Used Drill Press Recommendation

[Deker]

Used Craftsman Drill Press Advice

Don’t yet have a drill press and came across this one listed for $250. Does this seem like a fair deal? And how should I evaluate its condition aside from general cleanliness?

 

[Shiftless]

Those are great drill presses. That one looks well cared for. They were made for Sears by King Sealy, a well respected industrial manufacturer.
They have a wide following here on GJ and elsewhere. Check the thread dedicated to the use and repair of those classic machines. Frank Lee is your authority.

That’s not a bad price for a fully operational DP. Some guys find a machine for under a hundred and then spend lots of time and money taking it apart, stripping bad paint, changing bearings and looking around for rare missing parts.

Here is a link to page one of the thread that’s over 4000 posts. You’ll learn a lot over there.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227480

 

[Chucktin]

Re: Used Drill Press Advice

I'd snap it up!

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[BD1]

WOW ! Prices must be expensive there. Floor standing decent drill presses are usually around $100.00 to $150 depending by me.
I suggest IF you are going to be drilling metal, get a two belt setup. Slower speeds are best for metal and using holesaws. Some expensive one do have lower speeds if you can find you.
Check Craigslist and facebook marketplace.

 

[exmaxima1]

Those are great drill presses. That one looks well cared for. They were made for Sears by Walker Turner, a well respected industrial manufacturer.
They have a wide following here on GJ and elsewhere. Check the thread dedicated to the use and repair of those classic machines. Frank Lee is your authority.......

Are you sure about that? Many of the same model drill press say "King-Seeley" right on the label.

$250 would be a high price in the Chicago area unless it had the optional third pulley for slower speeds. And ideally they would be the 150 version with the quick-change depth rod and the tilting motor mount.

A similar DP as the OP's (not a 150) but has the third pulley has been on CL for awhile now at $200:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/tls/d/river-grove-drill-press-stand-up/7242502627.html

 

[Deker]

Thanks for the advice so far. It doesn't appear to have the third pulley. Any idea what the slowest speed is without it?

 

[Don1357]

I would respectfully offer $150 and be happy to part ways if it doesn't pan out.

But in all honesty the cheapest Grizzly imports press is what, $400+? You could do a whole lot worse for $250 and when you divide that amount by the years for the rest of your life and then what your heirs will get for it (if they don't keep it), it is still a bargain.

 

[exmaxima1]

Thanks for the advice so far. It doesn't appear to have the third pulley. Any idea what the slowest speed is without it?

AFAIK, 765 rpm is the slowest with just 2 pulleys on that Model 100 press.

 

[lilredex]

Don't overlook early eighties 16 speed import drill presses. They come with the third pulley and go to 200 RPM or so.

Mine was $40...hard to beat, really good DP.

 

[lis2323]

WOW ! Prices must be expensive there. Floor standing decent drill presses are usually around $100.00 to $150 depending by me.
I suggest IF you are going to be drilling metal, get a two belt setup. Slower speeds are best for metal and using holesaws. Some expensive one do have lower speeds if you can find you.
Check Craigslist and facebook marketplace.

Agreed if you plan on using for metals.

I added a jack shaft to further reduce spindle speed down to 70 RPM on this DP.

I


The unit you posted would be $150 tops in my area. The main value being the vintage aspect. The lack of a table lift mechanism can be annoying if you have a heavy project clamped to it. Not a deal killer though.


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[lafester]

For $250 I would want the middle pulley, but that one looks pretty nice.
If I needed a press right away I would at least check it out.

 

[Shiftless]

Are you sure about that? Many of the same model drill press say "King-Seeley" right on the label.

$250 would be a high price in the Chicago area unless it had the optional third pulley for slower speeds. And ideally they would be the 150 version with the quick-change depth rod and the tilting motor mount.

A similar DP as the OP's (not a 150) but has the third pulley has been on CL for awhile now at $200:

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/tls/d/river-grove-drill-press-stand-up/7242502627.html

Brain fart!
You’re absolutely right.
Thanks for catching my mistake.

