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Let's discuss this Vintage Drill Press feature !

John Timmins

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Check out this drill press on the Daytona Beach area Craigslist : http://daytona.craigslist.org/tls/4222573351.html

I will see if I can get the serial number for the drill press if there is one. The motor plate might be the only one ? I have a 1959 Delta Rockwell so I see some similar features, but I am puzzled about that spiral looking thing in the middle. Is that a spindle that if turned with a crank raises and lowers the entire top....perhaps lowering the drill down to a work piece securly mounted to the base ?

On my 1959 the on-off Cutler Hammer push buttons in located above the chuck where that hollow hole is above the chuck on this one.
 
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zkling

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That is the return spring for the foot feed mechanism. In a production environment drill presses were commonly setup with a foot feed for fast feeding and both hands to hold the work piece. Instead of the common right hand needed to operate the quill lever.
 
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John Timmins

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Thanks ZKLING ! Personally I think the $400 is high but then again so are the newer crappier DPs.

The restorer could put new bearings in the spindle and it would be good as new ! Buying price + $100 = restored. I bet that Restoring TV show would hand the customer an $1800 bill !

Explain please the foot thing some more . So you stepped on something and the entire upper assembly moves down ? I noticed that that it does not have the bolts to tighten the motor - press frame firmly to the pole like mine does.
 

schor

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Thanks ZKLING ! Personally I think the $400 is high but then again so are the newer crappier DPs.

The restorer could put new bearings in the spindle and it would be good as new ! Buying price + $100 = restored. I bet that Restoring TV show would hand the customer an $1800 bill !

Explain please the foot thing some more . So you stepped on something and the entire upper assembly moves down ? I noticed that that it does not have the bolts to tighten the motor - press frame firmly to the pole like mine does.

You might not need new bearings. If they are taper roller bearings then you might just need some extra shims to tighten things up.

The foot pedal post is attached to the spindle. Here's a link. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/3261.pdf

The bolts are on the underside for the motor mount, you can see one in the side shot.
 
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John Timmins

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OK now I can see and understand the foot linkage to the "side of the upright. I never know of this foot style. The normal handle is identical to my 1959 and so is the forward pulley cover
 

Outlawmws

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That price is silly money for an unrestored DP IMO. The foot pedal is an interesting feature, but not that practical for most home shop use. (control is the key and with a foot control you just don't have it... I would class that as a woodworkers feature (Through holes...), and keep it away from any metal work.)
 

schor

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That price is silly money for an unrestored DP IMO. The foot pedal is an interesting feature, but not that practical for most home shop use. (control is the key and with a foot control you just don't have it... I would class that as a woodworkers feature (Through holes...), and keep it away from any metal work.)

I agree Outlaw, it is a wood drill press. You would want the extra pulley attachment to be able to get slower speeds. 680rpm is the slowest that press will go with a 1725rpm motor.
 

WWIIjeep

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I agree Outlaw, it is a wood drill press. You would want the extra pulley attachment to be able to get slower speeds. 680rpm is the slowest that press will go with a 1725rpm motor.

That's a Slo-Speed model. Speeds are 470, 780, 1300 and 1950 RPM.

The foot feed for the old 14" and 17" Delta drill presses was marketed for both woodworking and metalworking.

The foot feed is more sensitive than you may think. It has 4 adjustment points to change the mechanical advantage (feed rate), stroke and relative position of the foot pedal. In the slowest feed rate setting, it's entirely appropriate for metalworking.

These are direct quotes from Delta's descriptions of the old 14" and 17" drill press foot feed attachments:

"It will be found a great time saver on production work. A wide range of adjustment is provided, not only as to stroke and leverage, but also to suit the operator's position and height, whether sitting or standing."

"Production shops will find that a foot feed attachment pays for itself in increased speed of operation; home shops will find it a great convenience in freeing both hands for supporting or handling long stock."

"It is efficient in action, easily adjusted over a wide range of feeds, and can be disconnected instantly when hand feeding is preferable."


You might not need new bearings. If they are taper roller bearings then you might just need some extra shims to tighten things up.

They're not tapered roller bearings. That drill press model used single-row shielded ball bearings with a special notched sleeve to engage the interchangeable spindles.



Original New Departure 88100 on left, custom-made modern replacement on right.

The original style has been obsolete since the 1980s when New Departure Hyatt was bought out by MRC. MRC was subsequently purchased by SKF and most of the older NDH and MRC bearing styles were discontinued.

Replacements, as shown on the right, are available from a couple of owwm.org members who have modified modern sealed bearings with the necessary notched sleeve. They're very high quality and reasonably priced.


The bolts are on the underside for the motor mount, you can see one in the side shot.

