Craftsman Drill Press

[FrankLee]

Just got a Craftsman drill press (and table saw) from my uncle as he doesn't use it much anymore. He bought it new in the 50's, and wanted it to go to someone in the family who would appreciate/use it.

Also, because your drill press is a 100, painted gray and has a non-tilting table, I believe it is a 1956 model 103.24820 or 24821.

The tilting table was last offered in the 1955 catalog as a standard feature. The 15-1/2" drill presses were painted power bronze (gold) starting in 1957, the same year as Craftsman Tool's 30th anniversary. The 150 was introduced in 1958.

Usually, the age of these drill presses can only be narrowed to a range of years.

 

[FrankLee]

Just got a Craftsman drill press (and table saw) from my uncle as he doesn't use it much anymore. He bought it new in the 50's, and wanted it to go to someone in the family who would appreciate/use it.

John, What's up with the feed stop bracket? It doesn't look original. Perhaps a mortise attachment that was cut off?

 

[454ragtop]

Thanks to Frank's tip on the bearing list, I found a couple motor bearings on Ebay and replaced them. Motor runs smooth and quiet now, old bearings were toast. Motor is shown on my motor assembly fixture (Delta 17" DP pulley which was broken into 2 pieces and someone actually epoxied it back together) on my Craftsman 100 assembly bench (CM 100 table saw I found on the side of the road with a "free" sign).

 

[FrankLee]

Thanks to Frank's tip on the bearing list, I found a couple motor bearings on Ebay and replaced them. Motor runs smooth and quiet now, old bearings were toast. Motor is shown on my motor assembly fixture (Delta 17" DP pulley which was broken into 2 pieces and someone actually epoxied it back together) on my Craftsman 100 assembly bench (CM 100 table saw I found on the side of the road with a "free" sign).

Nice repurposing!

 

[FrankLee]

dp#34

I finished dp#34 and delivered it today. The new owner is renowned for high-quality restoration and preparation of historic, street, show, and racing vehicles and specializes in Alfa Romeo. He needed a new drill press to replace his fubar import.

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[FrankLee]

Foot Switches

Foot Switches

You may have noticed the foot switch in the post above. I recently discovered these very nice Linemaster Clipper #632-S and #632-SC3 foot switches with guard. Prices are all over on ebay, but I did buy several for very reasonable prices. They can come equipped with a piggy-back cord/plug, but I wired this one through a handy-box with an outlet. One side of the outlet is always hot, for a lamp perhaps, and the other side is controlled with the foot switch. Works great!

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I really like the Hougen-Ogura foot switch on my Craftsman 100 drill press. Foot switches are safer and much more convenient than the switch on the motor. Still, caution must be exercised when using them as well.

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[ndfan6464]

You may have noticed the foot switch in the post above. I really like the foot switch on my Craftsman 100 drill press. It's safer and much more convenient than the switch on the motor.

I recently discovered these very nice Clipper foot switches. Prices are all over on ebay, but I did buy several for very reasonable prices. I wired it through a handy-box with an outlet. One side of the outlet is always hot and the other side is controlled with the foot switch. Works great!

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I'd have to completely agree with Frank. All my presses are foot switch wired. Love not having to reach around the machine to start and stop it, especially if something bad happens, knock on wood. Although mine are not newer foot pedals like the one in the picture.

 

[Cruzan80]

Re: The Classic Craftsman 100/150 Drill Press

Why the light blue base on the DP? Customer request? Thinking of starting a new thread with question about foot switches (specifically vintage looking ones for older equipment).

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[FrankLee]

Re: The Classic Craftsman 100/150 Drill Press

Why the light blue base on the DP? Customer request?

No. It's actually Easy Living Slate Gray which is darker than Rustoleum Dark Machine Gray. The cap looked like a good match, but nope. It definitely needed new paint tho.

 

[ururk]

John, What's up with the feed stop bracket? It doesn't look original. Perhaps a mortise attachment that was cut off?

I don't know, I'll take a look at it tonight and take closer pictures. He had an engineering/mfg company, and likely modified it at some point since. On the table saw, he didn't want to spend the money for a second cast iron table wing, so welded up one himself.

I don't (yet) have the original manuals - I found some online but have not had a chance to do a thorough parts comparison, still working on my shop project so my attention has been elsewhere.

 

[ururk]

Re: Cleaning Bare Metal Surfaces

That's a beautiful machine! I like the family history too.

Like Cruzan said, it's a 100. Here's a link to help identify other classic Craftsman drill presses.

Thanks for the tips on the bed, will give it a shot!

