Question about Delta Rockwell Drill Press

[apittmanii]

The person selling this drill press is willing to go to $200 for the drill only. I need a drill press to make occasional strait holes through mild steel up to 3/8 inches thick. I have a couple questions:

* Assuming the drill press runs as it should, is this model (Delta-Rockwell model 15-017, 1 HP, 120 volt) sufficiently powered to drill through 3/8 inch mild steel?

*Assuming it runs as it should, do you feel $200 is a fair price?

*when checking out the drill in person, what specifically should I pay attention to or examine (besides the obvious - run smoothly, switch works, movable components function correctly)?

Thank you. I have not owned a drill press before, but have needed one for years. Appreciate any feedback.

 

[AlD]

I'm not clear what you mean by a "drill only". Is this a drill press stand? If it's a floor model, $200 is pushing the upper range.
Hope this helps.
Al

 

[apittmanii]

Sorry I mean the entire functioning drill press, minus the "procunier" depicted in the ad. Thanks for your feedback--so for the working drill press, your take is that 200 is on the high end. Not sure if my link was visible but here is the drill press:

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/hvo/5455053788.html

 

[Steevo]

Look for cracks or missing chunks of cast iron in the base and table, which are often signs that it has been dropped somewhere along the way.

Make sure that the table can be moved easily up and down the column when the pinch bolts are loosened.

Check for play in the quill/spindle by grabbing the chuck with your hand and trying to wiggle it fore-aft and side-side while running the handle to extend the quill/spindle down.

Check that the return spring is there, and can return the spindle from any place in its travel back to the top.

Check the chuck for true-ness and looseness. The outer sleeve should move freely, but not feel "rattly" or rough when you spin it by hand, and the three jaws should all move together smoothly out and in.

Chuck a known straight 4" ~ 6" rod (i use one from my dial indicator set) in the chuck, and run the drill on its slowest speed and see if you detect any wobble in the chucked shaft. This can be a sign of a worn out chuck (loosen and tighten a few times and see if the wobble changes with each re-chucking), or at worst a bent spindle (less common, but it happens), or just loose spindle bearings (checked as recommended above).


A good, tight, working, real iron, US made 15" drill press like that, with a 1hp motor, is worth $200 all day long. That said, I looked at one a year or two ago that was so worn out it needed everything replaced, and those parts are not cheap. But try to get it for less. Tell him it has been beat to death for 25 years and that table has more holes in it than swiss cheese.

Also, see if he has the rest of the parts for the depth stop. That ring on the table in one of the pictures belongs around the lower end of the quill, with a threaded rod and a couple of knurled nuts on it, that you can use to set a hard stop for repeat drilling. It looks like the threaded rod may be attached to the tapping head, so get it from him if he removes the tap head when he sells the drill press to you.

And 3/8" steel doesn't stand a chance against that machine, just use sharp bits and drill in steps, not trying to just force a 3/8" drill bit through steel with no pilot hole and smaller drill used first.

 

[1930]

Pay the guy the 200 dollars its worth it all day long and if in doubt go to your local home center and see what you get for 2 bills

 

[zkling]

To high for condition. I bet that thing has seen lots of use between the tapping head and well drilled up table. $225 tops as is to me.

Pay the guy the 200 dollars its worth it all day long and if in doubt go to your local home center and see what you get for 2 bills

Yeah, well, the thing with that is. This needs work, cleaning, parts, etc. Hit up an industrial auction and you will see what well worn machines like this really bring (not much).

 

[OccupantRJ]

$150 max for me.

 

[bareass172]

I won't argue with what was said above - it's way better than anything you'd buy today for comparable money, but that doesn't mean it's a great deal or fits your needs.

I believe the slowest speed on that press is around 500-600 RPM which is still a little fast for steel. $150 would be my top dollar considering the potential risk if anything needs replacing. Just google and you'll see endless people talking about "I got one for $80", "I got one for $150" and everywhere in between. If you're in need now, it's serviceable for sure, but if you're not pressed I might consider waiting for a better price or a better machine.
Just my $.02...

 

[Cypherian]

It does depend on your market but or that I would be in the 125 -150 range . I found this https://waco.craigslist.org/tls/5459743171.html yes I know Waco is a stretch from SA but if the guy wants 200 and is firm I would look around more. IMHO

Cypher

 

[apittmanii]

Really appreciate the feedback and advice on that drill press, it's really helpful. I decided the Delta Rockwell press referenced at the beginning of this thread was worth $160 to me (plus the 3 hour round trip to San Antonio), assuming everything functions as it should. I made the offer and have not yet heard back from the guy. I also offered $40 for the press referenced by Cypherian directly above, assuming the only thing wrong with it being its existence under the sea for the past 25 years. I am in Austin, so that is also a 3 hour round trip. If neither of those pan out, I'll just keep looking.

I talked to the guy selling this one last night: https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/tls/5455375789.html . I love the cast Iron Table and was thinking I could keep one of the drill presses and sell the other two. But he told me he originally purchased from a machining shop where there was heavy use. They were covered in coolant / lube. He cleaned them up well, replaced the ball bearings, painted. But he gave the impression there was tons of use on them.

Anyway, thank you again for the advice.