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Show us your cool, "old" drill press

pmat

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Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
13
I have a Mechanics Machine friction drive drill press. It's the small bench model. Only one I've ever heard of.



It was originally line shaft driven with fast/loose pulleys & the belt shifting fork which is still there in the picture.



I now have it mounted on a heavy wood base and driven with an electric motor mounted off to the side.



I believe these were America's first variable speed drill presses.



Very nice!


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Lssix

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Oct 10, 2016
Messages
101
Thanks. It is definitely a beast. You really have to watch what you're doing when running it because it will not stop if you get hung up. Gotta love the exposed gearing!

Its the very physical manifestation of personal accountability lol.

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Tarnished

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Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
721
Location
SW Ohio
Picked up a few drill presses earlier today :bounce:!
30007457010_e990849dd8.jpg

Dam S4, where was the auction???
All 5 could be keepers, are any slow speed?
I'm with you on keeping the oldest on the left.
Nice score! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 

McBrownie

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Mar 27, 2014
Messages
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Location
Cleveland, OH
One more post of the Penncraft. The owner, who I bought the vintage motor from, still had the switch rod from the bandsaw that the motor was mounted on originally. He was nice enough to send it along. A scrap piece of cherry, some whittling, and now I have a way to turn it on and off without reaching to the back of the machine. While probably not OSHA compliant, it is a lot safer. I did not like reaching around a running machine. The bracket also functions as a chuck key holder.

View media item 64982View media item 64983
 
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G20-Budo

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May 31, 2013
Messages
987
Location
Chandler, AZ
McBrownie,

Nice job on the Penncraft switch rod. Should be much safer and easier to turn the drill on and off. Is this one you plan to use or sale?
 

McBrownie

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McBrownie,

Nice job on the Penncraft switch rod. Should be much safer and easier to turn the drill on and off. Is this one you plan to use or sale?

G20,

Thanks! This one is a keeper. It's as much of a DP as I need for what I do. Although, when I see the bigger ones, it does get me thinking "what if..." :lol:
 

Lssix

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Joined
Oct 10, 2016
Messages
101
Bingo, it'll fit like a glove when I reassemble everything.
3eb4048ae27221643906bd166bf997d1.jpg

I do wish it was copper or brass like the original looked to be, but it may be that the oe part had just lost its original plating.

62994d91b0eac5d51a5dd6c18911ac40.jpg

Heres the part number incase someone else is wondering.

9a782aea197a261f65a6f21eb59b1218.jpg

Also started cleaning up the column, I should probably start my own semi restoration thread instead of cluttering up a show and tell thread lol.

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G20-Budo

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G20,

Thanks! This one is a keeper. It's as much of a DP as I need for what I do. Although, when I see the bigger ones, it does get me thinking "what if..." :lol:

McBrownie,

I completely understand that! :) I've got a smaller DP, that at this point, should meet all of my drilling needs. When I find I need a bigger one, I'll start looking. :)

I like how yours turned out, and I have no doubt it will serve you for years to come.
 

Mark in Indiana

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Aug 11, 2010
Messages
3,057
Location
Southern Indiana
Here is the complete restoration of my Atlas drill press that was manufactured in 1948. There was a lot of rust removal, machining work and painting to complete this.
I bought this drill 5 years ago and used it as needed. It had the normal amount of rust and crud that old drill presses accumulate. The drill press does feature a tilting work table.
Over the past 2 years, I've acquired a rare, original table lift and a rare, Speed Select mechanical speed control. I've also wired in a reverse switch to keep the drive belts from burning out in case the drill bit gets stuck. The last accessory to mention is the black work lamp that was originally a desk lamp. It had the right look to go with this press.
This drill was originally intended for woodworking and soft metals. The upgrades on it will allow me to set it up to drill a wide variety of materials that couldn't have been safely drilled before. With the art-deco style and "feel" of this drill press, it is a pleasure to operate.

1st. Picture: How the DP looked when I purchased it. It pretty well looked this way for about 5 years.
2nd. Picture: The post is set up in the horizontal spindle of my milling machine to remove the rust, clean and polish.
3rd. Picture: Painting all of the components to be painted.
4th. Picture: Restoration finished!
5th. Picture: Left side of DP head. This shows the variable speed control. I had to machine away part of the quill pulley guard to allow for the belts. I also mounted a speaker magnet on the spring cap to hold the chuck key.
6th. Picture. Right side of DP head. This shows the 4-way switch that I wired in to reverse the motor direction if the drill bit gets stuck. It also shows the work lamp.
7th. Picture: Front of DP head. The wood on the table is there to prevent any arc of shame. The vise is an Enco DP vise that I bought in the 80s.
 

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McBrownie

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Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Messages
1,827
Location
Cleveland, OH
Here is the complete restoration of my Atlas drill press that was manufactured in 1948. There was a lot of rust removal, machining work and painting to complete this.
I bought this drill 5 years ago and used it as needed. It had the normal amount of rust and crud that old drill presses accumulate. The drill press does feature a tilting work table.
Over the past 2 years, I've acquired a rare, original table lift and a rare, Speed Select mechanical speed control. I've also wired in a reverse switch to keep the drive belts from burning out in case the drill bit gets stuck. The last accessory to mention is the black work lamp that was originally a desk lamp. It had the right look to go with this press.
This drill was originally intended for woodworking and soft metals. The upgrades on it will allow me to set it up to drill a wide variety of materials that couldn't have been safely drilled before. With the art-deco style and "feel" of this drill press, it is a pleasure to operate.

1st. Picture: How the DP looked when I purchased it. It pretty well looked this way for about 5 years.
2nd. Picture: The post is set up in the horizontal spindle of my milling machine to remove the rust, clean and polish.
3rd. Picture: Painting all of the components to be painted.
4th. Picture: Restoration finished!
5th. Picture: Left side of DP head. This shows the variable speed control. I had to machine away part of the quill pulley guard to allow for the belts. I also mounted a speaker magnet on the spring cap to hold the chuck key.
6th. Picture. Right side of DP head. This shows the 4-way switch that I wired in to reverse the motor direction if the drill bit gets stuck. It also shows the work lamp.
7th. Picture: Front of DP head. The wood on the table is there to prevent any arc of shame. The vise is an Enco DP vise that I bought in the 80s.

Mark,

Great job! Is that slow speed pulley system OEM Atlas?
 

Mark in Indiana

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Aug 11, 2010
Messages
3,057
Location
Southern Indiana
All,
Thanks for the kind words.

McBrownie,
The speed controller is manufactured by Speed Select Inc. Chagrin Falls, O. They're still in business.
I'll post a picture of the device alone later, from my desk computer.
 

nine4gmc

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Mar 24, 2012
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Location
Dallas
Anyone that uses a full size milling machine to spin a drill press pole just to polish it is my hero!! :bowdown:
 

Mark in Indiana

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Aug 11, 2010
Messages
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Location
Southern Indiana
McBrownie,
I was led to the speed controller through a thread here. Here's a picture of it as purchased.

Nine4,
Along with spinning the DP pole, here's a picture of the quill pulley guard being cut out to clear the belt. The cut was a little challenging because I had to make the cuts look like they were done at the factory.
I also got to say to my wife: "Look honey, glad we have a milling machine. imagine what it would have cost to have this work done at a machine shop." :bounce:
 

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McBrownie

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McBrownie,
I was led to the speed controller through a thread here. Here's a picture of it as purchased.

Mark,

There was a thread on that speed controller a while back. What a great find. The company is still in business and is about 45 minutes outside of downtown Cleveland in a very pretty area.

http://www.speedselector.com/

I looked through their products when that last thread came up and I don't think they carry that small of a model anymore. What they do offer today expensive too. Definitely industrial grade. If I remember right, the cheapest one on their site was over $500.
 

Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,234
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The Badlands
McBrownie,
I was led to the speed controller through a thread here. Here's a picture of it as purchased.

Nine4,
Along with spinning the DP pole, here's a picture of the quill pulley guard being cut out to clear the belt. The cut was a little challenging because I had to make the cuts look like they were done at the factory.
I also got to say to my wife: "Look honey, glad we have a milling machine. imagine what it would have cost to have this work done at a machine shop." :bounce:

And was she impressed? :evil:
 

Lssix

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Oct 10, 2016
Messages
101
Lol, you better use the thing to make something nice for her.

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Redboy

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Feb 6, 2014
Messages
166
Location
twin cities mn
Here's the latest addition to the project queue!

An early DP-220


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kwhunter

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@home
Not many cool DPs in my neck of the woods...
What I have, and use, is this:
far east made and sold as private label (King Canada), made in 1989, selectable speed; original condition, just cleaned up and lubed. Also, the chucks I am using with it.

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Jim Johnstone

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Location
Brantford, Ontario
Not many cool DPs in my neck of the woods...
What I have, and use, is this:
far east made and sold as private label (King Canada), made in 1989, selectable speed; original condition, just cleaned up and lubed. Also, the chucks I am using with it.

_DSC2487_zpsiinhxsz7.jpg


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Keep an eye out, the old buffalo blower and forge drill presses were made in Kitchener, probably tons of them around. I had 3 at one point.
 

kwhunter

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Keep an eye out, the old buffalo blower and forge drill presses were made in Kitchener, probably tons of them around. I had 3 at one point.

Maybe the Mennonites still use them?! If I'll find one in good condition I will certainly pull the trigger. I live in Kitchener but never seen one...
 