 

[Deker]

Thanks all for your thoughts. Prices seem to be inflated in my area...the seller and I have agreed on $225 and I'm going to go check it out (and hopefully bring it home) on Thursday. Any tips on things to check while I'm there?

I do plan on drilling metal at least occasionally so I'll need to find a way to slow it down. I'm sure there are a couple threads here to help with that.

 

[seber]

That's too much for that unit. If you intend to drill metal, you're going to put another $150 into it. Just look for a three pulley unit.

 

[Deker]

That's too much for that unit. If you intend to drill metal, you're going to put another $150 into it. Just look for a three pulley unit.

Unfortunately all the thee pulley units I’m seeing in my area (Los Angeles) start around $400 and are pretty beat up at that price point. If I do spend $150 for the third pulley I’ll be all in at $375...not a steal by any means but pretty reasonable I think for my area for the unit I’m getting.

 

[lis2323]

Unfortunately all the thee pulley units I’m seeing in my area (Los Angeles) start around $400 and are pretty beat up at that price point. If I do spend $150 for the third pulley I’ll be all in at $375...not a steal by any means but pretty reasonable I think for my area for the unit I’m getting.

Wow. I thought my area was bad.

The pics of my DP in post number 10 was like new. 2 HP single phase, FOUR pulley system, 5/8 Jacobs chuck, MT3 spindle taper, 16”x18” cast iron table with tee slots and coolant recovery.

I sold it last week for $350usd.


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[Don1357]

Thanks all for your thoughts. Prices seem to be inflated in my area...the seller and I have agreed on $225 and I'm going to go check it out (and hopefully bring it home) on Thursday. Any tips on things to check while I'm there?

I do plan on drilling metal at least occasionally so I'll need to find a way to slow it down. I'm sure there are a couple threads here to help with that.

If it is exactly what you need the price is fine. If you need to throw time and money at it to get it to where you need it, I would walk away. Drill presses pop up regularly, it should not take long for a more suitable one to show up.

 

[brownbagg]

is it a fair deal, no, but i like it, i would pay the extra because i like it, fair no just eat the extra 100

 

[lis2323]

Re: Used Craftsman Drill Press Advice

Agreed.

All cleaned up it will definitely have the cool factor. Priceless. [emoji106]


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[banjopete]

Re: Used Craftsman Drill Press Advice

I sympathize, there's very little for cool factor old dp's around me, and if anything remotely like that comes up it's not uncommon to see $500 plus asking prices. Who knows what they end up selling for.

Like people say, the big dp's do come up often for sale at least so be patient if this doesn't work out, there will always be another.

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[tool_scrounge]

I am always a fan of spending a little more and not getting a big project. Small projects are fine. This is after many years of restoring machines!

Per the Craftsman 100 docs I have, the lowest speed is 625rpm with a 1725rpm motor.

A few options to slow it down more.

1) Buy a 1140 rpm single phase motor. Lowest speed drops to ~417 rpm. I see them for $53 shipped on Ebay. Remember that a 1/3 HP 1140 motor has about the same torque as a 1/2"HP 1725 motor.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-1-3-HP-Motor-1140-RPM-115-230-Volts-5-8-Shaft-M-4/202297417151

2) Make it variable speed using a knob or keypad. Buy a 1140rpm 1/2HP 3 phase motor off of Ebay for $63 shipped and add a 120VAC Variable Frequency Drive. I would avoid the cheap Chinese Huanyang VFDs as they have had so many issues the electrical forum on Practical machinist will not allow discussion of them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westinghouse-94101-Ac-Motor-H56h-3ph-1-2hp-1140rpm-5-8in-208-230-460v-ac/303407953107

3) I personally like to use industrial (Baldor, Leeson, Reliance, Pacific Scientific for example) 90VDC motors + variable speed DC drives that run off of 120VAC wall power for this application. The motors tend to cost more but the used drives cost less on Ebay. My hearing is quite good and the DC drives do not have the whine of the VFD chopper output drives. Photos below are the Leeson 1/2HP motor with Minaric NEMA 1 enclosed drive I need to bolt back on my model 100 drill press.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RELIANCE-DC-MOTOR-T56H1055AB-3-4-HP-1725-RPM-56C-90-VDC-7-80-Amps/203147984226

4) Or build your own step down pulley speed reducer and use the standard motor. I like the Cardinal Machine long discontinued #18 slo-drive design as a starting point (see below). I would use just one belt not two for the first reduction since it is only 1/2 HP. Not too hard to make using pillow blocks, ground rod, spacers and pulleys.