 

[FrankLee]

Walker-Turner DP900 Drill Press

Maybe I should have started a new thread, but today's find is this Walker-Turner drill press, dp#36, with a very unusual production table mount with integrated head frame lift. Only one other like it is pictured on VM. I believe it's a model DP900. It also has a very nice Craftsman drill press table that just needs a cleaning.

The massive Century motor is a 3/4 HP RI single phase with 3/4" single shaft. I asked the seller just to cut the wires so I could remove the motor. Instead of cutting the cord wires, he cut the motor wires flush with the case; sigh. Now I need to figure out what's what.

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[Outlawmws]

That's an Awesome cool DP Frank! It would be cool to have it plugged into a VFD to get better speed control for it and see it back in action! I kind of like the head lift so the table could be placed at a good height for working with. Seems like I'm always high or low depending on the part/vise stack and drill length. (Which is why I should get back to my big Canedy-Otto, as it is table and head lift capable.. I bought the parts to "activate" the head, but it's a pile of parts awaiting time, as is the small C-O bench top camel back...)

 

[FrankLee]

Walker-Turner DP900 Drill Press

That's an Awesome cool DP Frank!

Yeah, it's pretty cool. I got it dismantled this morning, but the learning curve was high. It took a while to figure out whether I was doing it incorrectly or the parts were just stuck... mostly just stuck.


Not all 2¾" columns are the same

With this W-T, I confirmed that not all 2-3/4" columns are the same. This W-T had a Craftsman table. It was installed at the bottom of this column, but only the top ring and lock were on the column. The bottom ring was hanging off the bottom and removing the table was rather difficult.

This is the third ~15" dp I've had that was not King-Seeley or Emerson Electric. The first was Atlas branded, the second was an Atlas-Craftsman. Long ago, I tried installing Craftsman components onto the Atlas 40" column... no go. The base, table and head frame were all too tight on the column.

Here are the diameters of all the columns I have at the moment:

• 2.7465 - Atlas/Craftsman
• 2.7465 - W-T
• 2.7470 - Atlas

King-Seeley/Emerson:

• 2.7385
• 2.7395
• 2.7410
• 2.7410
• 2.7410
• 2.7415
• 2.7435
• 2.7435

So, there is a definite difference in 2-3/4" columns between brands and not all can be swapped.

 

[compunaut]

Anyone have any info about this drill press? It doesn't look very old, but it has a crown-style Craftsman logo

 

[Outlawmws]

Low end hobby DP. Very probably an early import.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Ok, which one of you jerk faces just sniped me on eBay . I was winning a varislow assembly auction up until the last second and the got outbid by $1 [emoji36] I needed the control head for my varislow that is missing it's controller. It went for a total of $76...


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[FrankLee]

Ok, which one of you jerk faces just sniped me on eBay . I was winning a varislow assembly auction up until the last second and the got outbid by $1 [emoji36] I needed the control head for my varislow that is missing it's controller. It went for a total of $76...

Well, I can be a jerk face sometimes, but you know it wasn't me. I was rooting for you and thought you had it in the bag.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Re: The Classic Craftsman 100/150 Drill Press

I literally got sniped with 1 second left so I know someone was using bidding software ... Hope it was someone on here and not just a flipper !


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[FrankLee]

dp#37, dp#38

I'm just finishing up a very busy week.

The new owner of dp#32 wanted a grinder stand so I turned him on to the drill press base/column/table set-up. The set below was from dp#33 and had a thick, stubbornly stuck layer of dried cutting oil with bits of metal shavings embedded. It was a pita to clean up, but turned out well. I'll deliver this and bolt down his grinder tomorrow.

\/-------------- delivered 9/25 -------------\/​

............................... ​

This morning, I picked up this Atlas/Craftsman drill press dp#37 (Macomb). There's no information tag on it, but I highly suspect that it's a 101.03662. I've only seen one other pictured on VM which is surprising because this model was available from 1938 to 1943, and perhaps longer.

The press itself is in sad shape... missing spring assembly, missing original switch, table was not original, repainted, etc. But that belt cover is awesome! Rare, not cracked, not broken.

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Then, I just got home from a long drive to fetch this third-gen Emerson, skinny-belt Craftsman dp#38 (Westland). It's a model 113.24580. I'm not crazy about this model, but the Pressmate lift and aux table options made it well worth the trip. Several parts are still downward compatible to the classic Craftsman drill press.

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The seller also let me pick out some very nice extras.

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[Cruzan80]

Re: The Classic Craftsman 100/150 Drill Press

Frank, I have a Companion/Dunlap branded Atlas that is a parts machine. Let me know if you need something. That belt cover looks AWESOME!

