Craftsman Drill Press

[Trev84]

Hi everyone,
New to the forum, a coworker told me about this place today, and from what I've seen there is a wealth of knowledge here. I'm hoping there may be someone that can tell me about this drill press. It needs to be cleaned up a little, but runs great. I it's a craftsman 100, but I'm not really sure. It was given to me by a friend that moved and didn't have space in his new garage. Any tips on cleanup? Not sure if it would be worth disassembling it completely or not. Would also like to find parts for the x y axis mill mounted to the table.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

 

[CKS1955]

Search FrankLee's post he is the front runner with regards to these drill presses. He has rebuilt many of these drill presses.

Jay

 

[Rileysan]

Wonderful drill press. These a very popular and there are many write-ups on rebuilding or enhancing them.

Can you post a close-up of the XY vise? If it's what I think it is, it's worth quite a bit of $$ - twice as much as the drill press, in fact.

Cheers!

Brian

 

[Inky Ford]

Don't paint it, just clean it up. It's remarkable what a little elbow grease can do.

 

[Trev84]

Wonderful drill press. These a very popular and there are many write-ups on rebuilding or enhancing them.

Can you post a close-up of the XY vise? If it's what I think it is, it's worth quite a bit of $$ - twice as much as the drill press, in fact.

Cheers!

Brian

Sure! I've looked it over and haven't found any markings. The left to right adjustment is a little stubborn but it seems to work well. The top measures 7 1/16" by 7 1/16".

 

[Trev84]

Here's another

 

[Rileysan]

Sure! I've looked it over and haven't found any markings. The left to right adjustment is a little stubborn but it seems to work well. The top measures 7 1/16" by 7 1/16".

Your XY table appears to be Craftsman/Atlas of similar vintage to your DP. The only one listed on eBay right now is priced at $300.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-Craft...684264?hash=item36073d2f28:g:vCoAAOSwIgNXsh1T

If yours is in good shape, it's worth every bit of $300. Now you need the appropriate vise blocks to go with it.

Here's a post on GJ showing another one. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236832

Brian

 

[rsanter]

If it was me I would blow it off, then hit it with windex and a rag to clean it up.
From there you can start to try to clean up some of the rusted surface areas a little.

I am not much of a tool restorer so I say clean it up and put it to work verses taking it apart to paint it all up

Bob

 

[Rileysan]

If it was me I would blow it off, then hit it with windex and a rag to clean it up.

Bob

I don't suppose your of Greek heritage, are you?

 

[FrankLee]

... I it's a craftsman 100, but I'm not really sure. ...
Any tips on cleanup? Not sure if it would be worth disassembling it completely or not. ...

Welcome!

Yes, it's a 100. The picture is blurry but it appears the chuck has no safety collar. If no collar, it was made before 1952.

It is definitely worth taking it apart, cleaning, lubing, and reassembling. Whether it needs repainting will be a judgement call after some exterior cleaning.

New bearings would also be a judgement call. I've re-used bearings or cleaned and repacked bearings on several DPs and motors.

 

[Trev84]

Thank you all for the information and replies. I don't believe the motor is original. My friend got this when his dad passed away, and he thinks his dad changed it. I think it was well taken care of but just not used for the last 20 years. It runs remarkably smoothly, so my uneducated guess is that the bearings are ok. It does need cleanup and lubing everything definitely won't hurt. The only problem I've found is that it doesn't return to the top position when you release the handle. That being said though it doesn't just drop down if you're not pushing it down either. The table is difficult to move but it will if I work at it. I'd say all in all it isn't bad for a free DP!!

 

[Rileysan]

Thank you all for the information and replies. I don't believe the motor is original. My friend got this when his dad passed away, and he thinks his dad changed it. I think it was well taken care of but just not used for the last 20 years. It runs remarkably smoothly, so my uneducated guess is that the bearings are ok. It does need cleanup and lubing everything definitely won't hurt. The only problem I've found is that it doesn't return to the top position when you release the handle. That being said though it doesn't just drop down if you're not pushing it down either. The table is difficult to move but it will if I work at it. I'd say all in all it isn't bad for a free DP!!

You will be the envy of many members here for not only receiving a great drill press for free, but for receiving a classic Craftsman DP. Hope you stick around and post more pix!

As far as lubrication, you can never go wrong with WD-40 or equivalent product but you never know what's causing the head to stick (rust, old grease, dirt). If that doesn't work, you'll need to take it apart, clean it, and polish it up with emery cloth. It should only be lubricated with light weight oil and not grease.

Brian

 

[CKS1955]

I'll take the xy table off your hands ;~)

I prefer Johnson paste wax for lubrication & protection.

Jay

 

[Trev84]

This is probably going to be a fall or winter project. I have a 7 month old so my time has been pretty tight. Thanks for the insights! I'll post my progress as I go.

