Heirloom Craftsman 150 DP Resto

[steve1981107]

Hi everyone, I'm working on a little write up documenting the restoration of my "new" Craftsman 150 Drill Press, model 113.24501. This DP was originally my grandfather's. When he passed it went to my uncle. Unfortunately my Uncle just passed in October. The press has since made the 3000 mile journey out West with me. Everything looks to be in good shape, minus 50+ years of dirt and grime. I'll report more as I get a little deeper into it.

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Thanks to everyone who has posted here. This forum has been a very valuable resource and an inspiration in my search to obtain information on these old workhorses. This forum has prompted me to document my restoration, even though I typically avoid such postings, so as possibly help someone else keep anther vintage machine up and running.

 

[devilinblack]

Looks like a great drill.

I had a lot of fun cleaning mine up a few years ago.

 

[steve1981107]

Well I turned on the press for the first time. Noticed visible wobble in the chuck and bit. When I tried drilling it drilled an oblong hole in the wood. Thought it was the chuck so I went for a disassembly. Removing it was a huge bear. I tried using the back of the chuck to loosen the collar with no success. I tried using a drill bit of the correct size sunk as deep as it would go in a dowel. I only succeeded in breaking the end of the bit. I didn't have a spanner so I tried blocks of wood drilled to the appropriate size and clamped on to the collar.
That managed to loosen the collar but wouldn't break the chuck off of the spindle. Almost broke the hex wrench in the process. Upgraded to a large hook I had hanging around.
Finally when I set the broken piece of the bit in the collar it popped it. But it ended up rotating the bit about 90 degrees through the block.

Working on tear down of the chuck but I'm not sure how to remove the collar from the chuck. Looks like there is a C clip holding it in. Having a hard time popping it off.

 

[steve1981107]

Unfortunately as I spin the spindle in the quill the tapered end appears to wobble. All the bearings seem to spin freely with no play. As I just moved into our new place I can't seem to find calipers to measure how bad it is. But it looks to wobble... Bent spindle??

 

[Shiftless]

Steve:
That old DP looks cool. Keep on trying to fix it. It will serve as a connection to the men in your family who are no longer around.
There is a bench mount 150 for sale that I have been chasing all week. If I get it, I will fix it up and put my grandson's name on it.

 

[Hcooperrn]

I'm working on an almost identical dp right now, the bug finally bit deep enough from reading this site.

The collar was a bit tough to get off the chuck -- it is a c-clip in there. I was able to pry it apart wide enough with snap-ring pliers to get it, I won't tell you how many times it slipped off or some of the words I used in the process. Putting it back on was easier because there is a slight taper on the chuck, and I was able to tap it back in place with an old socket.

 

[Shiftless]

I'm working on an almost identical dp right now, the bug finally bit deep enough from reading this site.

The collar was a bit tough to get off the chuck -- it is a c-clip in there. I was able to pry it apart wide enough with snap-ring pliers to get it, I won't tell you how many times it slipped off or some of the words I used in the process. Putting it back on was easier because there is a slight taper on the chuck, and I was able to tap it back in place with an old socket.

Hcooperrn:
Thanks for posting that good advice. I'm still hunting for my first DP.

 

[JZiggy]

Hey Steve,

Nice drill press. These are a real pleasure to fix up. Have you visited FrankLee's thread yet? This is where I got started:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227480&highlight=craftsman+drill+press

 

[steve1981107]

Yeah FrankLee has been very helpful especially with the chuck removal process. I'd say his posts were what led me to this site after some trial and error...
Now off to pick up some snap wring pliers - thx HCOOPERRN

 

[FrankLee]

Glad to see you've got a thread started on your restoration.

I've had several bent spindles and was lucky enough to find a donor for a very nice machine like yours. The other machines were part-outs. You may be able to straighten the spindle with a press. I've never done it but others have. I'm not sure of the procedure (chuck on, chuck off, etc.), so hopefully someone will chime in.

Just curious... why remove the chuck collar?

 

[steve1981107]

Figured I had it this far I may as well tear down and clean out the chuck. Can you disassemble the chuck w/o removing the collar? B/c I'm all for that! That C clip is a major PITA!

 

[FrankLee]

Figured I had it this far I may as well tear down and clean out the chuck. Can you disassemble the chuck w/o removing the collar? B/c I'm all for that! That C clip is a major PITA!

Yes. You'll need appropriate spacers for the press during disassembly and you can press on the collar during reassembly.

http://www.jacobschuck.com/keyed-drill-chuck-repair-guide

OR

http://www.jacobschuck.com/MagentoShare/media/documents/jacobs-catalog.pdf#page=25