Show us your cool, "old" drill press

[ClappedOutBport]

Those are actually post war, but from about the early '40s to 1953 IIRC. After that they went to v-belt and before that they were lineshaft machines. I have the same one.

 

[Mike W.]

Those are actually post war, but from about the early '40s to 1953 IIRC. After that they went to v-belt and before that they were lineshaft machines. I have the same one.

Just curious but how do you know?

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[michael.kitko]

I was told with our drill presses, it comes down to features and bearings. For instance, the ones work the split style bearings are older style. I did have a W.F. Barnes that was incredibly pristine that was pre-1900s, but donated it to a local mill, who then sent it to a line shaft shop up in Mass. The Royersford I have is, what people guess, pre-war due to the flat belt feed pulley and the filler coating under the paint, but later 1900s due to the split style upper bearings. I will have to check when I get home, but my serial number is quite low. Some of the ones that are war age, have no filler coat and still have the split upper bearings. Also, later ones have vee belt down feed pulleys. I think what is truly sad is there really is no way to date these big girls.

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[Mike W.]

I was told with our drill presses, it comes down to features and bearings. For instance, the ones work the split style bearings are older style. I did have a W.F. Barnes that was incredibly pristine that was pre-1900s, but donated it to a local mill, who then sent it to a line shaft shop up in Mass. The Royersford I have is, what people guess, pre-war due to the flat belt feed pulley and the filler coating under the paint, but later 1900s due to the split style upper bearings. I will have to check when I get home, but my serial number is quite low. Some of the ones that are war age, have no filler coat and still have the split upper bearings. Also, later ones have vee belt down feed pulleys. I think what is truly sad is there really is no way to date these big girls.

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When you say split style upper bearings, is this what you mean? I assumed they're Babbitt bearings.

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[michael.kitko]

Yeah, those are the split style. They are still babbitted but easier to service. The older style on some of them are actually solid rounds with no bolts to split it.

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[Mike W.]

Yeah, those are the split style. They are still babbitted but easier to service. The older style on some of them are actually solid rounds with no bolts to split it.

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Sounds like we have pretty much the same drill press. what would your estimate be on the age of this thing? You see it has a double v belt down to the motor but also has the split Babbitt bearings and flat belt drive.

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[Rootpass]

I just finished this Delta DP400 drill press I found in a pawn shop. It is great. Any idea how old it is? I’ve looked at others on the internet but haven’t seen any with the brass piece at the bottom of the quill or what appears to be an original single hand “roller” type wooden handle. While cleaning it up I noticed the large cast brass piece and filed the casting and grinding marks out. I also started nickel plating the fasteners to keep them from rusting again.

 

[crguy]

I just finished this Delta DP400 drill press I found in a pawn shop. It is great. Any idea how old it is? I’ve looked at others on the internet but haven’t seen any with the brass piece at the bottom of the quill or what appears to be an original single hand “roller” type wooden handle. While cleaning it up I noticed the large cast brass piece and filed the casting and grinding marks out. I also started nickel plating the fasteners to keep them from rusting again.

The brass piece looks like a home made replacement.

The handle would suggest to me that the drill press was used in a production setting where the same quill travel was needed over and over?

 

[454ragtop]

Rootpass, what you have is a Delta 645 Triple Duty 11" drill press. Somewhat rare, only made in the late 30's - early 40's. Both the handle and brass collar appear to be shop made. If you go back a page in this thread the catalog page for it was posted. Can't tell because of the vise, does it have the original tilting table? Almost looks like a replacement table of some sort as well. Welcome to the site.

Forgot to ask, what's up with the chuck and mount? Does it have much runout? Good news is that while the machine was short lived, the collar, handle, and spindle/quill interchange with the much more common DP220 14" drill presses.

 

[Rootpass]

Thank you for the model number!
It does have the tilting table. I’d be shocked if someone took the time to cast the brass collar. It only gives a place for the depth stop rod to attach. I have a 16 second video of the runout but I can’t figure out how to post it.
I chucked a 1/2” diameter ground piece of tool steel and measured runout with a Federal .0005” dial indicator. It moved .0035”.

 

[Rootpass]

These are a few pictures of the brass collar.

 

[454ragtop]

You may be right about the collar. Looks like it is machined underneath to have something attach to it, possibly a mortising attachment.

 

[crguy]

You may be right about the collar. Looks like it is machined underneath to have something attach to it, possibly a mortising attachment.

I agree, there is more to that collar than just the depth stop. Made to do a special job, which brings me back to the thought of a single purpose setup with the handle modification to go with it.

Lots of industries have multiple drill presses set up do do specific operations.

 

[Rootpass]

Thanks for the info. I wouldn’t have thought of that.

 

[dwall174]

I’d be shocked if someone took the time to cast the brass collar.

Given it's age the brass collar really doesn't surprise me!

During WWII they rationed & controlled the sale of brass & copper for military use, Largely for ammunition/shell casings.

Also during the war a lot machine shops were reconfigured to make supplies for the military. After the war ended some of these machine shops had large supplies of brass & copper on-hand.

As a result of the excess material on-hand, A lot of old shop-made items were made from copper & brass.

Doug

 

[crguy]

As a result of the excess material on-hand, A lot of old shop-made items were made from copper & brass.

Doug

Actually, the reason you see brass/bronze used a lot in replacement parts, what we called "government jobs", or "home jobs", is that it's easier to cast due to lower temperatures, etc. than that needed for cast iron.

 

[bubinga]

The brass piece looks like a home made replacement.

The handle would suggest to me that the drill press was used in a production setting where the same quill travel was needed over and over?

I'd have to agree!!
They did a damn professional job though IMO!
Nice looking press!

 

[bubinga]

Given it's age the brass collar really doesn't surprise me!

During WWII they rationed & controlled the sale of brass & copper for military use, Largely for ammunition/shell casings.

Also during the war a lot machine shops were reconfigured to make supplies for the military. After the war ended some of these machine shops had large supplies of brass & copper on-hand.

As a result of the excess material on-hand, A lot of old shop-made items were made from copper & brass.
Doug

Funny to read that today, IDK what made me think of It, But I recalled **Yesterday!** my Grandmother telling me abt. "rationed & controlled" metals years ago. Don't know what the context was though.

Being easier to cast makes sense too, We used to cast&machine AL in high school shop.

 

[bubinga]

Actually, the reason you see brass/bronze used a lot in replacement parts, what we called "government jobs", or "home jobs", is that it's easier to cast due to lower temperatures, etc. than that needed for cast iron.

Again, good point!
Excess material makes sense too.

 

[Mike.ASC]

My old Craftsman DP, found on Craigslist for $80.

Cleaned it, painted it, retro-fitted a treadmill motor and associated controls, and added a digital tachometer. Runs like a top and is nicer looking than anything made today. Build thread here: Craftsman drill press resto-mod

Very nice.

 

[dutchgray]

Those are actually post war, but from about the early '40s to 1953 IIRC. After that they went to v-belt and before that they were lineshaft machines. I have the same one.

Worth mentioning that Denbigh sold their camel back drill almost to the demise of the company, I believe into the 1970's, industrial stuff has a habit of staying in production far longer than you would think.
You find plain bearings in large machinery made far later as well, plenty of top quality DSG lathes made in the 60's with them for instance.
I really would like to find one of those drills myself, its really the only affordable way to buy a drill with that capacity here, anything remotely modern is expensive or so large and heavy its beyond 99% of home shops.

 

[Craptain]

Rootpass. Here's a picture of mine, which is standard for the dp. My conclusion is that yours was modified, perhaps a factory option, for some specific purpose. As someone else suggested, perhaps a mortising attachment. Mine is not brass by the way.

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[Randall3rd]

Picked up a 20" Walker Turner w/ power feed and slow speed attachment. Should be all the drill press I ever need. Now to move the other ones out to make room!

 

[tombell572]

Randall, that's one helluva find! W/T's are nice machines and you've found one with the slow speed attachment and power down-feed. Both features on one machine is indeed super rare.

Tom B.

 

[crguy]

Picked up a 20" Walker Turner w/ power feed and slow speed attachment. Should be all the drill press I ever need. Now to move the other ones out to make room!

Yes, that's a Good one!

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

That W/T is amazing!

 

[Rootpass]

Awesome Walker Turner! I could never find one where the price was right plus shipping. Really wanted one though.

 

[dwall174]

I could never find one where the price was right plus shipping.

The 20" Walker Turners will pop-up every now and then, But the power feed version is even harder to find.

Here's a couple that I picked up for $75 awhile back Post #1992

Here's my latest progress on one of them, It still needs a few more parts & some wiring to finish it up. I also need to make some new mounting brackets for the cast-iron guard.

Doug

 

[RHJO51]

Here is a couple of mine. Recently picked up this small Atlas 1010 for $50, with a good cleaning she purrs like a kitten. Wasn't planning on keeping it but it is so sweet. The other is a Craftsman floor model that I fitted with a Craftsman variable speed/reversible motor and remote switch. Fun stuff....

 

[30 Buford]

That Craftsman with the Machine turned trim is a Beauty, and the other is nice also. Thanks for posting.


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[hotroddeuce]

some cool ones here...

 

[hotroddeuce]

here is one I sold last summer even had a pulley/geared power feed on it, hated to let it go but running out of room..

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That variable speed motor and controller is sweet.

 

[Craptain]

Not mine. ....But I am tempted.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/tls/d/dunedin-drill-press/6837333485.html

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[crguy]

Not mine. ....But I am tempted.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/tls/d/dunedin-drill-press/6837333485.html

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I would strongly suggest you pass on that drill press and never look back - at any price.

 

[Craptain]

I would strongly suggest you pass on that drill press and never look back - at any price.

Curiosity has me wondering why?
I can see that it's a very basic dp apart from the radial arm, but otherwise?

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[crguy]

Curiosity has me wondering why?
I can see that it's a very basic dp apart from the radial arm, but otherwise?

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I've never seen anybody that owned and liked one of those.

The radial arm feature is next to worthless as it extends out beyond the table and is too flexible.

The long arm makes it take up a whole lot more space.

As soon as you move the arm, you lose squareness to the table.

I've seen those go begging on CL for less than $50.

That's just my 2 cents worth.

 

[MayerMR]

I've never seen anybody that owned and liked one of those.

The radial arm feature is next to worthless as it extends out beyond the table and is too flexible.

The long arm makes it take up a whole lot more space.

As soon as you move the arm, you lose squareness to the table.

I've seen those go begging on CL for less than $50.

That's just my 2 cents worth.

Ya, hard pass.

 

[Provincial]

A friends father owned one like that. It was useful for woodworking, but not rigid enough for drilling steel. Probably OK for Aluminum, if you kept it close to the column. Spindle speed appropriate for wood/plastic.

 

[Outlawmws]

The only place I've seen a light radial arm DP be useful is over a large drilling table and as mentioned, for wood/soft materials. if you do a lot of middle of the sheet drilling, its a decent solution. BUT, do the setup once and move the material, not the arm, other than up or down...