New old drill press.

[bronc076]

Hi everyone, I'm Rob and I'm new here, just wanted to say hello and show my new to me drill press.

I picked up this old Rockwell on Craigslist. I'm having trouble figuring out the exact model as none of the others I've seen are exactly like it. It might be a Frankenstein someone put together out of parts. I'm pretty sure it has the wrong base as it is pretty small, maybe a bench model base.

I know it is a 15" as from the center of the chuck to the column is 71/2", it has4 speeds, 5" of travel, and says Rockwell on the S/N tag but no model number. There is another tag which I think is from a reseller. I been searching this sit for info so I thought I should join. Looking forward to hanging out here. I'll be fully refurbishing this drill press soon.

Here are a couple pics.

 

[Roberts210]

Looks like a great DP to me. And looks original too. I have a dual-gang Rockwell 15-665 that bears some similarity. The quill travel is 6" on mine tho, with 6 speeds.

 

[bronc076]

Yours also has a model number on the data plate! . Nice looking setup!

 

[tool_scrounge]

That is the 15” utility drill press with the optional handle which is missing the ball ends. See page 35 in the following catalog.
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/29290.pdf

 

[bronc076]

Thank you very much. That seems to confirm it has the incorrect base. Also I'm not sure if there was a handle of some sort on this nut that clamps the head to the post. it is all chewed up from using pliers on it but it appears to have a spline.

 

[Roberts210]

I think that's an adjustment nut for clamping the casting to the column securely.
Here's what mine looks like:

 

[Ricky Joe]

Be careful with the clamp. It is missing the handle, and when you release it, it could cause the head to fall. Nice drill press. The serial number can tell you when it was made. Look up “Rockwell serial numbers “. That Bronco looks like it might be in your way. As a welcome to Garage Journal, I would be glad to clear it out at no charge to you.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I echo Ricky’s caution. i usually put an extended 2 ton bottle jack between the head and the table before loosening the head clamp. After loosening, I can raise or lower the head in a controlled manner. Or if it is stuck, I can carefully break the head free with the bottle jack.

 

[exmaxima1]

Looks like a Rockwell DP225 to me

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

That is the 15” utility drill press with the optional handle which is missing the ball ends. See page 35 in the following catalog.
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/29290.pdf

Thanks for that. That has a lot of good information.

 

[bronc076]

Be careful with the clamp. It is missing the handle, and when you release it, it could cause the head to fall. Nice drill press. The serial number can tell you when it was made. Look up “Rockwell serial numbers “. That Bronco looks like it might be in your way. As a welcome to Garage Journal, I would be glad to clear it out at no charge to you.

Thanks, I'll be careful with the clamp. It was slid down the column for transport, to rise I I used a ratchet strap to a loop in the garage ceiling. I searched for the SN and mine seems in a different format, I think the ones I found were for older units. I'll look some more.

Thanks for the offer on getting rid of my scrap Bronco. I'll hold onto it a bit longer for sentimental reasons!

 

[bronc076]

Looks like a Rockwell DP225 to me

Me too but it does not say it on there anywhere. The tag on the front says Delta Milwaukee, and the tag on the side with the SN has no number besides the SN.

 

[RTM]

If it came out of an old manufacturing facility, that could be a Stock Number for inventory purposes.

Some of our shop equipment back in the day had plant specific inventory tags, in brass.

 

[Rick_Br]

Me too but it does not say it on there anywhere. The tag on the front says Delta Milwaukee, and the tag on the side with the SN has no number besides the SN.

Based on the serial number of 1256669 it is a 1959 machine - link to delta serial numbers http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/DeltaSerialNumbers.ashx

 

[bronc076]

Rick, Thank you very much! I looked at that page and my SN didn't have a dash in it so I figured mine was some oddball. So mine is a 1959 unit, thats cool, I thought it was newer but older is better as far as I'm concerned!

 

[bronc076]

Would someone with a Rockwell drill press similar to mine please post a couple pics with the same vantage point as the two I attached below?

Im trying to figure out what's going on with the top of mine. I think it originally had a couple hinge pins where mine has bolts, and it looks like it had springs too.
on the front I think it had a loop with a thumb screw in it but I'm not sure and I've looked at lots of pics and can't figure it out.

Thanks!
Rob

 

[bronc076]

Also any tips for cleaning what looks like ancient masking tape glue off the Delta badge without destroying the paint? I'm afraid to use any chemicals fearful I might damage the paint.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Quote/
Also any tips for cleaning what looks like ancient masking tape glue off the Delta badge without destroying the paint? I'm afraid to use any chemicals fearful I might damage the paint.
Quote/

Try peanut butter.

Not kidding.

 

[bronc076]

Do I wipe it off with a rag or let my dog lick it off?

 

[tombell572]

Bronc--you might try naptha on that tape residue. Wipe gently with a cloth, it may take a few applications to soften the adhesive but it should soften and wipe off. Not recommended for removal using dog.

Tom B.

 

[bronc076]

All done! Completely disassembled, cleaned, painted all the metal. Replaced the bearings in the motor and the quill, repacked the spindle bearings. We'll see how long they last. I have some new ones but they were tight and I wanted to try just replacing the grease.

I see stickers on eBay to apply to the delta badge, mine is rough but hey it's 60 years old. We'll see. This was fun.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

All done! Completely disassembled, cleaned, painted all the metal. Replaced the bearings in the motor and the quill, repacked the spindle bearings. We'll see how long they last. I have some new ones but they were tight and I wanted to try just replacing the grease.

I see stickers on eBay to apply to the delta badge, mine is rough but hey it's 60 years old. We'll see. This was fun.

Very cool. Labor of love. Now the wife says sell it get lots of money. How could I sell something like that?

 

[Whitworth]

Looks almost factory new, great job !

 

[bronc076]

HaHa, no Mike, like myself she is somewhat frustrated with the disposable plastic world we live in today. Don't get her started on plastic bagless vacuum cleaners, she will keep her Kirby. I'll keep this unless I find a different vintage one I like more.

After we get our shop built in the Spring I'll hopefully be refreshing some more vintage shop tools. I also have a 76 F-350 to restore. Lots of fun to come!