Craftsman Drill Press 101-03622 Circa 1940

[Sawdustmaker]

Attached are several photos of the drill press that belonged to my father, who bought it new about 1940. He gave it to me in 1970. I've attached a few photos. My question concerns the front On/Off switch. It has never worked as there is an on/off switch on the motor (original). When I asked my about this he just said "Use the switch on the motor". Never gave an explanation (He died in 1977). Is there a way to make this from switch operational? Does the switch on the motor override this switch? I have the instructions for the drill press, but they don't seem to address this issue. Ideas? Hints? I am planning a clean up/rebuild/restore of the machine in the future.

 

[pstemari]

The switch on the motor base was a pretty standard feature on old Craftsman motors. It should be fairly trivial to run some SOOW cable from the drill press switch to the motor and wire it in place of the switch on the motor.

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[bubinga]

The switch on the motor base was a pretty standard feature on old Craftsman motors. It should be fairly trivial to run some SOOW cable from the drill press switch to the motor and wire it in place of the switch on the motor.

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And just leave the switch on the motor "ON" at all times.
Split the Hot wire going TO the motor, and run two wires, one from each end of the split wire, to the switch in the casting.
Make sure you're using a 3 wire, that includes a ground.

 

[jakemac]

I have the same model as you, same year.
My grandfather bought it used in the late 50's from a man he described as "an old man".
I'm the third owner.

On mine, both the switch on the motor and on the DP need to be in the ON position for the drill to run. (at some point someone added a reversing switch to the motor as well, but I don't know how it was wired)

The simplest way to wire the switch would be to interrupt one of the leads on the motor switch and run it through the switch on the DP. That way if either switch is in the OFF position, the DP will not run. Leave the switch on the motor in the ON position, and you can use the switch on the side to operate the drill.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Thank you pstemari, bubinga and jakemac for the advice. Will get some SOOW cord and give it a good. 16ga on the SOOW cord, right?
Thanks again.

 

[jakemac]

For that short a run, 16ga should be fine. I tend to err on the side of caution and use 14ga, but I wouldn't quibble.

 

[bubinga]

For that short a run, 16ga should be fine. I tend to err on the side of caution and use 14ga, but I wouldn't quibble.

I6 should be OK.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

For that short a run, 16ga should be fine. I tend to err on the side of caution and use 14ga, but I wouldn't quibble.

Good point, 14ga it is.

 

[bubinga]

Good point, 14ga it is.

Aww, I said 16 would be ok....................................
LOL...........Kidding, either is fine.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Aww, I said 16 would be ok....................................
LOL...........Kidding, either is fine.

I tend to "over build" also.
Pulled out the front switch today to see what was there. It apparently had been hooked up at one time. There were cut wires on the terminals. I imagine once I take this drill press apart (again!) I'll figure out where to run the wire.
I like your sense of humor, kind of like mine.

 

[bubinga]

I imagine once I take this drill press apart (again!) I'll figure out where to run the wire.
I like your sense of humor, kind of like mine.

.. That's Funny.............(People don't "get me" a lot of times.)
Just "break" the Hot wire, before or right where you hot wire goes into the motor.
One end (wire) of the switch to the hot wire that goes to the plug side.
and the other switch wire to the hot "motor side"
Hard to go wrong really.
Of course be sure to use a 3 prong with ground, and run the ground to the motor case. May want to "bridge" the motor case to the Drill casting too.

EDIT,
Oh, You Probably meant "How You Want To Route It"

 

[Sawdustmaker]

.. That's Funny.............(People don't "get me" a lot of times.)
Just "break" the Hot wire, before or right where you hot wire goes into the motor.
One end (wire) of the switch to the hot wire that goes to the plug side.
and the other switch wire to the hot "motor side"
Hard to go wrong really.
Of course be sure to use a 3 prong with ground, and run the ground to the motor case. May want to "bridge" the motor case to the Drill casting too.

EDIT,
Oh, You Probably meant "How You Want To Route It"

That is exactly what I am going to do with the hot wire. Just like almost any switch. Probably route it through the body of the DP. I'm guessing I will pull the motor to get better access. I put a 3 prong plug/wire to the motor several years ago. Thanks for the tip on grounding.