To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Craftsman Model 100 drill press dilemma

51dueller

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2021
Messages
221
Location
Saskatchewan
I've just recently purchased a 1946-49 Craftsman Model 100 drill press that was in good shape except the spindle drive pulley was damaged.
drill.jpg
These drill presses up here in Canada are next to non-existant and it took me a long time to find one. With this being the 13 1/2 model vs the later 15 models, the pulley is 1" shorter. Me being naive thinking when they made the longer pulleys they would have just made the splines longer and I could just cut it shorter for it to work.
pulley.jpg
So I found a Model 100/150 pulley for a decent price that someone was willing to ship to Canada. It just arrived today and of course the splines are too short for me to cut it. I don't know if I'll be able to find the correct pulley as the 1946-49 models aren't nearly as common as the bigger 1950-1965 ones.

Now do I try to have the 1" section turned down slightly and knurled before cutting it off. Then bore the inside of the pulley bigger to press in the splined section. Or would it be better to have a new splined section made out of steel which could be much longer for better strength being pressed in. Although I'd imagine the machine shop bill wouldn't be cheap with cutting the quill splines.

A third makeshift way would be to get the whole quill assembly from the later 100/150 model and use a 1" spacer to lower the assembly so I still would have 3" of drilling travel.

Any ideas/suggestions would be much appreciated. I'd also like to find a proper drill table but haven't had much luck so far.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

1967 R502

Member
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
21
Location
Over the hills and far away.
1. I'd check out the manuals on Vintage Machinery, if you haven't already done so.
2. Look at both 15 and 13.5" drill manuals. They all have part lists.
3. Are the spindle parts the SAME NUMBER? What about the pulley assembly?
4. If they are, I'd say you are probably OK, there is just some mystery of how to assemble it.
5. if they are NOT the same part number, then consider modifying what you have.

My drill is a '49, however it is 15". None of these parts were pressed together. Even the bearings i seated just by leaving the pulley assembly in the freezer overnight and then dropping the bearings on. May not work for everyone, but it worked for me.

Of the ideas you suggested, I think getting another spindle is the EASIEST option. But again, check the part numbers in the various manuals. Do they match?
 

JEFinCLE

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2020
Messages
101
Location
Medina Ohio
I believe your drill press is an "80", not a "100". That was the model number for the smaller DP. Go through the Craftsman DP threads here on GJ and you'll get quite an education. I don't know, but I'm guessing that parts compatibility between the 80 and 100 is pretty weak.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom