Flott 604 1940ish Drill Press

[germanwrenchguy]

got an awesome deal on this old drill press. doesn't show a date but this drill press gets put around 1945 most of the time.
paid 50 bucks, ordered a new belt, chuck and bearings.

 

[1982fxr]

What country are you in? Nevermind just saw your name.

That's pretty sweet.

 

[whateg01]

Interesting that it would use flat belts that late. My Craftsman was a 1937 machine and it uses vee belts. My 1947 WT 1100 uses vee belts as well.

 

[paulsomlo]

And it even has a place to put a bar of soap!

 

[Garcky]

That will be terrific, once it's cleaned up. Flat belt, though...

It could be difficult to source a new belt for it. Still, you could probably find v-belt pulleys for that nice drill press.

 

[dutchgray]

Flat belts are easy enough to get, there are even modern kevlar based belts that last a very long time. Just got to find the specialist suppliers on the Internet.

 

[paulsomlo]

Flat belts are easy enough to get, there are even modern kevlar based belts that last a very long time. Just got to find the specialist suppliers on the Internet.

Baltimore Belting Co.

 

[germanwrenchguy]

I believe it was an leather belt.
I ordered according to the old belts length, which turned out to not be the correct size.
Anyway, Its mostly done now. Will post some pictures later.

 

[whateg01]

I believe it was an leather belt.
I ordered according to the old belts length, which turned out to not be the correct size.
Anyway, Its mostly done now. Will post some pictures later.

I believe Dutch was saying you can replace old leather belts with modern materials like those made with kevlar. My old lathe now uses a serpentine automotive belt inside out.

 

[germanwrenchguy]

current state

 

[dutchgray]

I believe Dutch was saying you can replace old leather belts with modern materials like those made with kevlar. My old lathe now uses a serpentine automotive belt inside out.

I was.
Modern automotive belts (either multi rib or timing) used backwards or with some time spent flattening is a good and cost effective option if you can get the size you want.

 

[germanwrenchguy]

I paid 40 bucks for the new flat belt

 

[Cleave]

I got a custom length flat belt for an old lathe on ebay, pretty cheap.
Great looking machine too!

 

[rustyzman]

I was.
Modern automotive belts (either multi rib or timing) used backwards or with some time spent flattening is a good and cost effective option if you can get the size you want.

That trick can work particularly well if you use a Continental serpentine belt that has the textured backside. It is a grippy surface. Not all Continentals do, but there is an advantage there with that design in this application.
Just a thought