Need drill press help/ advice

[Tucko]

OK, here's the deal. I got a free drill press from my neighbor when he moved away. He said it "ran when parked" but hasn't been hooked up in awhile, and it needs a chuck. It's wired for 3 phase, which of course my garage is not. It belonged to Douglas aircraft at one time. My question is, what would it take to get it operational and working? I currently have a small bench top Ryobi that seems to do the trick most of them time, and don't even know if I have the need for this old Rockwell Delta. But it sure is pretty. Thoughts? Should I invest in it, or sell it as is? I'm on the fence....

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Depends on your needs. Looks like a nice heavy-duty press with a production table. If you want to put the elbow grease into restoring it, you'll never need another. As for the 3-phase, motors can be replaced...nothing about a motor that's all that integral with a drill press. Or you can get a VFD to operate the 3-phase motor, although I've no personal experience with that. Point being, don't let the 3-phase motor be the sole factor in your decision. As for selling, you can do that easily enough, but if you'll ever have need for a really nice drill press, I promise you'll regret it.

 

[chruler]

If the motor will run off straight 120 volt wiring, an electrician could straighten that out real quick and inexpensively.

Having a standing drill press is really handy for a lot of things. First and foremost, you can work on BIGGER things with it and not have to use a hand drill.

I would hook it up right away.

 

[Cypherian]

Hey,

1. KEEP IT!!
2. Check wiring from cord to in the box if you look on my delta rebuild thread you will find pictures of the wiring which was dry rotted and cracking off insulation in my case.
3. Check the motor for rewiring instructions to 110v or contact an electrician for help.
4. Start Clean Up
5. Get New Belt
6. Check Quill for run out
7. Park it in a nice place on a rolling mount with levelers
8. Enjoy It will out last that Ryobi

Cypher

 

[CoopVA]

Keep it... I restored an old Canedy-Otto and wired it to a VFD. You won't regret it...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

I think that chruler and Cypherion are right, check the plate on the motor. I'd bet that it can be rewired (easily) to run on 110v.

If not, it would be cheaper to replace the motor than it would to have 3-phase wired to your house, or to buy a VFD.

 

[Cypherian]

I think that chruler and Cypherion are right, check the plate on the motor. I'd bet that it can be rewired (easily) to run on 110v.

If not, it would be cheaper to replace the motor than it would to have 3-phase wired to your house, or to buy a VFD.

Umm this would be cheaper still http://www.ebay.com/bhp/single-phase-to-3-phase-converter

Cypher :}

 

[Mike007]

I removed the motor starter on my 3 phase drill press and install a VFD. I paid around $200 in parts.

 

[Voi]

Should I invest in it, or sell it as is? I'm on the fence....

I'd keep it. One advantage of a VFD is the continuous speed control, which is handy for low speed metal cutting.

But it looks like yours may already have the slow front pulley. Can you measure the diameter of the largest front pulley and post back? Also, is it a 17" or 20" press?

With that info somebody here can then tell you what the lowest speed of it is and then you can decide if you'd like the ability to go slower than that. If that's the case then a VFD is a good choice. If not a motor swap might make more sense.

 

[Carla]

The Delta serial number reference on the 'Vintage Machinery' web-site shows your 99- number prefix as late 1950 production.

Its a bit 'fuzzy' in one of the photos, but that one would appear to have either a #2 or #3 Morse taper spindle.

As a practical matter, that is a 'good thing'. Jacobs and Albrecht drill chucks with Morse taper shanks are readily available 'off the shelf'. The Morse taper also.....rather obviously....allows for use of taper shank drills, which are often found cheaply as surplus, in sizes above 1/2".

That model of drill press was equipped with either a single-phase or three-phase motor when new, at the purchaser's option. Most industrial purchasers specified thre- phase.

As mentioned, a three-phase motor can be run from 'dryer plug' residential 230VAC, with a 'phase converter' or 'variable frequency drive'. For use on 115V, one really must have the correct single=phase motor. Ask in the 'metalworking' area of the 'OWWM' aka 'oldwoodworkingmachnes' internet site for dimensional data relative to fitting a Baldor or other make of 115V motor, if a correct single-phase Delta motor cannot be found.

Delta single phase motors are not 'rare' and can be found on the internet, with some looking, but are desirable to Delta collectors, so 'not cheap'. (altho, if one's only investment in a drill press is the cost of a drill chuck and motor, thats a truly excellent 'good deal', a fraction of its value.)

The Delta company made quite a few thousands of that model. Its considered one of the best drill presses for general small shop use, as it is sensitive enough for small drills, but will work up to 5/8" in steel. (actually, up to 1", if one carefully 'step-drills', say, 1/8" larger at a pass)

cheers

Carla

 

[Outlawmws]

on Voi and Carla's comments, and definitely worth keeping! You won't look back at the Ryobi if you do.

 

[G_P]

Just put a single phase motor on it and be done with it. Its not like its a 10hp motor you are replacing. A single phase replacement wont cost all that much and you can most likely find a used one for a few bucks at a flea market.

 

[Whitworth]

I'd guess you could sell it for $300 to $500 range, depending on who's looking for a heavy duty drill press where you live. Weigh that against the cost to get it running. If you're only drilling holes in pine boards, the Ryobi might suit your needs fine.

A VFD is probably the best and least expensive option. A motor, new, the proper HP and frame size would be well over $200. Likely more. A washing machine motor won't do.

Looks like a a Delta 17 inch

Gary

 

[yaidunno]

There seems to be some confusion in this thread, so i will try to shed some light on the subject. Mind you, I'm far from an electrician, but seem to be able to get things to work correctly.

1: 3 phase is 3 phase. There's no rewiring it. There's no changing it.
2: Voltage is irrelevant when associating it with Phases. It could be wired 110, 220, or 440 in both single or three phase. Again, if its a single phase motor, it will always be a single phase motor, and vise-verse.
3: Amps drawn will be cut in half as your voltage doubles. This is important when it comes time to running the electrical service to the machine. Assuming this has a Delta 1 hp motor on it, it will draw 2.8 amps on 220 volts. Your standard wall outlet will be more than enough to support it.

I added a VFD to my Delta 17. This not only converts 1 phase to 3 phase, but it also ups the voltage from 110 to 220. Forward, reverse, and variable speed. You couldn't pay me enough to run a single phase motor on a drill press. Not to mention that new motors sold look completely out of place on a nice old drill press like this. Ebay does have an assortment of nice used Delta single phase motors if you end up going that direction.

 

[zkling]

Nice old delta 17". I'd add a VFD all things considered.

 

[tjb836]

+1 on what yaidunno said. Did this on a mill for my BIL.