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/10733/17012.pdf

 

[Deker]

I am always a fan of spending a little more and not getting a big project. Small projects are fine. This is after many years of restoring machines!

Per the Craftsman 100 docs I have, the lowest speed is 625rpm with a 1725rpm motor.

A few options to slow it down more.

1) Buy a 1140 rpm single phase motor. Lowest speed drops to ~417 rpm. I see them for $53 shipped on Ebay. Remember that a 1/3 HP 1140 motor has about the same torque as a 1/2"HP 1725 motor.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-1-3-HP-Motor-1140-RPM-115-230-Volts-5-8-Shaft-M-4/202297417151

2) Make it variable speed using a knob or keypad. Buy a 1140rpm 1/2HP 3 phase motor off of Ebay for $63 shipped and add a 120VAC Variable Frequency Drive. I would avoid the cheap Chinese Huanyang VFDs as they have had so many issues the electrical forum on Practical machinist will not allow discussion of them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westinghouse-94101-Ac-Motor-H56h-3ph-1-2hp-1140rpm-5-8in-208-230-460v-ac/303407953107

3) I personally like to use industrial (Baldor, Leeson, Reliance, Pacific Scientific for example) 90VDC motors + variable speed DC drives that run off of 120VAC wall power for this application. The motors tend to cost more but the used drives cost less on Ebay. My hearing is quite good and the DC drives do not have the whine of the VFD chopper output drives. Photos below are the Leeson 1/2HP motor with Minaric NEMA 1 enclosed drive I need to bolt back on my model 100 drill press.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RELIANCE-DC-MOTOR-T56H1055AB-3-4-HP-1725-RPM-56C-90-VDC-7-80-Amps/203147984226

4) Or build your own step down pulley speed reducer and use the standard motor. I like the Cardinal Machine long discontinued #18 slo-drive design as a starting point (see below). I would use just one belt not two for the first reduction since it is only 1/2 HP. Not too hard to make using pillow blocks, ground rod, spacers and pulleys.

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/10733/17012.pdf

Fantastic! Thanks for the tips.

 

[lafester]

Don't forget jziggy makes pulleys, or you could use his design.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317867

 

[seber]

If you want to go DC, you can buy a used walking exerciser machine. They generally sell for $50. They include a 3/4 or one hp motor and control. You won't be abusing a three phase motor by running it too slow to cool and you have the entire system in one go with matched components. It's still a project to get it mounted and remount the control, but then if you are buying a drill press, you already are committed to projects.

 

[IndyGarage]

I would go for the old Craftsman.

I have a Jet floor standing drill press at the shop and a chinese made Delta benchtop drill press at home. I wouldn't write home about either one of them. They both work fine, but they are pretty cheaply made. The biggest issue is the cheap chucks they put on them. I bought a nice Jacobs that I've been meaning to put on the Jet, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

As far as number of speeds, I don't think I've ever moved the belt on either one of them. I drill metal, wood, plastic - whatever all at the same sort of medium speed. I drilled a bunch of stainless steel holes the other day, no problem. If I have something really tough I put it on the Bridgeport, but that would be very rare.

 

[American Locomotive]

While $250 may not be a "deal" compared to some areas, it's really not a bad price at all for a working tool.

The closest thing would be the $400 HF drill press, and that thing is pretty terrible.

 

[Shiftless]

Another vote for the JZiggy made slow speed adapter made specially for the classic Craftsmans as well as others. He makes them himself in his shop using top quality components. Here is a link to learn more about them.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317867