 

[Rileysan]

This is probably going to be a fall or winter project. I have a 7 month old so my time has been pretty tight. Thanks for the insights! I'll post my progress as I go.

Please keep us posted and best of luck with the (soon-to-be) toddler. Your time is going to be very limited. Welcome to GJ!

Brian

 

[WWShop]

Welcome and please keep up with the pics when you can. Restoration threads are my favorite on GJ.

 

[FadedGray]

Nice score for free! All I get for free is the neighbors dog ****.

 

[Trev84]

This is probably going to be a fall or winter project. I have a 7 month old so my time has been pretty tight. Thanks for the insights! I'll post my progress as I go.

I’m quoting myself because this “fall or winter project” only took 3 1/2 years to do! My 7 month old is now 4, and I have an 8 month old on top of that...wow things change. Every time I went into my shop I wanted to fix the old DP up, and I finally did! Not sure who all lurks here, but I think I owe FrankLee a debt of gratitude. There’s no way I would have felt confident doing this if it weren’t for his write ups! She’s not a perfect restoration, I left some patina on the post and couldn’t get everything perfectly polished, but I think it adds to her character.

Sorry the pics are sideways...uploading from my phone...not sure how to rotate them...they’re the correct way on my phone..

 

[1982fxr]

I don't suppose your of Greek heritage, are you?

I hope I'm not the only one that got that

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I hope I'm not the only one that got that

Blue Windex is a staple of my shop first aid kit!

 

[VocaTexas]

Trev, that's a nice drill press. Just don't try to use it as a milling machine. That x/y vise is to help position parts for drilling. Drill press spindle bearings aren't made to take the side load forces from milling and won't hold up to it. If you already know this, I apologize, but in your original post you mentioned milling.

 

[FrankLee]

Hi everyone,
New to the forum, a coworker told me about this place today, and from what I've seen there is a wealth of knowledge here. I'm hoping there may be someone that can tell me about this drill press. It needs to be cleaned up a little, but runs great. I it's a craftsman 100, but I'm not really sure. It was given to me by a friend that moved and didn't have space in his new garage. Any tips on cleanup? Not sure if it would be worth disassembling it completely or not. Would also like to find parts for the x y axis mill mounted to the table.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

Thank you all for the information and replies. I don't believe the motor is original. My friend got this when his dad passed away, and he thinks his dad changed it. I think it was well taken care of but just not used for the last 20 years. It runs remarkably smoothly, so my uneducated guess is that the bearings are ok. It does need cleanup and lubing everything definitely won't hurt. The only problem I've found is that it doesn't return to the top position when you release the handle. That being said though it doesn't just drop down if you're not pushing it down either. The table is difficult to move but it will if I work at it. I'd say all in all it isn't bad for a free DP!!

I’m quoting myself because this “fall or winter project” only took 3 1/2 years to do! My 7 month old is now 4, and I have an 8 month old on top of that...wow things change. Every time I went into my shop I wanted to fix the old DP up, and I finally did! Not sure who all lurks here, but I think I owe FrankLee a debt of gratitude. There’s no way I would have felt confident doing this if it weren’t for his write ups! She’s not a perfect restoration, I left some patina on the post and couldn’t get everything perfectly polished, but I think it adds to her character.

Sorry the pics are sideways...uploading from my phone...not sure how to rotate them...they’re the correct way on my phone..

Very nice work!

What was the feed return issue? Spring tension?

 

[Trev84]

Very nice work!

What was the feed return issue? Spring tension?

Yes, spring tension. That and needing a good cleaning. I found 3 petrified wasp nests in it. I’m sure it was sitting in a shed for a long time.

 

[FrankLee]

Yes, spring tension. That and needing a good cleaning. I found 3 petrified wasp nests in it. I’m sure it was sitting in a shed for a long time.

That's good. Those springs are getting harder to find and more expensive.


A couple suggestions...

I see that the head frame lock is was reinstalled in the same position as your original photo. You may consider flipping it so the handle is on the left side. This will avoid any interference with using the feed handles. I see this often when a handi-box is mounted on the left side for a custom switch. You could also re-position the handle so it points to the rear, or simply just remove it since it's not really needed.

There appears to be a gap between the feed stop bracket and the head frame casting. This implies that the bracket is not fully seated onto the quill. One of two things is happening. First, the spindle pulley is stopping feed return, or second, a tooth of the pinion gear is stopping feed return at the bottom of the quill gear rack. Neither of these conditions is good. That bracket is designed to be the stop for feed return.

If your feed stop bracket is the closed-loop style, check this post:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7927673&highlight=closed+loop#post7927673

 

[Trev84]

I appreciate it. I’ll take a look!