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Show us your cool, "old" drill press

mikeinri

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Nov 29, 2019
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MA
Looks to be in great condition. You hardly ever see those big drills with a nice table like that.

Ditto, that's incredible, @682bear!

I'd love to have the space for one of those. Definitely don't have a "need" for it, other than the cool factor, and like @d42jeep, I'd definitely hate to see another one of those end up in a scrapyard.

Mike
 
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Beerhippie

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Oct 13, 2023
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Far NE Oregon
Once again, without some reduction, a treadmill motor--and I have a big one (yeah, bragging), still loses torque at low speeds. Today, I was running a #10-24 tap into 1/4" 6061 aluminum with my treadmill-motor-powered DP. It bogged below 100 rpm.

AFAIK, no single-phase motor will work with a VFD.
Correction: I don't have tap sockets or whatever, and it was the tap spinning in the Jacobs 33 chuck--the DP never hesitated--except for the lag Outlaw described. My bad.

This is the motor I'm currently running:

54231005008_39a85b32b0_o.jpg

I have a reverser switch so tapping with the DP is safe and easy.
 

Davefr

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Jan 7, 2010
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OR
I use a VFD with a 1 HP 3 phase DP motor and I have yet to move the belt/pulley setting below the highest speed steps. For most drilling tasks low speed torque is just fine. If I ever need even more torque I have 4 lower speed pulley settings to choose from. I can't imagine any scenario where I would ever need more torque. If so, a DP is the simply the wrong machine for the job.
 

crguy

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Jan 24, 2016
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SW Washington
Correction: I don't have tap sockets or whatever, and it was the tap spinning in the Jacobs 33 chuck--the DP never hesitated--except for the lag Outlaw described. My bad.

This is the motor I'm currently running:

54231005008_39a85b32b0_o.jpg

I have a reverser switch so tapping with the DP is safe and easy.
Tapping with the tap in the chuck is ridiculous IMO. Reversing tapping heads are the way to get the job done when you have multiple holes to tap. Far better control.
 

Snip's

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Apr 29, 2017
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1,852
Location
Ohio
That was great advice. I removed enough pieces to make it possible to get it out of my car.IMG_5759.jpegIMG_5760.jpeg
-Don
Don... Notice the Delta 5 ribs on the pulley cover... This is a much wider cover that allows space for a larger diameter factory pulley...
The 5 rib model are indicative of a Slo-Speed DP set up for 470, 780, 1300 and 1950 RPM
The 4 rib model are indicative of a Hi-Speed DP set up for 680, 1250, 2400 and 4600 RPM.

If you want to go slower Member JZiggy offers an excellent 3rd pulley MSA unit

Screen Shot 2025-12-30 at 1.02.17 PM.png
 

Beerhippie

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Far NE Oregon
Tapping with the tap in the chuck is ridiculous IMO. Reversing tapping heads are the way to get the job done when you have multiple holes to tap. Far better control.
Very true--but I don't own one and probably can't afford one. Seems like those run around $700+--used.

Mostly, I use the DP to start the tap in the hole so I can get it straight, turning the chuck by hand. But this time, it was just soft aluminum so I said to hell with it, it's only #10-24--of which I have several taps--let's give it a try.

I was running the chuck at about 50 rpm, and with the big DC motor, the chuck stops instantly when I turn the switch off. My reverser switch is an On-Off-On, so the chuck stops between forward and reverse. Actually pretty easy to use.

I need to get some tap holders for the chuck and more spiral-flute taps.
 

tool_scrounge

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Jul 20, 2010
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4,193
Location
Southern California
Correction: I don't have tap sockets or whatever, and it was the tap spinning in the Jacobs 33 chuck--the DP never hesitated--except for the lag Outlaw described. My bad.

This is the motor I'm currently running:

54231005008_39a85b32b0_o.jpg

I have a reverser switch so tapping with the DP is safe and easy.

I am a big fan of industrial grade DC motors on drill presses and belt grinders. Often the motors and control electronics can be found for cheap on EBay. They are usually NEMA 56 sized so mounting them is easy. They also do not have the annoying audible whine of most VFDs I see.
 

bugzilla46310

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Feb 4, 2023
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Demotte, IN
Needed to order belts for my Multi Speed and my bandsaw. Thought I would post these 2 sites. Been ordering from both of them for years for all my belt needs and no complaints. Vbelts4less tends to have better pricing for the belts I order by a little bit. Prices are good and you don’t even need to get out of the house!

edit: meant to post in the Craftsman vintage drill press thread.


