My First Powermatic - DP 1150A

[lafester]

This machine has been posted for a couple weeks, but the timing was not right until today to make a move on it. I guess everyone thought $400 was too much for it.. I was drawn to the clamp table with lift which seems to be a rare combination, and I know they are worth quite a bit on their own (along with the Reeves drive pulleys).

Everything looks pretty damn clean so far. The one missing handle was there, but bent with a cracked ball end. The stop nuts are missing but I think that is about it. I have some from a clausing that may fit.

Came with a nice new looking baldor 3 phase that I will probably continue to use with this press. I do have another single phase I can swap in if I decide the Reeves drive is sufficient.

Plans are to keep this one until I find a vintage equivalent which could be awhile. I really don't like gold paint but I think it is growing on me.

 

[seber]

If I needed one I would have been all over that for $400. The Powermatic drill press is as good as it gets in light duty drills. I've seen a well used one go for $950 at auction.

 

[Honkey84]

I'd get a VFD setup for the three phase motor thats on the press and run that. That's what I have on my 1150A and it's great! Speed adjustment, forward and reversing capability is really handy.

If you're looking for replacement parts, go to owwm.org and post a wanted add in their for sale section, tons of good info over there also.

 

[Davefr]

Even with a Reeves drive, I'd still VFD it since you already have the motor.

Speed, start/stop, reverse are so easy with a VFD. In addition you can set the Reeves to the low RPM (ie 450) and use the VFD to go even slower. You can slow it down to where where you can count the revolutions and it'll have so much torque you won't be able to stop it.

 

[lafester]

I managed to get it in the garage and will start taking apart the head in a few.
For a 15 inch press this thing is heavy...

I don't think this has been used much. The belt still has gold overspray on it and the pulleys do not seem to have any wear. All the painted hardware looks like it has never been removed. They were still able to get a few holes in the table though!

Here is a pic of an old clausing I parted out early in the year. Very similar to this pm machine.

 

[matt_i]

The old McMinnville TN stuff is great machinery, I have some love for it also!

The VFD is a nice setup, takes a little time to clean up all of the wiring but it has some nice benefits.

Now all you need is a good vise Maybe a 4" D-40 Kurt Anglock milling vise? The 6"-ers are more along the lines of a 20" drill press.

 

[lafester]

Well I have the mill drill for anything that needs semi-precision work (still no Kurt though unfortunately... that is my off shore corner of the shop).

I like the flexibility of using clamps on a table like this for odd/large sized pieces.

Oh, I was sad to see the front speed gauge is just a sticker and not a printed metal plate! It's the little things that you get used to with older machines...

Update: got the motor off so I can now move the head easily and rest it on the end. Currently stuck removing the pinion gear but I'll get it.

 

[lafester]

Almost ready to hook up the vfd and see how she runs. All cleaned up with fresh oil, repaired the spring, bent the handles back and inspected the jt33 taper. Still need to clean up the lift and column as everything is sticking and hard to move.



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[lafester]

And... it runs! Reeves drive seems nice and solid, easy to turn and stays where I set it. Just a little vibration coming from somewhere but not bad. I know the back two screws are missing for the 'mailbox' cover so that is probably it.

Just need to get the vfd synced up to this motor and get all the settings dialed in how I want them. I'll eventually add some switches to the front plate to make life even easier.

 

[lafester]

The powermatic is still going strong.
She just got a new lamp for a little vintage touch.

The lamp is interesting as there is actually another smaller bulb housing inside. The caps take the same mounting thread so they simply screw together.

The little bulbs fit perfectly in the delta shade. The switch ***** though so I'll have to fix it eventually.