To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Rockwell bench top drill press

R_Holiday

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
72
Location
North Carolina
What do you guys think about this drill press? I looked through some other threads but couldn’t find any info on a press that looked like this one. The name plate is missing most of the pertinent info other than the name. Thanks in advance
 

Attachments

  • E80F651F-21F2-4491-8C35-968AC22F3501.jpg
    E80F651F-21F2-4491-8C35-968AC22F3501.jpg
    92.5 KB · Views: 71
  • 95D36551-5DF9-4D30-97B8-BC6D0CE3587C.jpg
    95D36551-5DF9-4D30-97B8-BC6D0CE3587C.jpg
    53.2 KB · Views: 57
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

karoc

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
2,015
Location
Hemphill Tx
Myself, I would have that Rockwell than lot of new DP's. No longer made but if it works now it will work from now on unless its been drop or beat to death. Rockwell during its prime sold lot of Rockwell equipment to professionals, hobbyist, and school district which is where I work at. Lot people will say replace the bearing, but I think that is said just make new owner fe el good. If it runs smooth or if there is noise check see if its the motor or not. Over the yrs I have gone through Rockwells table saws, several of their bandsaws, belt sanders but never really did a DP but there is not much to them. So if price is right and it runs as it should then thats a good find. Or if your into restoration projects that will be good one. Join owwm.org its free and that website is devoted to old American made machines where parts do come up for sale.
 

cmandp

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2011
Messages
1,286
Location
New Jersey
I believe we have a newer version of that drill press at work. It's quite a sturdy drill press for the size. I believe it's 5 speeds.

I would go for it if I didn't already have a drill press and felt like going through it to make sure it's ready to use. I don't feel $75 is out of line either if it runs as it sits.
 
OP
R

R_Holiday

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
72
Location
North Carolina
Thanks for the advice. If it runs as smooth as he says I’ll go ahead and get it. I’ll go ahead and join that site as well.
 

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
This site has a catalog of serial numbers so you can see what year yours was made.

http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/DeltaSerialNumbers.ashx

My 1973 model started out like this:

tallshot.jpg


I cleaned it up and made it into a desktop model by cutting the pillar.

switched.jpg
 
OP
R

R_Holiday

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
72
Location
North Carolina
That looks awesome. I don’t know if I’ll be able to find a serial number on it with the tag so beat up. I was gonna try to date it by seeing another press of theirs that uses a similar on off switch in lieu of the button like yours
 

Whitworth

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Messages
2,097
15" drill press. Probably 1970's.

$75, no brainer. Stop talking about it and go get it.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

tool_scrounge

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2010
Messages
4,211
Location
Southern California
15" drill press. Probably 1970's.

$75, no brainer. Stop talking about it and go get it.

The peace sign logo was used in the US starting in 1973. So it was made after that date.

The one thing I would look for on this particular model is angular slop between the spindle and the spindle pulley. I have seen other Delta drill presses of this vintage and model with excess wear on the spindle pulley spline parts.

To test, open the pulley cover. Hold the spindle pulley stationary with one hand. With the other hand, twist the bottom of the drill chuck back and forth (not the moving collar). If needed, bring a L allen Wrench to chuck up in the drill chuck as a handle. If the chuck can be twisted back and forth a lot relative to the pulley, it has a lot of wear. It should have very little slop.
 

lafester

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Messages
2,191
Location
Northern CO
The table alone is worth more then $75, so you have nothing to lose if for some reason it is not usable. I would definitely grab it.
 
OP
R

R_Holiday

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
72
Location
North Carolina
15" drill press. Probably 1970's.

$75, no brainer. Stop talking about it and go get it.

Did just that. Ended up getting it for $60. Doesn’t have a key for the chuck but I’m sure that can be easily sourced. It ran smooth and has 5 speeds. I’m gonna have to find out the speeds and place it on a card. I was able to make out the serial number and it dates to 1977. It feels solid and is heavy AF; especially compared to the craftsman I picked up yesterday. I’ll check for slop as Scrounge mentioned later on tonight.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom