Older CM Drill Press

[mike_dmt]

This came on my local CL today for $150.

Questions are the usual:

Is it worth the asking price?

Is it suitable for primarily metal use?

 

[JZiggy]

Can you tell us more? Pictures?

 

[mike_dmt]

Sorry, I got ahead of myself. Pics coming in a sec.. lol

 

[mike_dmt]

Pics

 

[jakemac]

I'm not familiar with that model, but $150 is overpriced. No slow speed pulley, no spindle cover, and it looks like the table is chewed up (although, it could be lousy pictures).

 

[mike_dmt]

Ya, I thought it was a little pricey.

I'm kind of wanting some vintage equipment in my shop. Grinder, vise, drill press, etc.

It'll be my first drill press. As it's for metal, I'm learning that it should really have a slow speed pulley, correct?

 

[jakemac]

If you're only doing small holes in thin metal, then you can get by on the low speed it already has. But it isn't optimal. A DP that can get lower speeds would be better. That can be done by a third pulley, a Vari-Slo set up, or a motor with an RPM lower than 1725. Some members have rigged variable speed treadmill motors to their DP's to get the RPM's down. Although, finding a DP that already has a lower RPM feature would save you the trouble of converting. You may have to be patient until something in your area pops up. If you have the time to search, keep an eye open for estate sales in your area. Sometimes you can see something interesting in the background of the pictures that isn't specifically listed.

 

[nine4gmc]

Interesting drill press, I've never seen that model but like Jake said, it's priced too high for what it is.

 

[zkling]

That is a very early (mid 30s) Walker made (IIRC) 15" machine.

Not to me...

Depends on what primarily use for metal means. 1/4" holes? Sure, 3/4" holes? Nope.

 

[softailgarage]

Early to mid 30's.....over priced

 

[jakemac]

Well, this one kept niggling in the back of my brain. So I spent a little time going thorough the catalogs to find it.

The only listing I could find that came close to a match for this model was from 1935. 1934, no. 1936, no. There are also Atlas DP's offered in 1935. It seems that in 1936 Craftsman had switched completely to Atlas for their DP's.

Here is page 22 & 23 from the 1935 catalog. You'll notice that the DP in the OP's picture has 4 handles, the picture in the ad has only 2 (one handle going though the spindle). It wasn't until 1938 that Atlas used 4 handles on their DP's (IIRC), so I think this handle assembly was added to this DP at a later date.

It seems that this DP was only offered in 1935 and even though it has the Craftsman name cast into the side, it may have only been offed under the Companion brand (the precursor to Dunlap).

Mike - for some reason, the second picture that you posted won't open for me. Could you repost the picture of the opposite side of the DP for posterity ?

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, overpriced for a user DP.

Yes, a slow speed pulley or three-pulley setup is desirable, but not necessary. How often are you drilling deep 1/2" holes in steel?

No, you're not marrying the machine. If you find a better one later, buy it and sell the first.

jack vines

 

[bluebolt]

I only could find one on OWWM. It has a 2 bar handle like the catalog illustration.
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=9012

 

[mike_dmt]

Hope this is the pic asked for.

I wouldn't be drilling many things over 1/2", and I have a good friend with a serious fab/machine shop if I needed to do more.

It's more interesting to me, in the fact that, some of you guys find it interesting.

So, I might see if it's still available.

 

[mike_dmt]

Let me see if I can do something else for the pic.

 

[mike_dmt]

Any better?

 

[jakemac]

Any better?

Now it works, Thanks.
The table looks better in that picture. The arc of shame isn't as bad as I first thought.

It would be a good general use drill press, but not at anything over $75 at most. Closer to $50-$60 for me.

It's more interesting to me, in the fact that, some of you guys find it interesting.

Call us crazy, we geek out over the oddest things.

 

[bluebolt]

It is a unique little press. The Craftsman nerd in me wants it!

 

[jz2delta]

It's a multi-speed press. the motor and the quill pulleys have three diameters.

 

[mike_dmt]

Sorry jz2delta.. what are you referring to?

I see a pulley on the motor, and a pulley on what would drive the chuck. Is that the quill?

Meaning I could slow it down if I wanted to?

 

[nine4gmc]

It's a multi-speed press. the motor and the quill pulleys have three diameters.

It is a multi-speed press but does not go low enough for primarily metal work on thick materials. For general use it is fine.

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

 

[Rileysan]

Sorry jz2delta.. what are you referring to?

I see a pulley on the motor, and a pulley on what would drive the chuck. Is that the quill?

Meaning I could slow it down if I wanted to?

Each pulley has 3 sizes. By moving the belt, you change the speed of the drill. I don't know how anyone could determine the RPM from a picture, so there's no telling if this would work for your needs. It's a neat little press, nonetheless, and if in good working condition might be worth half the asking price to someone who would put it to use and a little more to a Craftsman tool collector who is missing this model. If the seller waits for the latter, he may be in for a long wait.


Edit: Taking a better look at it, I believe the motor can be adjusted up or down to align the pulleys - giving this 9 speeds. This one will definitely be slow enough to accommodate your needs.
Cheers!

Brian

 

[nine4gmc]

The pulleys have 4 belt grooves each and the motor may be adjustable up or down to add more speeds. The issue is it takes a LARGE diameter quill pulley to slow a 1725 rpm motor down enough to spin large bits in thick metal, OR you can add a jack shafts or third pulley to get the speeds down. You are correct in saying it's hard to determine actual speeds but it's also obvious this drill press was not intended for constant drilling of 1/2" thick steel with large diameter bits.

The good thing is, the OP can measure the pulleys when he goes to look at it and input the diameter into an online calculator and find out the approximate speeds. If I had to guess, I'd say the low speed is around 600 rpm. [emoji481]

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

 

[mike_dmt]

Cool. I'm liking it more and more.

The wording in the ad sounds a little "cranky", if you know what I mean. We will see if he will come off of his price.. I do agree $150 is a bit steep.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the slowest speed you can expect from that DP is probably 750 RPM (assuming is is still using a 1725 RPM motor), smallest pulley on the motor to the largest on the spindle.

This is based on a similar DP sears sold.