Correct. The motor mount slides on two posts and is locked in position with two 5/16" bolts. Very easy and solid adjustment.

Those old 14" drill presses are great units, except for the obsolete spindle bearings, but that has been solved as mentioned above.

The foot feed is a somewhat rare and sometimes desirable accessory, and certainly adds considerably to the value of the drill press, but as Outlawmws mentioned, $400 is a bit steep for an unrestored drill press, even with the foot feed attachment (worth $100 to $150 all by itself). $250 at a maximum would be more in line with what can be seen in the photos.
 
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John Timmins

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WWIIJEEP...fascinating ! I learn so much from this site ! Great reply !

Nice Jeep too, FYI my bro has a '52 M38A1 with later 1/4 ton pintle trailer in Alpine AZ ! When he was in Tucson I went to to Willys Works !
 

Outlawmws

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"It will be found a great time saver on production work. A wide range of adjustment is provided, not only as to stroke and leverage, but also to suit the operator's position and height, whether sitting or standing."

"Production shops will find that a foot feed attachment pays for itself in increased speed of operation; home shops will find it a great convenience in freeing both hands for supporting or handling long stock."

"It is efficient in action, easily adjusted over a wide range of feeds, and can be disconnected instantly when hand feeding is preferable."

Ah the joys of the marketing mindset! I'l stand by my comment that it's really for a production setup, where you are repeating a hole, including depth, repeated'y.

Think about the bolded statement a minute:

I'm going to somehow be "more efficient" balancing on one foot, controlling the drill with the other, while "supporting or handling long stock" with both hands.... "I don't think so Tim!" :lol: all we need now is "More Power!" :evil:
 
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zkling

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Ah the joys of the marketing mindset! I'l stand by my coment thast it sreally for a production setup where you are repeating a hole, including depth, repeated;y.

Think about the bolded statement a minute:

I'm going to somehow be "more efficient" balancing on one foot, controlling the drill with the other, while "supporting or handling long stock" with both hands.... "I don't think so Tim!" :lol: all we need now is "More Power!" :evil:

That is back when men were men. :lol_hitti
 

WWIIjeep

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I'm going to somehow be "more efficient" balancing on one foot, controlling the drill with the other, while "supporting or handling long stock" with both hands.... "I don't think so Tim!" :lol: all we need now is "More Power!" :evil:

Hey, those foot-feeds helped win WWII. :thumbup:

Here's one on a 17" drill press, on the cover of the 1937 Delta catalog:



No balance problem--he's sitting down on the job--and using the foot feed as a helper, along with a hand on the quill.

Or, you can do a Three Stooges bit with one. Lean in to see what you're drilling, step on the foot pedal, get hit on the forehead by the quill handle 2 or 3 times on the way down, and on the chin 2 or 3 more times on the way back up. :lol_hitti

Hence why, in a shop where I worked, where we had one of those drill presses with a foot feed, we removed the handle from the quill.
 

Outlawmws

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Hey, those foot-feeds helped win WWII. :thumbup:

Here's one on a 17" drill press, on the cover of the 1937 Delta catalog:



No balance problem--he's sitting down on the job--and using the foot feed as a helper, along with a hand on the quill.

Or, you can do a Three Stooges bit with one. Lean in to see what you're drilling, step on the foot pedal, get hit on the forehead by the quill handle 2 or 3 times on the way down, and on the chin 2 or 3 more times on the way back up. :lol_hitti

Hence why, in a shop where I worked, where we had one of those drill presses with a foot feed, we removed the handle from the quill.

See that's what I would expect more of in a home shop. :lol: Repeat operations with a good setup; sure. One off's; accident waiting to happen....
 

Outlawmws

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Hmm after a closer look, I think that foot pedal may be running the motor switch, not the quill, or else why is he cranking on the handle manually? Do I see a wire from the motor to that side box?
 

Packard V8

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Outlaw and I agree on 99.9%, but on the foot feed, give it up. They're handy to have and add options for holding, feeding, repetitions. They're also made hell-for-stout. As mentioned, in WWII production, every third guy in CA was doing job work in his garage or basement, many with that little Delta DP. One of mine came with all the spindles, a tapping head and a backstory about how he paid for his house with it. A complete operating foot feed usually makes a $100 -150 DP into a $200-300 unit.

jack vines
 

zkling

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Hmm after a closer look, I think that foot pedal may be running the motor switch, not the quill, or else why is he cranking on the handle manually? Do I see a wire from the motor to that side box?

Definitely not. See where the foot feed goes into the head? Inside there is a gear that connects to the back of the quill feed. Larger drill take quite a bit of pressure to feed. I bet he uses the hand feed for a force balance more than anything.

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/2373.pdf
 
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