Craftsman drill press bandwagon, +1

[6inarow]

Ah, ****. I read this thread and then went out to the garage and took part my drill press. Thanks a lot!! (JK)

I only have one comment/question? I own a shop smith and we use paste wax to clean and lubricate the way tubes (the motor slides on these) and it works great. When I reassemble my drill press I think I am going to do the same with the upright column that the table slides on. Any reason why it wont work??

 

[reddog289]

Looks good, I doubt my freebie 15 yr old Craftsman Drill Press will ever be in the same league as this one.

 

[nine4gmc]

golden inspiration!!

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Ah, ****. I read this thread and then went out to the garage and took part my drill press. Thanks a lot!! (JK)

I only have one comment/question? I own a shop smith and we use paste wax to clean and lubricate the way tubes (the motor slides on these) and it works great. When I reassemble my drill press I think I am going to do the same with the upright column that the table slides on. Any reason why it wont work??

No reason at all why it wouldn't work. Sounds like a plan.

 

[Toolhorder]

I need to get me one now. Thanks alot!

 

[zacker01]

It depends. On some of the presses, the bearings are sealed, some of them are exposed on one side and you might able to repack those. Best bet for replacement is to yank them, see what you have and see if a bearing shop has a good match. If you can't find anything that way, I can see if my dad has the exact brand and part #s he used on the last press (he just finished one a few weeks ago) and you can try those.

Let me know, PM me if you can't find a match and I'll try to get the numbers.

I believe The bearings are sealed so you may not have to worry about them unless they are all dried up and hard to work.

 

[zacker01]

Almost there-

Except I have to take it apart again because I forgot to put in that little rubber spacer sitting on the table.

lol,lol,lol...good you can tell me where it goes.

I took my (almost the same press but mines the #80 series) apart to redo it and that was laying on the bench. where does it go?? lol

Oh, i had to get my motor off ebay and luckilly I got the right one for the press but it was a dirty, rusty mess and i couldnt save the silver center band so i painted it silver and since I did thet, I painted the rest of the motor black, replaces the bearings and put shrink tube on the old wires, put in a new cord and cleaned it up good and clean, purrs like brand new!

 

[zacker01]

I believe The bearings are sealed so you may not have to worry about them unless they are all dried up and hard to work.

I was wrong, the original bearings werent sealed...unless someone took the seal off mine. I did put new sealed bearings in it though...

 

[tcheat]

Without letting me know, my girlfriend e-mailed the guy an offer (after listening to me b*tch about this drill press for several weeks). After another five days, he took my GF's offer. My GF then texts me, "How would you feel about paying *** for that drill press?" = I picked it up that night.

Drill press looks great, but sounds like the GF is the keeper here.

 

[zacker01]

Drill press looks great, but sounds like the GF is the keeper here.

Right? lol if it were me and my wife, the story would have a different twist....

"Without me knowing it, my wife called him up and told him she would beat the two of us over the head with it if he sold it to me!' lol,lol,lol...

 

[thehazmatguy]

Drill press looks great, but sounds like the GF is the keeper here.

LOL. Yeah, she's a good one.

We were in Temecula and then San Diego last week for some time away from the heat of Phoenix. She reminded me to check San Diego's Craiglist to see if there were any tools or anything I might need. (she got a bonus point for that)

While I was checking Craigslist I mentioned that there was a mid 50's Craftsman lathe that looked interesting. Her response: "Will it fit in the car?" (= 10 bonus points)

 

[thehazmatguy]

lol,lol,lol...good you can tell me where it goes.

I took my (almost the same press but mines the #80 series) apart to redo it and that was laying on the bench. where does it go?? lol

Oh, i had to get my motor off ebay and luckilly I got the right one for the press but it was a dirty, rusty mess and i couldnt save the silver center band so i painted it silver and since I did thet, I painted the rest of the motor black, replaces the bearings and put shrink tube on the old wires, put in a new cord and cleaned it up good and clean, purrs like brand new!

At least I wasn't the only one to forget!

This rubber pad:

goes here:

 

[thehazmatguy]

I was wrong, the original bearings werent sealed...unless someone took the seal off mine. I did put new sealed bearings in it though...

All the bearings in my press were sealed.

 

[thesilverone]

excellent job!

 

[thehazmatguy]

The drill press finaly made it out to my garage. And, it's sporting a "new" accessory. When I was cleaning up the drill press I noticed a couple of small (and one large) gouge on the column. I'm sure the gouges are from stuff catching and spinning on the drill bits = hitting and gouging the column. I promised myself that I'd get a fence to keep that from happening again.

So... here it is. This is how it looked on the eBay listing:

And here it is, cleaned up and ready for duty:

I have the original (I assume original) hardware to hold the fence down but I'd prefer some kind of wing nut set up. I still haven't figured out that part yet. I've removed the paint from the mortise attachment but I'm not very motivated about painting it. I can't see myself doing any mortising but I'll keep the part around in case something comes up.

 

[930dreamer]

The resto looks great. I'm still looking for one.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Looking good.....Consider making some heavy-duty wingnuts like these, I simply welded some heavy washers to some nuts. I use them to secure my vises and jigs to the primary drill press table:

 

[zacker01]

The drill press finaly made it out to my garage. And, it's sporting a "new" accessory.


I have the original (I assume original) hardware to hold the fence down but I'd prefer some kind of wing nut set up. I still haven't figured out that part yet. I've removed the paint from the mortise attachment but I'm not very motivated about painting it. I can't see myself doing any mortising but I'll keep the part around in case something comes up.

LUCKY!!! Im in the process of looking for some of the attachments for mine. Im trying to get the collette chuck for mine but reading "The Drill Press" booklet from that era it says if you have the super hold chuck (which do) you dont need the collette chuck.. (my threaded ring is attached to the chuck and doesnt come off like the other one I think you have.) I did find and buy the planer, edge planer attachment.. cant wait to try it.

 

[zacker01]

how about useing some knobs like they use on the jigs.

 

[thehazmatguy]

I finally got my hands on a Vari-Slo! I've seen worse and I've seen better but I'm fairly happy with it overall.

I'm working part time while attending ASU and this is the week I have 3 finals. I don't have a lot of time for taking decent pictures or getting these parts fixed right away but I'd like to get this on the drillpress asap.

Here it is - I think this is how it goes together?

There are three parts that might need help. I think the Vari-Slo will work as is, and the seller said that it does work. But, I'd really like to fix it. I've talked with a couple of people I trust (John Evans on the H.A.M.B. and WWIIJeep on here) and my idea about welding the aluminum doesn't sound like a good idea. So, I can try to weld up something out of steel... given enough time, I can make it look decent. I'm thinking about having someone machine the parts out aluminum. Maybe a contact or a contact of a contact... or even someone I work with might be able to do it.

Here's the broken part with a somewhat poor fix:

Here's the part with no fix, but does seem to "work" even though it's broken at a set scew hole:

Here's a part I'm curious about - is this hole supposed to be oblong??? I wouldn't think so but I don't understand how it could be oblong or why.

And finally... the rest of it seems like it's in really decent shape.

If somebody has suggestions on replacement or repair of these parts, please chime in!



.

 

[Outlawmws]

Sorry, can't help on the Vari-slo. but you do know that fence is for use with a morticing bit? Nothing wrong with using it how you plan to, but thought you should know.

BTW the fence I use is a piece of wood with another piece glued and screwed to it's edge creating the fence riser, so I have a sacrificial piece to hack into whether it is a bit, hole saw or whatever, and it does just what you mention, keeps parts from spinning and far less likely to "catch" in any case...

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Two routes to choose from: 1) If you can get aluminum welding done, that's your best option for repair. 2) If aluminum welding isn't on the table, consider using what I would describe as a strap and pin repair. A good example are the breaks in your photos where the handle assembly is hinged to the pulley assembly. Since you have the parts that broke off, you could reset them in some epoxy to maintain the form and shape, then fab a metal strap around the exterior curve, pinned by small rods thru the strap and into the body of the part. Done with care, it wouldn't be too obtrusive. Again, a proper weld would be better. Those breaks have occurred at high stress points on your attachment.

The "ovaling" in the fitting end is something I noticed in mine too. In use, it'll cause some slop and rattle; I made a small bushing to fill it and eliminate the movement. It's probably caused by long-term wear. Unfortunately, this attachment wasn't made out of the best stuff.

Lastly, thoroughly de-goo the pulley sets. I wouldn't try to disassemble them, but do work them back and forth with some WD40 to get them to open and close smoothly.

Have you located the install instructions? They help a lot with getting it right the first time. This attachment is fun to have and use.

