Rockwell Drill Press.....questions..

[RegalX]

I picked this older Rockwell drill press up this morning from CL. It's a 1/2hp motor 1/2'' chuck... other than that I don't know much about it, seems to be in decent shape for its age.

Model : 15-081

Is anyone familiar with one of these? Is it a good one? Whats it worth?

Thanks.

 

[CNGsaves]

Guess it's worth what someone would pay for it.

What did you pay for it?

 

[Farmall450]

Guess it's worth what someone would pay for it.

What did you pay for it?

I agree. We have a Craftsman one that's that size and it's pretty good.

 

[RegalX]

What did you pay for it?

I gave $100 for it

 

[Jack Olsen]

You got a decent deal. If you're just looking to flip it, you're not going to make a whole lot more than that. But if you're looking for a pretty good drill press, you've found one.

In 1973 Rockwell Manufacturing was absorbed into Rockwell International. These machines are tagged with the easily identifiable R.I. 'Peace Sign'. Early machines of this era are fine and dandy. Later R.I. went on a cost savings spree and many machines suffered. I typically look at these with some caution and look for dates closer to the early 70's. I would consider a later machine if someone I knew and trusted was selling it.

I'm pretty sure yours is a 1978, so it's not the 'pick of the litter,' exactly, but it's still going to be better than a lot of the Chinese-made presses available today.

 

[Bobf]

I've got one (15-017) purchased in the late seventies new thru JC Penney.
I also ordered the slow speed pulley set shortly after purchase since I use it mainly for drilling metal. I even bought a cheap x/y table and did some very lite milling on it, engine turning etc and have never had a problem with it. Still using it.

 

[RegalX]

You got a decent deal. If you're just looking to flip it, you're not going to make a whole lot more than that. But if you're looking for a pretty good drill press, you've found one.



I'm pretty sure yours is a 1978, so it's not the 'pick of the litter,' exactly, but it's still going to be better than a lot of the Chinese-made presses available today.

I am not looking to flip it, just wanted a good drill press. Thanks for the info.

 

[the1nonlyjl]

You got a decent deal. If you're just looking to flip it, you're not going to make a whole lot more than that. But if you're looking for a pretty good drill press, you've found one.



I'm pretty sure yours is a 1978, so it's not the 'pick of the litter,' exactly, but it's still going to be better than a lot of the Chinese-made presses available today.

Uh huh I got craftsman 12 inch drill press made in China...did heavily use most out of it for motorcycles: frames and mufflers. It's still breathing 7 years hard work.

 

[CNGsaves]

Yeah I'd sure like that one for $100 . . . it's much better than CL used ones I've seen in my area.

Get it all working and shined up, likely last DP you'll ever need.

 

[acdc73]

very nice drillpress for $100
I've got one older than that, but it's a radial DP, set up for woodworking.

 

[RCStocker]

Sense I buyh and sell estates and machinery I will tell you that you got a good drill press and you did not pay to much for it. You did very well and will be pleased with it. It is not a havey duty one but it will do what you want. Machinery is going cheap the past few years.
I have gotten $200 or a little more for them.
If you ever need a larger one you can clean this one up and make a little money with it.

 

[Tarnished]

RegalX: You got a good one there. I believe Jack's date is correct. I have the 1970 Delta version, and am very happy with the drill press.

Much better than the new ones. You won't regret your $100 buy. Yours looks to be in good shape, clean it up an use it.
Plenty of information here: Vintage Machinery

 

[buening]

The manual for your drill press (Delta and Rockwells of this vintage were identical), as well as some brochures and catalogs. It shows what some accessories were available for it.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=4482

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2688

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1699

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1702

BTW, these are considered the 15" Utility Drill Presses. They are a lighter duty drill press than the typical production ones. For a typical homeowner, they do the job nicely. I have a 15-017 and paid $175 for it, for reference.

 

[zuk123]

Very similar style and vintage DPs go for about $175- $225 in the local school auctions.

As a tool for your own use, you did good.

zuk

 

[Outlawmws]

I have the same DP and it's a good one and you got a great deal IMO. IF I was to sell mine in an upgrade I'd be looking at getting 200-250 at least (In my area) I sold a Taiwan IMPORT DP almost 40 years old for more than what you paid.

 

[RegalX]

Thanks guys for all the info... It sounds like a found a good deal. I tore into the thing tonight... cleaning it up... it has a decent amount of surface rust.. but overall it looked to be in good shape.

 

[volaredon]

I got a Rockwell/Delta floor model w/a 5/8 chuck, has the dial speed control on front of the head a 1970 model for too cheap a price to pass up; it's just like what my Jr High wood shop had. I gotta get heat out there as the column is surface rusting as I watch due to moisture...

 

[Albiemanmike]

New member first post and glad to be here. I just bought the same drill press tonight off CL as well for exactly $100. The guy wanted more but I told him I didn't need to buy it but wanted a floor standing drill press and that I had $100 in my pocket take it or leave it. He took it and I brought it home. It has a couple of issues. The biggest issue is the table is broken where it clamps to the support column. It looks like this is a very common issue with this drill press and I would guess it is because the table doesn't have any type of cranking assembly and you have to hold it when you loosen it to move it and if you drop it the table will contact the base and break. The guy I bought it from tried to weld it but he did a very bad job of it and it surely broke on the way home which I kind of expected. So should I have my friend who is a welder try and weld cast orin or just try and find a replacement table?

The press is in decent shape and it does work but it is rough and needs a good restoration which I will definitely do. I have purchased several Shopsmith multipurpose woodworking machine and completely restored them and this drill press looks to be much easier to disassemble and restore. I will probably replace the quill bearings as they are cheap to get and then clean and polish/paint everything back to nicey nice. Does anyone know if I can get a better quill handle for this drill press it has a single handle i.e. two arms on a single handle and it is kind of small diameter and not comfortable to lower? Would love to put a four handle lever on it if that is possible? Anyway thanks for listening great to find a new place to talk tools.

 

[Greatbear]

I have a similar Rockwell DP in a bench version. It's an early 70s vintage, I picked it up about 15 years ago, gave it some TLC and rewired it and it will now outlive me. I need to find a new table and column mount for it, though.

 

[tompoirier7]

just picked up a very similar drill press (15-091) for free this week! Motor has been replaced with (to the best of what I can tell) an old Craftsman grinder motor. Drills holes like a champ, though!

 

[hudub]

just picked up a very similar drill press (15-091) for free this week! Motor has been replaced with (to the best of what I can tell) an old Craftsman grinder motor. Drills holes like a champ, though!

I just picked up the same drill press. I think I need to replace the chuck on mine. Any idea what kind of chuck would fit this? And does your table adjust? Mine only goes up and down but there is no tilt or lateral movement.

 

[buening]

I replaced mine on my Rockwell 15-017 with a Jacobs 633C chuck, which I found new from someone on www.owwm.org classifieds for around $50 if I recall correctly. A Jacobs 34-33C will also fit your drill press, or anything with a JT33 taper chuck. A 34-33C can be found from Sears/Kmart for $75 new. I used the 633C because it has the threaded collar, much like the original chucks had.

 

[Whitworth]

In my opinion, the 15 inch Rockwell is probably the best small drill press you can stumble onto. The quill is substantially bigger in diameter than the Delta/Rockwell 14 inch or any other of its contemporaries, (Atlas, Walker Turner, etc)

I think the 15 inch came in two lengths of quill travel, a six inch and a 4 inch. In some ways it performs more like a 17 inch machine.

$100 is a great price.

G