 
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Beerhippie

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Far NE Oregon
I am a big fan of industrial grade DC motors on drill presses and belt grinders. Often the motors and control electronics can be found for cheap on EBay. They are usually NEMA 56 sized so mounting them is easy. They also do not have the annoying audible whine of most VFDs I see.
I got my set-up from a treadmill a friend was throwing away. MC30 controller board, etc. The motor that came from the treadmill was rated at 2hp--at 20,000 rpm. I found this 1/2 hp at 1,800 rpm on Ebay.

53533965923_4e4a12504d_o.jpg

The parts I salvaged form the treadmill.

53558212189_01882d3b25_o.jpg

Mounted. I later added an Amp/Volt meter.

54242994835_fb5b0be85b_o.jpg

One variable-speed, reversible drill press.
 

Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
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39,239
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The Badlands
Wow, I've mentioned my Rockwell a bunch of times in this thread but never posted it?

A few pics here, but also the build thread:



1767205488669.png

Control box: I have since added a mag mount LED light for the work area - the "night light" on the back of the box was the planned receptacle for that. The switch in the middle is for the light, the original main switch turns the motor on/off and the push button starts it:

1767205634874.png

1767205770556.png


It's table as bought before cleanup:

1767205960236.png
 

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tool_scrounge

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Treadmill motors certainly have “bang for the buck”. I looked at using them on my drill presses, but was fortunate to find industrial DC motors for cheap locally. Recently I ran into a NIB 3/4 Hp 1800rpm Emerson Electric DC motor for $20. it was a nice upgrade to the Leeson 1/2 hp motor I was previously using.

for ease of integration, I keep eye out for used Minarik MM2xxxx NEMA 1 enclosure DC motor drives. They are 120VAC (for 90VDC motors) and 240VAC (for 180VDC motors) compatible. eBay is a good source for them.

IMG_0059.jpeg
 
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alfrooptical

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Jan 2, 2026
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Anyone able to give me a value on an old Arboga Maskiner GM2508? I inherited it from my dad’s machine shop. I have a buyer, just don’t have a clue where to price it. Probably not pretty but it was in use until my dad got sick a few months ago. No clue on actual age.
 

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SMOKEYBEAR

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Jan 3, 2016
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453
Quick refresh, obviously paint, but new motor, motor plate, switch, cord,belt, bearings, table/ fence and a cover plate to keep debris out of the base. Rolled it out for a few pictures and back in it's spot and back to work..
 

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fordoz

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Apr 21, 2024
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Not sure how "Cool" it is since there's an entire thread on rebuilding them, but here's my early-vintage Craftsman 100.
It was my wife's Grandpa's. Gotta be about 75 years old, but I don't know exact year. He moved to California in 1942 and likely picked it up a few years after that. Her dad kept it in the garage after his passing, but never really used it. I put it to work a few times - which is when I noticed it needed a belt and some hardware, and could use a good going-through.

I tore it down (initially just to move it from house to house, to house), installed a larger (specified 1/3HP) motor; replaced motor, pulley and quill bearings, standard hardware, and belt. Removed decades of gunk from the quill, pinion, head, and chuck. Cleaned up the paint; removed surface rust from the unfinished column, rods, and chuck.
Without help from FrankLee and a bunch of others on the Craftsman Drill Press site, I would have left in on the curb and picked up a cheapie little benchtop unit. But this is way cooler than that, and a good bit more useful, too.



Wow. Super-nice job!!

Wow. Super-nice job!!
 

four.cycle

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Tacoma, Washington
^ If you were able to ascertain what the model number might have been, you might be able to establish a date range within which that model was produced/sold.

Champion at International Tool Catalog Library (note there are 39 different flavors of "Champion" - you're looking for "Champion Blower and Forge" of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
 

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ArmyVW_GuyInTX

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^ If you were able to ascertain what the model number might have been, you might be able to establish a date range within which that model was produced/sold.

Champion at International Tool Catalog Library (note there are 39 different flavors of "Champion" - you're looking for "Champion Blower and Forge" of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Thanks for this - I found it in the catalog - and will double check the model number this weekend.
 

ArmyVW_GuyInTX

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That belt tensioner is an unnecessary addition.
The added "Iron Maiden" type of belt cover that was around it was unnecessary too - but someone thought otherwise in the 100 year old welding shop that it was in.

People add some "interesting features" at times to machines and vehicles - some are useful and some leave little to be be desired. The tensioner is tensioned via rubber bungee straps - not exactly designed by a mechanical surgeon or engineer!

Who knows what else is under the decades of dirt and grime.
 

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