Drill press rebuild/restore or scrap?

[bmwpower]

Wondering if I should bother to rebuild this guy. It's an Atlas floorstanding model. Not sure on the model. Looks like it needs a lot of work to me, but not owning a drill press myself, I'm inclined to keep it. I believe the previous owner liked to use it for paint mixing due to the white paint on the one side.

 

[exmaxima1]

Remove the belt and pin the spindle. If the bearings run smooth, it may be worth restoring. It would have limited uses as it has only a few usable speeds and the table has no lift. If you feel any roughness in the bearings, I would pass. By the time you buy new bearings, and at least a new motor pulley (the spindle pulley, though beat up, may be impossible to replace), you will have more $$$ in then its worth.

 

[texasguy]

How does it run?

I'm all for saving these old tools. I just bought a late 40's craftsman press and it will be fine for much of what I want to do.......and there is the cool factor IMO. If you don't want it, pls give it someone who restores these or will restore it/use it.

 

[larry_g]

What is wrong with it? Ugly and gross doesn't mean that it will not do the job its designed to do. Now if you have a bent spindle or bad bearings then maybe the dollars don't add up. If you don't have a drill press then press this into service and see what it does and what its failures are. Using this machine and doing some proper work with it you will learn what is lacking and what to look for in your next drill press.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Weps]

i think you have not seen enough old drill presses. that's not bad at all. you don't need to turn it into a showpiece, it just has to work.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Remove the belt and pin the spindle. If the bearings run smooth, it may be worth restoring. It would have limited uses as it has only a few usable speeds and the table has no lift.

Why doesnt the table have any lift? It has 4 speeds. That is all I have ever used for years.

I have an Atlas bench top model that I bought in very good original condition and it is the only press I have ever needed.

 

[exmaxima1]

Why doesnt the table have any lift?

What I meant was that it didn't have a lift mechanism (with a crank) for the table. I'm too old to deal with heavy tables anymore so I prefer crank tables or I build something to take care of that:

ie the motorized lift on my Wilton drill press

 

[earlthegoat2]

ie the motorized lift on my Wilton drill press

That is a thing of beauty.

 

[Ric in Richmond]

If you junk it I'd like the post and stand.

I have an old atlas bench top that I'd love to make a floor model with OEM atlas stuff

Personally? Check the bearings, paint it up and make holes....

 

[Kenwc]

That thing is **** ugly. You should not waste a minute of time on that POc. You should be embarrassed to show it on here....

Send it to me and I'll take the burden off your shoulders....

 

[throttlejunkie1]

I would be inclined to keep it. You could do a moderate to full blown resto with that DP. You don't even really have to do it "right now". Hang on to it for awhile, and then you might find yourself comming up with plans and ideas for it. Kinda like an old car/truck.

Good luck!

 

[PsRumors]

I know someone mentioned 4 speeds but it looks as if it might have 9. Can't fully make out the rear pulley but it looks like 3 & 3.

I'd rebuild it even if it cost me more than a new one just for the simple fact it is old.

My vote is for a rebuild.

 

[Packard V8]

That's an ugly baby! It is missing many parts, but that doesn't stop it from making holes.

I know someone mentioned 4 speeds but it looks as if it might have 9. Can't fully make out the rear pulley but it looks like 3 & 3.

Even the new math won't make nine speeds from two four-sheave pulleys.

jack vines

 

[mdbeck1]

Wondering if I should bother to rebuild this guy. It's an Atlas floorstanding model. Not sure on the model. Looks like it needs a lot of work to me, but not owning a drill press myself, I'm inclined to keep it. I believe the previous owner liked to use it for paint mixing due to the white paint on the one side.

I'd use it. You can rebuild it later. Mixing paint is just one of the reasons I'd keep it around. I would fabricate a guard for the top to keep little hands out (and mine) but you could use it basically forever without the restore.

It is better quality than most of the ones that I can afford.

 

[gorilla]

I would hook it up and see if the motor runs and the spindle turns. if it does you're good to go, if you need to replace the spindle bearings they are not expensive. On a drill press that small you don't really need a table lift IMHO. The quality of the castings on that machine will be much better than anything you can buy today.

 

[JohnFreeman]

This is the Garage Journal.

Of course you should save it and use it. You can't buy American drill presses any more.

John

 

[evintho]

If it runs and the spindle doesn't wobble, clean it up and use it! Some sandblasting, paint, etc and it'll look like new!

 

[bmwpower]

Thanks guys. I have not given it more than a couple minutes of inspection time. No cord, so I gotta wire it up before I can really test it. My concern was wasting time/money on something that (1) I could buy a more complete, fully functioning model of or (2) something that, if a certain piece was missing or broke, I'd be hosed. I did a quick search on Atlas stuff and there didn't seem to be an overabundance. I like to restore stuff like the next guy, but sometimes you gotta weigh the options before jumping in (at least that's what I try to do, but it doesn't always work that way judging from the projects sitting out there now).

 

[bmwpower]

Ok, took another look. Looks like the back of the head is cracked at the bottom of where it sits on the post. The collar that the head rests on is missing the nut and maybe a handle to tighten/loosen it. The motor is isn't the right mounting type so it's only on my 2 bolts and flops around. I think I figured out what that clamp is for.

I took off the belt and spun the spindle. It's not whisper quiet, but it doesn't sound like the bearings are bad, but they are a little noisy.

Any good wiring tips here? Any kind of wiring diagram on the motor has either been discarded or covered in white paint. The switch on the head is destroyed so I won't be wiring that up.

Found it

 

[bmwpower]

No time to devote to getting this in working order. Anyone local interested in taking it off my hands?

 

[Simple Sam]

Find yourself a Craftsman 150 on Craigslist. I picked up a nice bench top model (actually a 100)in real nice shape for $40. I put a new cord on it, spent some time cleaning it, and will eventually put a new belt on it but it runs great and serves my needs. There was a floor model about 1.5 hours from my house that looked real nice for $125. It has finally sold after about one week.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'd buy it if I was closer.

 

[jeepnut24]

If you still have it, Ill gladly pay to ship the base. I could use it.

 

[bmwpower]

I'd love to be able ship it but not sure I'd be able to.