Lssix

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Oct 10, 2016
Messages
101
Keep an eye out, the old buffalo blower and forge drill presses were made in Kitchener, probably tons of them around. I had 3 at one point.
Its a plenty nice machine, Im convinced we are already seeing Taiwanese tools edge into the usable vintage tool market. With old american canadian european and even Japanese iron rising in value machines like yours may become very desirable for folks simply looming for a decent tool to do work with.



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zigzagfrog

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Jun 1, 2016
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Location
Bow, WA
Re: Clausing 15" VS Drill Press

Hey.. I hjave a pencil sharpener just like that.
Grandpa gave it to me when I was 10 or so.
Thanks for the flashback!!!!!

ZZF
 

kwhunter

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Its a plenty nice machine, Im convinced we are already seeing Taiwanese tools edge into the usable vintage tool market. With old american canadian european and even Japanese iron rising in value machines like yours may become very desirable for folks simply looming for a decent tool to do work with.



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Nothing wrong with the King other than the far east origin; I had it tuned up (replaced spindle bearings,pressed and bored Bz bearings in the head for the quill) and it has max 15 microns runout at max spindle extension.
 

Outlawmws

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Nothing wrong with the King other than the far east origin; I had it tuned up (replaced spindle bearings,pressed and bored Bz bearings in the head for the quill) and it has max 15 microns runout at max spindle extension.

Really? Microns? is this a multi-millon dollar DP? :dunno:

(0.000590551181102362 inch...)
 
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kwhunter

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Really? Microns? is this a multi-millon dollar DP? :dunno:

(0.000590551181102362 inch...)

Yes @outlaw, 15 microns on the spindle end.
15 microns, or 0.015mm, or less than 1 thou (0.001"=0.025 mm)
I don't know about the multi million $$ DP (have you seen any?!) Cost was about $400 (new spindle, ceramic bearings, grinding, boring, reaming, etc). I did it for fun not out of necessity. Almost anything is doable.
 
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Lssix

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Yes @outlaw, 15 microns on the spindle end.
15 microns, or 0.015mm, or less than 1 thou
I don't know about the multi million $$ DP (have you seen any?!) Cost was about $400 (new spindle, ceramic bearings, grinding, boring, reaming, etc). I did it for fun not out of necessity. Almost anything is doable.

Lol, reminds me of the guy on youtube that rebuilt a harborfreight type DP with a custom machined quill.

Definitely not about resale value

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kwhunter

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Lol, reminds me of the guy on youtube that rebuilt a harborfreight type DP with a custom machined quill.

Definitely not about resale value

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I'm an accumulator not a seller; I quit smoking long ago so if I sell something for say $50 profit it's meaningless, unless I sell hundreds or thousands of them.
I would definitely sell the DP for a loss...
 

nickelTwin

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Aug 8, 2014
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Location
St Paul, MN
Not really a drill press, but an old post drill.
I got it last night on the side of the road with other free stuff someone was getting rid of.

It's missing the crank handle and feed arm. Couple of future projects.

Everything turns free once I sprayed some lube on everything that should move.
 

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McBrownie

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I'm an accumulator not a seller; I quit smoking long ago so if I sell something for say $50 profit it's meaningless, unless I sell hundreds or thousands of them.
I would definitely sell the DP for a loss...

It's all about what makes you happy. The accomplishment of fine tuning a machine to do something that it was never designed to do, is something to take pride in. I would argue that this is the same as making an old 150hp Chevy crank out 350hp. Although, it could be argued, that driving a 350hp Chevy is more fun. But, good luck trying to do that for $400. :lol:
 

Lssix

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It's all about what makes you happy. The accomplishment of fine tuning a machine to do something that it was never designed to do, is something to take pride in. I would argue that this is the same as making an old 150hp Chevy crank out 350hp. Although, it could be argued, that driving a 350hp Chevy is more fun. But, good luck trying to do that for $400. [emoji38]
Hey, I grew up reading those 350hp for $350 small block builds in Hotrod and Car Craft.

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Lssix

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Oct 10, 2016
Messages
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Not really a drill press, but an old post drill.
I got it last night on the side of the road with other free stuff someone was getting rid of.

It's missing the crank handle and feed arm. Couple of future projects.

Everything turns free once I sprayed some lube on everything that should move.
Neat, i would like one of those to stick on a walk but i cant bring my self to pay what sellers want.

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kochankr

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Aug 22, 2014
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hello there, i haven't been posting much on here, seems i spend a lot more time on the OWWM forum with woodworking tools, but couldn't resist sharing this latest WT 900 clean up
 

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Lssix

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Wow, even if its a basic model the jealousy is real, Im STILL wanting a floor model DP of decent repute.

I imagine its still fairly capable even as a single speed.

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