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Craftsman 150 Drill Press Weight

Bull

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How much does one of these, circa 1950s or 1960s, weigh? I saw one thread on here where a member said he estimated his weighed 400 lbs, and then my plan of just sort of heaving it into the back of my pickup sounded silly.
 
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Willymutt

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I just picked up a benchtop model and it took 2 of us to move it into my pickup. They are damn heavy.
 

WhoWhatNow

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It's not that heavy. My buddy and I lifted mine into the back of his 4Runner. It is top heavy so be careful. If you can remove the motor it makes moving it much easier.
 
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Bull

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This is a floor model, supposedly 3/4 HP motor.

Reading through the old threads on here I now see that I have to become MacGyver if I want to slow it down enough to drill metal, which is of course what a car guy would want to drill!
 

bluebolt

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150 drill press shipping weights from 1963 catalog

Bench without motor 135 lbs
with motor 159 lbs

Floor without motor 172 pounds
with motor 196

I have loaded and unloaded them by myself several times. Remove the motor, tip it over so the head rests in vehicle. Putting it on a piece of plywood helps then pickup base and slide it in.
 

bluebolt

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This is a floor model, supposedly 3/4 HP motor.

Reading through the old threads on here I now see that I have to become MacGyver if I want to slow it down enough to drill metal, which is of course what a car guy would want to drill!

Unless you get lucky like me and find one of the Craftsman variable speed motors, 500 to 5000 RPM and reverse as well. I have two, one came with my cherry 150 bench top which got changed to a floor model using a base and pole from a junky 150 plus I have a second slotted worktable fitted onto it from a 1970's drill press. Can slow it down to about 187 spindle RPM. Only down side is if you run it a long time it will pop the motors breaker and you have to let it cool down. The second motor is going on my bench top earlier press.
 

Big-Foot

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I've moved my Craftsman floor model myself numerous times and I would have estimated the weight to be around 175 but see now it's closer to 200..

Maybe that's why I've had 6 hernias? :eyecrazy:
 
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Bull

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Unless you get lucky like me and find one of the Craftsman variable speed motors, 500 to 5000 RPM and reverse as well. I have two, one came with my cherry 150 bench top which got changed to a floor model using a base and pole from a junky 150 plus I have a second slotted worktable fitted onto it from a 1970's drill press. Can slow it down to about 187 spindle RPM. Only down side is if you run it a long time it will pop the motors breaker and you have to let it cool down. The second motor is going on my bench top earlier press.

There are a couple/few guys on here who have done some homemade stuff to slow their 150s down. That's the route I'd need to go, I guess.

For $60, I don't think I can pass up the press even if it needs modifications.
 

zkling

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Pull remove the belt, remove the motor and then remove the head from the column. Then it easily becomes a one man job. ~200lbs full dressed sounds about right.

I wouldn't worry about minimum speed. Most good manufactures back in the day limited the low speed of their presses to act as a fuse to prevent operators from using too large of a bit. If the machine wouldn't run slow enough, move up to a larger machine. Simple as that. Sadly many manufactures (primarily off shore) will include the low speeds because people think they need them.
 
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Bull

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Well, do you need a low speed to drill holes in metal, as might be required by an all-thumbs weekend car hack such as myself?
 

zkling

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Well, do you need a low speed to drill holes in metal, as might be required by an all-thumbs weekend car hack such as myself?

Speed is dependent on material type AND tool diameter. Most drill presses in that class were designed to safety put a 1/2" MAX twist drill bit through mild steel. Which should be ~450 RPM. Same drill bit in aluminum should run ~1500 RPM The issues is when guys try to put a 1" bit in a bench top size drill press.

Proper feeds and speeds is truly the way to go.
 

jtbinvalrico

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Less than 200 lbs.

Loosen table, drop it on top of the base. Loosen head stock, drop it on top of the table. Center of gravity is now low and easily moved in a pickup.

Unless it's a rusted heap like the ones I rebuilt......then lay it on its side.

:beer:
 
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Outlawmws

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Look for my thread on using a treadmill motor Bull, it's GREAT! (Sorry, I still have not recovered my book marks; not sure I can...)

If yours has the intermediate pulley set (gets you to 16 speeds) you are good to go.

You can find one of the 1150 (or so) RPM motors also.

Basic drill speed chart for reference:

"
Mr-Skill-Drill-Speed-Chart-Metals.jpg
"
 

fordbroncodave

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Its an awkward kind of heavy. I would say like 150 pounds maybe. I walked mine on the base and tipped it over on the down tailgate
 

1982fxr

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Depending on how rusty the column is you may not be able to move the table or headstock very easily or even at all. I live in Phoenix and the ones I've bought so far needed to be hauled home as they were. The columns were too rusty to even get the headstock off without spraying lube, waiting days, getting in there with a wire wheel, etc.

Just my experience, and this is a supposed rust free-zone, lol:thumbup:
 

redintex

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There are a couple/few guys on here who have done some homemade stuff to slow their 150s down. That's the route I'd need to go, I guess.

For $60, I don't think I can pass up the press even if it needs modifications.

For $60, it would be worth the 6 hernias!!! :lol:

I can't wait to find one in this neck of the woods...

Good find! Definitely want pics when you get it home!
 

Outlawmws

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Per this instruction manual for a Craftsman 150 drill press, with a 1750rpm motor you should be able to run the drill press down to 610rpm. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/2785.pdf

That only gets you up to a 1/4 or 5/16 dia hole in steels...

You really need to get the speeds down for up to a 1/2" hole or you will just burn up drill bits. I do a fair amount of fabrications and use metal cutting hole saws and then you REALLY need the speeds down...

Most 4/5 speed DPs are for wood working, and maybe soft metal like aluminum/Brass...

The good news is it's not difficult to get a DP to go slower...
 
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Bull

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Well, I got the press. The fellow had a few other interested parties but honored my "I'll take it" since I contacted him first and was ready to pick it up this morning. Funny thing is that while I have been looking for one of these floor model Craftsman alien-head presses for a while now, I saw this one last night during a brief "why the heck not" review of new ads on CL.

I'll get some pictures up tonight. I've never had a drill press of any kind before! I'm excited because I saw some videos on Youtube where a guy mounted different kinds of wire cups and brushes in his DP to clean up all kinds of parts. That's a use I had not even realized.
 
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Bull

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Well, I got the press. The fellow had a few other interested parties but honored my "I'll take it" since I contacted him first and was ready to pick it up this morning. Funny thing is that while I have been looking for one of these floor model Craftsman alien-head presses for a while now, I saw this one last night during a brief "why the heck not" review of new ads on CL.

I'll get some pictures up tonight. I've never had a drill press of any kind before! I'm excited because I saw some videos on Youtube where a guy mounted different kinds of wire cups and brushes in his DP to clean up all kinds of parts. That's a use I had not even realized.
 

1982fxr

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now that you have one, others will magically appear and you will have to buy those ones too. Got my 1st DP, also a Cman alien headed 150, about a year ago. I now have 5 Dp's, and was barely able to pass on 2 or 3 more in the last couple months. Don't let anyone tell you it's not a disease, Bull!
 

CNGsaves

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Where are those pics Bull . . ??

No doubt it's a score for $60 . . .but no YS award without pics. ;)
 
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Bull

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Where are those pics Bull . . ??

No doubt it's a score for $60 . . .but no YS award without pics. ;)

Darn, this dropped off my radar! The press is sitting next to my bench. I'll try and snap some pics tomorrow. I don;t even know how to use the thing yet! Haven't had any time to play with it.
 
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