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Scored an Old Delta drill press

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EasyTiger864

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Sep 9, 2012
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Sparkle City, SC
Hey guys, I just scored this old drill press off Facebook Marketplace. I was wondering if anyone could give me some idea of how old it is. Sorry for the terrible cell phone pics. It appears to be in really good shape and complete. The chuck and the quill are tight and smooth. Runs really quiet. My plans are to just clean it up and put it in service. I might get a sheet of steel to resurface the table and put a better switch on it. So tell me what you think. Oh yeah it was $135.IMG_20190423_201524.jpgIMG_20190423_201640.jpgIMG_20190423_201454.jpegIMG_20190423_201505.jpegIMG_20190423_201537.jpegIMG_20190423_201559.jpg

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EasyTiger864

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Sparkle City, SC
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zkling

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I have the earlier version dedicated for wood work. If you want to keep it original, I would build a drill press table to go over top. Otherwise I would get a more modern t slot table as a replacement.
 
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exmaxima1

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zkling said:
I have the earlier version dedicated for wood work. If you want to keep it original, I would build a drill press table to go over top. Otherwise I would get a more modern t slot table as a replacement.
Click to expand...

+1
Mine is about 10 years older, but looks identical. I installed a plate on the table since it was so full of holes. It's easier to clamp to the plate as well.
 

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Cleave

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Great find, Looks like the quill lock handle is broken, that would be work getting a replacement. I have a Delta Homecraft benchtop drill press (very similar to yours but smaller) and LOVE the quill lock.
 
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EasyTiger864

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Sparkle City, SC
Cleave said:
Great find, Looks like the quill lock handle is broken, that would be work getting a replacement. I have a Delta Homecraft benchtop drill press (very similar to yours but smaller) and LOVE the quill lock.
Click to expand...

is this where the quill lock handle should be?
 

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Jim C.

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Hey Easy Tiger,

Great score! Those old Delta 17” drill presses are tanks. I have a 1951 that I use all the time. Is yours a hi-speed or slo-speed model?

Jim C.
 
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454ragtop

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Just to clear up a couple things, that's a Delta 17" drill press WITH table crank elevation, and it didn't come with a quill lock lever/handle. There is a quill lock bolt, requiring a wrench, it's above the circled bolt in the pic. The circled bolt is the mounting bolt for the quill stop bracket or collar. Right above it is the bolt to adjust the quill to head bore clearance, and above that is the quill lock bolt.
 
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EasyTiger864

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Yes, it has the crank table. I removed the crank handle for transport and I did not reinstall before I took pics. I was wondering about the quill lock. I couldn't see that anything was broke off. The depth gauge (threaded rod with nuts) looks to be a homemade replacement. I would like to at least get some knurled nuts to replace the hex.

Also the return spring must be broke because it goes down but without any tension. I'll tear into it this weekend.

I can't thank you guys enough, your knowledge of these old machines amazes me.
 
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Jim C.

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EasyTiger864 said:
I'm not sure, I assume they have a different pulley setup. How will I be able to tell?
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Yes, the pulleys are different. The drill press slo-speed pulley is part #DP-825. The hi-speed drill press pulley is #DP-826. The part numbers are on the underside of the pulleys.

Jim C.
 
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EasyTiger864

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Jim C. said:
Yes, the pulleys are different. The drill press slo-speed pulley is part #DP-825. The hi-speed drill press pulley is #DP-826. The part numbers are on the underside of the pulleys.

Jim C.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I'll look into it this weekend.
 
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EasyTiger864

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Ricky Joe said:
I've got an old one you are welcome to rob parts from that you may need. I am in Roanoke, Virginia, so not too far. If interested let me know and I'll dig it out so we can take pictures.
Click to expand...

I might take you up on that, I'm always up for a road trip. How's the table on yours? I'll probably find other things once I start tearing into it.
 
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Ms Millie

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This is my 1st post so If I get something wrong, please be patient. I have a Rockwell Delta Drill press, according to the book you linked me to it appears to be a 1938 press. I am trying to find out the value so I can sell it. Good shape runs quite nothing broken. Any idea where I can find the value?
 
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Davefr

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Ms Millie said:
This is my 1st post so If I get something wrong, please be patient. I have a Rockwell Delta Drill press, according to the book you linked me to it appears to be a 1938 press. I am trying to find out the value so I can sell it. Good shape runs quite nothing broken. Any idea where I can find the value?
Click to expand...

Just post a separate thread with lots of good images.
 
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Packard V8

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Ricky Joe said:
My health is deteriorating and I have been divesting myself of tools and unnecessary items to prevent my wife from selling a $500 item for $5. Many of them I have given to my nephew, some I have donated to Habitat, and some I have sold. The effort selling is not worth the return.
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For true. While it may not seem so here on GJ, the market demand for and value of good old US-made machinery has actually been going down.

Forty years ago, if one listed a good Delta DP for sale in the local classifieds, there would be three guys fighting over who got there first early on Saturday morning.

Today, with craigslist, they don't sell as quickly and one has to deal with the scammers, the low-ballers and that guy who says he'll take it, but when he shows up, he starts saying it's only worth half what he agreed to pay.

"No holds, no checks, first-come, cash only."

jack vines
 
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Marctrees

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VERY good helpful info.

Good post !

But only way to see the numbers is to pull the pulley.

Difficult when not in a guy's own shop.

Potentially major PIA like when going to look at a CL item.

Specially if dealing w a semi crazy type. not rare.

If anyone has comparative photos and/ or readily differentiating measurement could be REALLY helpful in many cases.

Marc
 
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Ms Millie

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Thanks Davefr: This is the Press that I have had for over 20 years and am trying to get an idea of the value.
 

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454ragtop

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As far as id'ing high speed and slow speed quill pulleys, the slow speed is larger to the point it is as big in diameter as the belt guard will allow, the high speed is smaller, leaving about an inch of space around it in the guard.
 
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Packard V8

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X2 the Homecraft is a nice basement shop DP, typically selling for $50 - $75. I'm using one in that capacity and wouldn't part with it for even $100 because it fills a need for me. Having said that, it wouldn't do everything I need done in my main garage shop and if one can have only one DP a larger size will do more.

jack vines
 
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EasyTiger864

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Sparkle City, SC
Jim C. said:
No, I got it right.....This is from the 1957 owner’s manual.

JimC.
Click to expand...
Yeah this was the pulley from the motor. The other pulley looks to be a real PITA to take off. It is larger than the motor pulley. I don't plan on doing a full tear down/ restore so I'll just guess it's a slow speed. It's slow/fast enough for me.[emoji6]

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Marctrees

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I'll say higher.

If it runs out smooth with no excessive runout (wobble) up to $200.

Do not let it go for 75 unless you need to.

In a case like this "Old" is not bad, it is a good thing.

This drill press is built like most stuff that era, will last multiple generations if not abused, and all parts that wear in time, basically only bearings, are cheap and readily available.

Marc
 
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