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[FrankLee]

Re: The Classic Craftsman 100/150 Drill Press

Frank, I have a Companion/Dunlap branded Atlas that is a parts machine. Let me know if you need something. That belt cover looks AWESOME!

Thanks for the offer. I still have to verify the condition of the belt cover. I'm not sure what I'll do yet, but I'm leaning the other way.

 

[mercman1951]

Here is my before and after on mine. I have about $60 into it. Still need to come up with a motor and the headband. Pretty happy with it.

 

[smalltown]

mercman1951 is that a model 100 ?

 

[mercman1951]

Yes.

 

[smalltown]

Thanks mercman I have yet to tear into my 100 so it's good for somebody like me to see what things look like before hand.

 

[mercman1951]

Thanks, I love before and after shots.

 

[FrankLee]

Here is my before and after on mine. I have about $60 into it. Still need to come up with a motor and the headband. Pretty happy with it.

Beautiful! I never tire seeing the excellent work done with these classic machines!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here is my before and after on mine. I have about $60 into it. Still need to come up with a motor and the headband. Pretty happy with it.

Very nice progress ! There are headbands on eBay but they are not super cheap... You can also do what franklee did and make your own !


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[mercman1951]

Thank you. I was missing the badge, headband, and serial number plate. I got excited when I found a headband and badge together on eBay and immediately bought them...but my excitement was short lived. While the badge was correct, the headband was for a smaller model and was about 2 inches short on each side...so if anyone needs one for a model 80, I have a nice used one.

Very nice progress ! There are headbands on eBay but they are not super cheap... You can also do what franklee did and make your own !


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[mercman1951]

Beautiful! I never tire seeing the excellent work done with these classic machines!

Thanks Frank!

 

[Rushton]

Question about using sanding drums in a drill press...

When I bought my model 150 drill press, the previous owner tossed in a box of sanding drums that he had used mounted in the drill chuck. I've always heard that putting side thrust pressure like this was not a good idea because the bearings weren't designed to take a load in this direction. The previous owner apparently did light duty sanding with this press for 30+ years and the bearings seemed in good shape when I stripped the machine down and reassembled it. Still, I'm hesitant to do this again. What recommendations are there about this?

Thanks,
Rush

 

[Rushton]

Here is my before and after on mine. I have about $60 into it. Still need to come up with a motor and the headband. Pretty happy with it.

Very nice, mercman! Thanks for posting the photos - love seeing 'em.

 

[FrankLee]

Question about using sanding drums in a drill press...

When I bought my model 150 drill press, the previous owner tossed in a box of sanding drums that he had used mounted in the drill chuck. I've always heard that putting side thrust pressure like this was not a good idea because the bearings weren't designed to take a load in this direction. The previous owner apparently did light duty sanding with this press for 30+ years and the bearings seemed in good shape when I stripped the machine down and reassembled it. Still, I'm hesitant to do this again. What recommendations are there about this?

Thanks,
Rush

Craftsman sold router, shaper, dove-tail and drum sander accessories for drill presses. You should be fine. Moderation is the key. I have several drum sanders and use them in my drill press occasionally.

 

[Rushton]

Thanks, Frank. Memo to self: moderation, moderation, moderation...

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Found a Craftsman King Seeley today with the ever elusive slow speed pulley. Motor isn't orignal but the rest is all there should clean up pretty nice. Of course it sideways pic because I hate this SOB computer sometimes

 

[FrankLee]

Found a Craftsman King Seeley today with the ever elusive slow speed pulley. Motor isn't orignal but the rest is all there should clean up pretty nice. Of course it sideways pic because I hate this SOB computer sometimes

Another diamond in the rough! Looking forward to seeing it reconditioned.

 

[FrankLee]

Necessity is the mother of invention

Drive Screw/Panel Screw Remover Tool

On most of these vintage machines, there are badges attached to cast iron components with drive screws/panel screws. When refurbishing machines, I want to remove the badges. Many times, these panel screws are in locations that are inaccessible.

Here is another simple tool I made to quickly and safely remove panel screws from otherwise inaccessible locations inside cast iron pieces. Obviously it will not work when panel screws are in blind holes.

 

[Outlawmws]

Well done on the removal tool Frank!

 

[Cruzan80]

Re: The Classic Craftsman 100/150 Drill Press

Newest find. Heavy duty 100, motor dated 4/47. Very dirty, but seems to be in nice shape under all that. Only thing missing is one of the feed handles broke off inside, but should be easy to make a new one. This thing is Stout! Probably going to swap this in for my late model 150.

Anyone have a motor dated earlier than 4/47? I know the 48 catalog was the first produced post-war. Thinking this thing had to be near the start of ramping back up production.

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