I lubed it while still assembled when I first got it. I may disassemble it one day and see if I can quiet the thing down with a cleaning. Fooling around with all that pot metal isn't one of my favorite things.JoCo, have you disassembled and relubed the Varislo? Or just running it as found?
The only one I have ever seen in person was noisy and all the ones I have seen operating on line are noisy as well! I think it is most likely a design characteristic but I wish you luck in quieting it down! If anyone can find a way it's you !I lubed it while still assembled when I first got it. I may disassemble it one day and see if I can quiet the thing down with a cleaning. Fooling around with all that pot metal isn't one of my favorite things.
Yes, I was so busy answering the question I failed to bring up how much eye candy is in that picture, including that articulated Heritage logo lamp. Nice setup there.
Man's gotta know when he posts on GJ, every nook and cranny of that picture is going to be dissected and guys will find every last tool in that frame even if there's only 5% of the tool visible lol.
The real gem in this photo is what is hanging on the wall...so rare! You also on fb craftsman collectors page by chance ?Thanks Hoorn. I have a small collection of mostly mid 1950s craftsman. I either completely restore or just repair everything back into usable condition.
I like charcoal grey well enough as a color. But, then again I am never trying to "match" any colors.I may have missed it somewhere in these 4806 posts, but has anyone found a color match for the later Emerson, Crown logo 100/150 drill press? The colors I‘ve tried are too light including the Rust-Oleum Charcoal Gray (gloss & satin). This original finish seems to have a little dark green in it. Thanks!
Hello, this was listed on the very first page on post #1 which was an index. I am not sure why that index went away but can you perhaps get a set of vise grips on the bolts on the inside of the head and start to twist it out ?I somehow might just be missing it, but ever since the garage journal updated its format I can't seem to find the page in this thread that listed assembly/disassembly for each component. I have my entire press apart minus the spindle pulley. It is still in the head, as the screws are bent and won't unscrew from the head. I haven't stripped them yet, but I know they won't come out on their own. I thought I remembered this thread mentioning a few ways to deal with them, but I can't seem to find the section dealing with the spindle pulley removal.
Is that the reason he left the forum? Garage Journal upgraded software he didn't like?Lastly, yes Frank’s thread did have an index on page one but when GJ updated the software, the links were broken, and Frank tied to fix many of them but eventually opted to not do so. Most of everything in this thread is still here but you will now need to search for it. It will not be fixed anytime soon.
Thanks for the info. Truth of the matter is it is none of my business why anyone participates in a forum or chooses to leave. Your post seemed to indicate something so I asked.subroc, that is something you will need to discuss with him. I am not here to speak for Frank. I was attempting to address the question and all I can say is that the links in this thread were broken and will not be fixed anytime soon.
Man, I hope so as well. I have his cell number from back when he spent half an hour on the phone with me to help me figure out a problem on my spindle bracket. I might send him a message just to let him know he is missed. Top notch guy!I'm hoping its just a break. Frank is a great guy and contributor.
rg17, is it off the column yet? Or are you asking how to get it off and maintain it?I am getting ready to put together my Buffalo 15 with an Atlas table lift which I picked up a while back. What is the best procedure to make sure I treat the lift well and don’t end up breaking it. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I am currently cleaning the post up as it is a bit rusty and grimey. The lift went up and down fairly well on the machine it came off of.
Thank you very much for the excellent reply. I took it off, but the post was a bit grimey and nothing moved too freely. After cleaning up the post it cranked fairly smoothly and I actually took it and the table off by using the cranking ability of the lift. Would you still consider taking it apart or leave it alone? Have you noticed a significant difference in performance with the thrust washer relocated? Is there a gasket or any sealant required on the cover?rg17, is it off the column yet? Or are you asking how to get it off and maintain it?
I have found the following to work for the Atlas lifts I was lucky enough to get. Once the headframe is off, lock the bottom lift collar, and unlock the top. If it easily turns, rotate the handle so that the top collar assembly rises up and once the screw clears the bottom collar, lift it off the column. Then remove the table, then the bottom collar.
If it does not turn freely, remove the four bolts on the upper gearbox and expose the gearbox. You may find 50 years of sawdust, grime and dried grease inside that needs cleaning and then get enough fresh grease, or PB blaster on the gears so that it will freely turn. To be able to then crank it up and off the bottom collar, you will then have to reassemble the gearbox so that the handle and newly cleaned handle gear will re-engage the threaded post gear.
The first attached pic was from a 1940s Atlas made DP I bought with the attached head and table lift. The gears were frozen and opening the gear box showed 70 year old rock hard grease. I used a small pick, and simple green to remove the gunk so that it would turn and could be removed. The second pic shows how I greased up the gears once it was cleaned and going back on.
Frank had a very insightful observation about the thrust bearing you see riding atop the gear box in pics 3 and 4. The lift is actually a "head and table" lift, although most people use it exclusively to move the table up and down and not the head. Because of this, if you plan on primarily lifting only the table up and down, once you have it all apart and begin reassembly, put the thrust bearing on top as it will absorb the weight of the table as you lift it up and down. It's original location inside the gearbox (as shown in pic #1) was to absorb the weight of the entire head frame, motor, spindle assembly, etc. Finally, the 2 lock nuts on top should not be cinched down hard onto the thrust bearing but rather riding on top to allowing ease of turning. They should only be locked onto each other. You see that I have an acorn nut on top instead of the original lock nut. That's because this is easier to turn on and off, and because Frank had one, and because it looks cool.
Last picture is the entire Atlas head and table lift, with all the parts visible, the paint is the original color.
Remember to lightly apply super lube or similar along the threads and all points of friction. I used Lucas red and tacky anti-seize grease for the actual gears. Good luck!
I would absolutely take it apart and remove all the crud from the gears and repack with fresh grease. As for performance, you will notice a significant improvement in the turning ability once everything is freshly cleaned and lubricated. There is no sealant or gasket nor is one required.Thank you very much for the excellent reply. I took it off, but the post was a bit grimey and nothing moved too freely. After cleaning up the post it cranked fairly smoothly and I actually took it and the table off by using the cranking ability of the lift. Would you still consider taking it apart or leave it alone? Have you noticed a significant difference in performance with the thrust washer relocated? Is there a gasket or any sealant required on the cover?
Thank you for your help!
Thank you for the paint recommendation. It’s a close enough match. Probably need to hit it with some satin to take off a little shine, but color wise it’s close. While mine won’t be museum quality, it will serve me well and look good doing it.DwightS check out my 113 rebuild. I came fairly close to a match with a spray paint. Perhaps Hoorn or someone else has a closer match.
For anyone interested, here is the head and I have painted the top ½ (red circle) with the Krylon Industrial Tough Coat Rust Preventative Spray Paint in Gloss Machinery Blue/Gray, the bottom ½ (yellow circle) is the original Craftsman Gray paint. As you can see, the Krylon is glossier but otherwise it’s a very near color match. For spray paint that is incredible.
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11b30b4's Craftsman 113.213780 15.5" Drill Press (Emerson Gen-4) Rebuild
Craftsman Drill Press 113.213780 Rebuild Greetings everyone, I am Jeff and I am from Georgia. I joined this forum to share what I can and to learn from yall and to get help with the stuff I work on and play with. Currently, I am rebuilding a Craftsman 113.213780 floor Drill Press. I got this...www.garagejournal.com