Thoughts on this drill press?

[joehalford01]

Hi guys,

I've been checking out everyones drill press threads, and it looks like a few of you have the 103-25431 craftsman drill press. General consensus seems to be that it is a good overall drill press and needs to be modded slightly to slow it down enough for drilling metal. I found this one through a friend of a friend, it's a 103-25430. I'm wondering what the difference is? They want $200 for it and say it is pretty much mint, it's been in storage for years. I can't find anything anywhere on this specific model number to see what the difference is, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I really need a drill press to get going on some projects I have. Thanks!

 

[A_Pmech]

Hi Joe,

Speed depends on the size of the hole and material. Larger holes in harder materials require slower speeds. Whether it is slow enough will depend highly on how big a hole you want to drill and what you want to drill.

Available speeds should be listed somewhere on the machine. I don't recall where on that model, however. I'm going to *guess* it's the same as evintho's 103-25431 at 600 RPM as it appears to have the same drive arrangement.

The model # difference appears to be a design revision. You can check it out here:

http://www.owwm.com/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=4

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Can you test the motor before you buy it? I'd get him down to $150 if it works okay.

 

[evintho]

I believe A Pmech nailed it! It's a model revision. Probably manufactured a year or two after mine. Otherwise, they're the same drill press. 610 rpms is the lowest speed. I paid $200 for mine and your's seems to be in much better condition. Make sure the motor runs smoothly, the spindle doesn't have any side to side movement and just basically check that everything is in good working order. Offer him $150 and if he says no, give him the $200! They're quality machines!

You can download the owner's manual here................
http://www.owwm.com/MfgIndex/pubdetail.aspx?id=1519

 

[back2class]

Seems decent floor model drillpresses are available all day long for about $100. Have you been looking for more than a few days?

 

[nissan_crawler]

personally, I would have a hard time paying more than $100 for one that limited, and minus the track for the table, but if you're not wanting one for steel, it won't matter.

 

[joehalford01]

Hi guys, thanks for the info and responses. I am wanting to drill steel, but nothing thicker then 3/16". I also don't have access to 220 or 3-phase at this point so any of the huge drill presses i've seen for sale are not really an option. I've haven't seen any of this particular vintage here in my area for sale. I've found this or that on craigslist but nothing that looked really like it was worth buying.

Nissan Crawler, whats the track for the table?

What about the feasability of slowing it down some? I don't have anything against swapping motors or pulleys around to get the desired rpm (i'm more concerned about having something with good heft for it's size). I would almost be happy to have an application for some of the math i've been learning in school, angular velocity here i come, lol.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I think Nissan Crawler meant the rack and pinion table elevation setup, as opposed to friction, like this one has. This is a good drill press, my dad has had the benchtop version of this since before I was born (I am 42). Like the others said, make sure the motor is good, and that there is no play in the spindle, and give the guy some money.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I think Nissan Crawler meant the rack and pinion table elevation setup, as opposed to friction, like this one has. This is a good drill press, my dad has had the benchtop version of this since before I was born (I am 42). Like the others said, make sure the motor is good, and that there is no play in the spindle, and give the guy some money.

Yep, that's what I was talking about. If you're planning on slowing it down with a motor/pulleys, you might want to start looking at other things, IMHO. If you're using it as is for what you're doing, it wouldn't be a bad price. However, by the time you modify it, you will have spent about as much money as I did on my jet that goes from 4200-150 rpms with a 1.5hp motor.

 

[evintho]

Nissan Crawler is correct about the tray. The only thing I didn't like about mine was that there was no rack and pinion mechanism to raise and lower the tray. But the fact that it's so sturdy, solid and cool looking made up for it!

As far as pulley speed, I'm gonna look into this...............
http://www.vintageprojects.com/machine-shop/LoSpeedPress.pdf

 

[Packard V8]

There exists a slow speed kit which has another multi-step pulley and fits inside the top of the column. They're fairly common and give sixteen speeds from which to choose. The highest two are way too fast.

thnx, jack vines

 

[evintho]

There exists a slow speed kit which has another multi-step pulley and fits inside the top of the column. They're fairly common and give sixteen speeds from which to choose. The highest two are way too fast.

thnx, jack vines

Link or info, please?????

 

[joehalford01]

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm going to see if he'll take $150, I'll let ya know if i bring her home.

 

[A_Pmech]

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm going to see if he'll take $150, I'll let ya know if i bring her home.

Cool!

We'll be looking forward to hearing about your machinery expedition.

 

[evintho]

Pretty good deal here. 20 miles away. Maybe I jumped too soon!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/1450434557.html

 

[back2class]

Pretty good deal here. 20 miles away. Maybe I jumped too soon!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/1450434557.html

Told ya so