Old Craftsman 150 Drill Press

[Outlawmws]

Is the owners manual original (Or a download), and do the model No's map properly? (the whole No.; not the first three digits, as that is simply the MFG code...)

Is the table one that can be tilted?

 

[EJM02]

Looks killer so far!!

I'm in the middle of restoring a 100 model at present. I wish I was clever enough to come up with the 'poor man's lathe' as you did.

My solution to the column rust was to soak it in a 3" PVC (capped on one end obviously) filled with vinegar and a little table salt. Overnight the surface rust loosened to the point where an angle grinder with a cupped wire wheel did the trick.d

 

[doan]

Now that painting is done, I had to fab some parts - pics below.

For parts I still need new bearings, and a 4-speed pulley for the motor. I saw a thread with the bearing details, but I don't remember where - will have to do some digging.

Motor Mounts from 2" angle iron

Internal light

Back plate for motor wiring (original was gone), and provide a place to anchor the flexible conduit.

Cut slots in a standard handy-box and attached it to the post with hose clamps to house the switches.

 

[doan]

Looks killer so far!!

I'm in the middle of restoring a 100 model at present. I wish I was clever enough to come up with the 'poor man's lathe' as you did.

My solution to the column rust was to soak it in a 3" PVC (capped on one end obviously) filled with vinegar and a little table salt. Overnight the surface rust loosened to the point where an angle grinder with a cupped wire wheel did the trick.d

That's how i started, I didn't use PVC, I just made a paste with barkeepers friend and kept it damp. That got most of the rust. then I got tired of the angle grinder and scrounged up the stuff for the red-neck lathe.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looking good!

Suggestion for the light bulb: You can gen small flood or spot lamps and get better light than just an regular light bulb, and use a lower wattage to get it. IIR, I had a 40 W in there

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Looks great, doan. Ready for another 50 years.

BTW, I once took the catalog prices for these old 1950's Craftsman presses and ran them through an inflation calculator. IIRC, it would be like spending $900-$1,000 on a press today, if that gives you an indication of how nice a press these were in their day.

 

[doan]

Had more wobble than I wanted, I went to HF and got a dial gauge. Started at about 0.024". Using a 1/2" grade 8 bolt in the chuck, a chunk of 2x4, and a 3lb hammer, I was able to get the runout to < 0.005". Switched to a 1lb hammer and chased my tail for a while trying to get better, but that as good as I could get.

I'm pretty happy, when I got it it was in bad shape. Before I got the dial gauge I tried to use feeler gauges and an angle iron fence. It was more than 0.060 (about a 1/16) when I started. You really need a dial gauge set up to get really close.

Here's a link to a video with the dial gauge tracking a 1/2" bit just below the jaws.

I'm pretty excited considering where I started.

I also learned the the old crusty belt I'm using is what is causing a lot of vibration. I put a shim between the head and the motor to back off the tension and it got a lot quieter.

Any recommendations on where to get a link belt? HF has 5ft for $25.

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP

Any recommendations on where to get a link belt? HF has 5ft for $25.

Unless they changed suppliers, the HF link belt is made in USA and it's a well regarded belt. A LOT of guys that work on the Craftsman/Atlas/Clausing mills and lathes use em.

 

[bluebolt]

Unless they changed suppliers, the HF link belt is made in USA and it's a well regarded belt. A LOT of guys that work on the Craftsman/Atlas/Clausing mills and lathes use em.

My HF link belt was made in Italy.

 

[454ragtop]

I personally don't like link belts, especially on something like this where the belt comes right off without disassembly. I think they wear aluminum pulleys more than a std belt. Might think about a notched AX series, much better IMHO. Do you have the dimensions of the 4 step pulley you need, including motor shaft size? I have a few 4 step pulleys, of unknown origin.
Jim

 

[doan]

I personally don't like link belts, especially on something like this where the belt comes right off without disassembly. I think they wear aluminum pulleys more than a std belt. Might think about a notched AX series, much better IMHO. Do you have the dimensions of the 4 step pulley you need, including motor shaft size? I have a few 4 step pulleys, of unknown origin.
Jim

So the AX is just like a cogged automotive v-belt?

The motor pulley is 1/2" bore with a set screw, 1/2" belt, 4 speeds from about 1.5" to 5" in diameter.

 

[454ragtop]

So the AX is just like a cogged automotive v-belt?

Yes, exactly. http://www.mcmaster.com/#ax-section-v-belts/=pjy3mg


The motor pulley is 1/2" bore with a set screw, 1/2" belt, 4 speeds from about 1.5" to 5" in diameter.

Weather permitting (supposed to be nasty here tomorrow!), I'll take a look in the trailer and see what I have.
Jim

 

[tool_scrounge]

I personally don't like link belts, especially on something like this where the belt comes right off without disassembly. I think they wear aluminum pulleys more than a std belt. Might think about a notched AX series, much better IMHO. Do you have the dimensions of the 4 step pulley you need, including motor shaft size? I have a few 4 step pulleys, of unknown origin.
Jim

I like the Goodyear FHP cogged belts. The last one I purchased was about $8 with shipping off of ebay. From what I have seen in the technical literature, the cogged belts are about 8% more efficient when running with a pulley <=2" diameter.

 

[Trey T]

Nice work!

 

[malibulvr]

Great looking addition to the drill, looks like it helps a ton, nice.

 

[doan]

Re: Old Craftsman 150 Drill Press - Restoration Complete

Finally done, just waiting on the 4-speed pulley for the motor. I stole a few good ideas from other posters here including adding the light inside the head and the fence for the table.

Photo Album HERE

 

[Mavawreck]

Beautiful work, you did the old girl good.

 

[malibulvr]

WOW, really came out great. Wish everything was built this well these days.

 

[markw365]

Looks good, now you need the speed reducer pulley. Let your quest begin.

 

[nine4gmc]

Excellent job!!

 

[doan]

Excellent job!!

Thanks Nine, you do good work too.

 

[doan]

Looks good, now you need the speed reducer pulley. Let your quest begin.

I've been lookin... Also thinking about a variable speed motor from a treadmill

 

[Red Leader]

Great looking press!

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Great work! You'll enjoy that one for years to come.

 

[bluebolt]

I've been lookin... Also thinking about a variable speed motor from a treadmill

Keep your eyes open for the Craftsman variable speed motors too, I have two, one came on my 150 (non reversible) and the other has a refurb tag on it from Sears and is the reverisble one and will go on my benchtop 80

 

[doan]

Finally finished this project with a variable speed motor from a treadmill, and made a mobile base. Threads on those below:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289922
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285182