150. If being used at slow speed need to let them cool of for a while but I love mine! Turn the dial on the motor never change belt position!

Just curious. Why aren't these motors avail. on modern DP's? Is there a downside to one of these motors?

 

[Shadowdog500]

Looks good. Have fun with it.

Chris

 

[gilbo]

yet another piece of Americana saved, good find there

 

[bluebolt]

Just curious. Why aren't these motors avail. on modern DP's? Is there a downside to one of these motors?

Downsides are cost and the old Craftsman ones at least can't run continuously at low speed but can at high speed. Trust me I know from experience!

 

[Cable_Hogue]

This is the middle pulley. This is the same thing as this?

 

[jakemac]

Pretty much, yes.
It will let you set speeds from 200rpm to 9835rpm.

Here's a clipping from the 1957 catalog.

 

[bubinga]

WoW,! that went for Over $200.00 just for that center part.

 

[Cable_Hogue]

Pretty much, yes.
It will let you set speeds from 200rpm to 9835rpm.

Here's a clipping from the 1957 catalog.

Thanks for posting that!

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

welcome to Club 150! Yea, more pics / details on that newer aftermarket speed control set up please

 

[Davefr]

Downsides are cost and the old Craftsman ones at least can't run continuously at low speed but can at high speed. Trust me I know from experience!

Does your motor produce full torque all the way down to 200 RPM??

 

[Cable_Hogue]

Awesome find!

Your exact model number is on the riveted plate on the base near the column. If you haven't discovered www.vintagemachinery.org, there is tons of information, pictures, and publication reprints including owner manuals.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=4

For example, here's the Multi-Speed pulley doc: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/5365.pdf


Please add your general location to your profile. It's nice to know where members reside.

Thanks for the info and links Frank.
The base was so covered with gunk I didn't see the tag.
Below is the #

 

[Cable_Hogue]

Does your motor produce full torque all the way down to 200 RPM??

Haven't even powered it up yet. Later this morning I'll see how it goes.
Not sure why there are two speed controls. Maybe because the one on the motor is so difficult to reach while working?

 

[bubinga]

Haven't even powered it up yet. Later this morning I'll see how it goes.
Not sure why there are two speed controls. Maybe because the one on the motor is so difficult to reach while working?

"might" have been an Option, notice on the motor, it says, remote and main or something like that.

 

[Cable_Hogue]

"might" have been an Option, notice on the motor, it says, remote and main or something like that.

Genius sir.
That was it. Forward and reverse and speed controls all working fine, and motor appears to be working well too. Pretty happy about that since I bought it out of a storage shed and no way to test it out.

I went out and bought a second press this morning. Looks like an old 100.
Mostly needed the chuck key, and it has what might be the original motor, but it's Westinghouse. I can't see a craftsman badge on it.
I'll probably part this one out, whatever I don't need.

The 150 internals look to be pretty good with not observable pitting, but we'll see when it comes apart.

 

[bluebolt]

Haven't even powered it up yet. Later this morning I'll see how it goes.
Not sure why there are two speed controls. Maybe because the one on the motor is so difficult to reach while working?

Exactly that, plus you have to look from underneath. If you have it against a wall it would be even harder.

 

[bluebolt]

Does your motor produce full torque all the way down to 200 RPM??

It appears too was cutting 1" holes in 1/2" steel plate with a holesaw recently no problem but it did overheat a few times and had to let it cool off.

 

[bluebolt]

Genius sir.
That was it. Forward and reverse and speed controls all working fine, and motor appears to be working well too. Pretty happy about that since I bought it out of a storage shed and no way to test it out.

I went out and bought a second press this morning. Looks like an old 100.
Mostly needed the chuck key, and it has what might be the original motor, but it's Westinghouse. I can't see a craftsman badge on it.
I'll probably part this one out, whatever I don't need.

The 150 internals look to be pretty good with not observable pitting, but we'll see when it comes apart.

Great that it runs fine, wish I had that speed control!

 

[Cable_Hogue]

Great that it runs fine, wish I had that speed control!

Looked it up on ebay and saw this 1/2 HP, very similar.
You might be able to find one if you keep checking there.

 

[Cable_Hogue]

So I also got these two old vises with the second press I picked up today.
Anyone know anything about them?

I see no name, number, or branding on the lower one.

 

[Dan_in_MN]

I have the drill press without the speed control or center pulley. It's in storage at the moment and I should have it after the new year.

Looks like whoever owned this one knew how to keep the bit over the center hole of the table!

Nice find!

 

[Cable_Hogue]

I have the drill press without the speed control or center pulley. It's in storage at the moment and I should have it after the new year.

Looks like whoever owned this one knew how to keep the bit over the center hole of the table!

Nice find!

Is yours a project or is it ready to roll?

 

[bubinga]

I have the drill press without the speed control or center pulley. It's in storage at the moment and I should have it after the new year.

Looks like whoever owned this one knew how to keep the bit over the center hole of the table!

Nice find!

They didn't know how to keep those vise's away from the drill bits did they............................LOL

 

[jakemac]

While going through the 1949 catalog, I found a listing for the same speed reducer. This listing has both the earlier and later versions in it, and the scan is easier to read.

 

[bubinga]

wonder how hard it would be to machine/build something like that.

 

[jakemac]

One of the members here did it (or close enough, anyway). There's a post or thread about it around here somewhere.

 

[bubinga]

One of the members here did it (or close enough, anyway). There's a post or thread about it around here somewhere.

yeah, be a cool project.
Pretty sure if all goes according to plan though, going with a tread mill motor.

 

[wild cowboy]

Had to give 150, and that after bargaining down from 200

it was destined to cost you 150, because........well.......it's a 150!

 

[Cable_Hogue]

yeah, be a cool project.
Pretty sure if all goes according to plan though, going with a tread mill motor.

I've been looking at knife grinders and a few guys fabricated their own with treadmill motor setups. One of them mentioned there was a speed sensor that needs to be in some kind of proximity with the motor. You might want to look at that if you want the variable speed. Also, it's hard to drill while your walking. (sorry about that).

Personally I've been really disappointed by the quality of tools available off the shelf these days. I don't have the time or skill-set to fabricate my own for the most part, but I've come to love the idea of refurbishing these early US made tools. Both because I like old looking stuff, and because the quality is very good compared to the throw away **** on the market today.
I'm hoping there are a lot of 20/30 year olds on these forums who are interested in this too. Would give me hope for our throw away culture.

 

[Cable_Hogue]

Anyone know if the quill etc are the same between the 100 and the 150?