 

[thehazmatguy]

Two routes to choose from: 1) If you can get aluminum welding done, that's your best option for repair. 2) If aluminum welding isn't on the table, consider using what I would describe as a strap and pin repair. A good example are the breaks in your photos where the handle assembly is hinged to the pulley assembly. Since you have the parts that broke off, you could reset them in some epoxy to maintain the form and shape, then fab a metal strap around the exterior curve, pinned by small rods thru the strap and into the body of the part. Done with care, it wouldn't be too obtrusive. Again, a proper weld would be better. Those breaks have occurred at high stress points on your attachment.

The "ovaling" in the fitting end is something I noticed in mine too. In use, it'll cause some slop and rattle; I made a small bushing to fill it and eliminate the movement. It's probably caused by long-term wear. Unfortunately, this attachment wasn't made out of the best stuff.

Lastly, thoroughly de-goo the pulley sets. I wouldn't try to disassemble them, but do work them back and forth with some WD40 to get them to open and close smoothly.

Have you located the install instructions? They help a lot with getting it right the first time. This attachment is fun to have and use.

Have you seen a Vari-Slo that was succesfully welded? I've seen a few of the broken Vari-Slo reducers on eBay but never seen one repaired with a weld. I can't weld aluminum but I'm sure I can find somebody to weld it if it can be done properly. (Some might argue I can't weld steel either... )

I was wondering about the pulley set and kind of figured that's something I shouldn't mess with. The pulley bearings seem good but I'll check everything out before I give it a run on the drillpress.

Yes, I did find the install instructions on Vintage Machinery or OWWM. That was a big help, I'm bit worried about putting it together and firing it up the first time. I know these are a bit delicate and I'd hate to break it, particularly after repairing it!

The variable speed is going to be a huge bonus for me. I use the drillpress for nearly everything but as an actual drill press. I have a Craftsman bench grinder (block grinder) but it's so much easier to chuck a wire wheel or buffing wheel into the drill press. It will be nice to easily kick the speed up or down depending on what I've put in the chuck.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

My Vari-Slo is actually the best of two separate units. One had a fractured main connection between the two pulleys, and the other was missing some parts. I put mine together and parted out the rest.

The issue with these is the metal - it's really pot metal ****. Somebody would have to be good to get this right, yet not have a big booger of a weld hanging off it. The first one I obtained had been splinted across a clean break with metal plates on either side and bolts through and through. It worked just fine and was in fact hidden in the head casting and unseen.

You've definitely got a workable piece there. Making some straps around the hinge ends and splinting where necessary will get it done. Additionally, in one of your pictures it appears as if the piece between the handscrew and the speed range plate is missing. This piece is a small metal "foot" that is captured behind the handscrew end that presses against the speed range plate to lock in a speed. You can probably fabricate that out of a bit of aluminum.

As tempting as it was, I wasn't about to pull those pulleys apart....it's not that I can't, it's that there's nothing to replace broken parts with. The last time I did that I found crumbling pot metal miter gears in the gearbox of the Craftsman DP table lift assembly I paid a pretty penny for. That required the welding of new steel gears to old metal and really stretched my limited machining skills - but the lift is really nice to have.

Let me know if you need any detail photos. And, of course, the most important thing to remember is to only change speeds when it's running.

 

[zacker01]

wow... I wish I could find one of those, Im going to go with the home made route. Ill make one like someone else here did, to resemble the older version, not the better one like you have there. Nice garage set up, Esp the car... 1955?

My Gun dealer / NRA Teacher has the floor standing version of this DP in his garage, I hinted at wanting to buy it, he said he doesn't really use it but when he needs it, its good to have. Maybe I can trade him my newer Bench model with the laser on it for his older one...lol Its not like he's doing anything with it that he cant do with a newer 12" bench DP.

 

[zacker01]

It would be nicer if they made a crank lift for the head.... that f***er is heavy!! lol

Instead of loosening it to swivel it and have it accidentally slide down the pole, I loosen the set screw that holds it tight in the base and turn the whole column! lol

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Actually, you could use the crank to raise and lower the head. All you have to do is slide either the top or bottom collar up against the part you want to control the movement of, then tighten the collar on the opposite end. Turning the crank handle controls the drop of what it's under, or lifts it, depending on how you've situated it.

 

[zacker01]

Hmmm... I wonder if its strong enough though, that hunk of cast iron with a motor hanging off it sure is heavy! lol

 

[fordbroncodave]

I got a craftsman 100 at an auction a while ago for $130. it had the 3rd speed pulley and original papers that came with the press.

so far I have not had to do a single thing to it. even has the original belts on it

 

[zacker01]

Sweet... That's a nice find for sure!
so its got just the third pulley that has the mount that sits in the top of the Column? you wouldn't happen to know the od of that mount would you?