Homemade low-speed drill press conversion.

[bubinga]

This^^^!!!

you need an AD/DC class motor for those to work and as mentioned, you lose power.

And I would say MOST motors, not some, the HF foot controllers are intended for AC/DC tools like routers. not AC DPs.

I have a variable speed on a treadmill motor, and that works well for my DP, but at speed its also 2-1/2HP so can afford to give some up...

Right!
I have a Tread Mill Motor on mine, but still made a center pulley, so I could run the motor at Higher RPM's, getting more HP out of the motor.
But allowing a slower speed at the DP spindle.

 

[bubinga]

Curious why an off the shelf intermediate pulley couldn't be adapted as an other option. Spindle pulley height?

$50, Already has bearings, swing arm, only single hole for the arm pivot required.

Center Pulley Assembly
For a 17" DP searspartsdirect.com/model-number 137.229171

That's the way I did mine.
I drilled and positioned the hole in my center post "slug" off center,
so it would automatically tighten both belts via the motor.
and with the hole in the "slug" drilled off center, and positioned off center,
allows the center pulley stack to be better centered with-in the head, left and right?
(hope that makes sense)

 

[kerrylbuxton]

I bought a 2.500" x 3" 1018 steel plug and turned it to 2.450" except for 1/4". Drilled a 1/2" hole 2" deep and drilled and tapped the plug and 1/2" bar for set screw. Cut a delrin spacer and added a flat steel washer to adjust height of pulley with bronze bushings installed. On top of pulley, flat steel washer, wavy washer, flat steel washer and 2" delrin drilled to 1/2". Fits very tight and after installing a couple of v-belts, runs smooth. Installing link belts when the 60" one arrives. Very inexpensive way to slow it down. Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[exmaxima1]

I bought a 2.500" x 3" 1018 steel plug and turned it to 2.450" except for 1/4". Drilled a 1/2" hole 2" deep and drilled and tapped the plug and 1/2" bar for set screw. Cut a delrin spacer and added a flat steel washer to adjust height of pulley with bronze bushings installed. On top of pulley, flat steel washer, wavy washer, flat steel washer and 2" delrin drilled to 1/2". Fits very tight and after installing a couple of v-belts, runs smooth. Installing link belts when the 60" one arrives. Very inexpensive way to slow it down. Thanks for the inspiration!

A pic or two would be very worthwhile.

 

[Splat!]

Necroposting...... @evintho How's your setup working these days? I would need to do this to a 60's Delta dp I'm looking at. Thanks.

 

[evintho]

Necroposting...... @evintho How's your setup working these days? I would need to do this to a 60's Delta dp I'm looking at. Thanks.

Been working fine for the last 10 years. Never an issue and I've used the press a bazillion times.