Old Craftsman Benchtop Drill Press
- Thread starter Gary
- Start date
KeithB
Resident Half Fast Machinist
Gary
SE Kansas
OK; now I have a question: I can get a post for this press that would convert it into a floor press, should I do that or not? The post will cost much more than I paid for the press, but I wouldn't have to weld together a stand (bench) to use as it's perch. I'm liking the idea of converting it to a floor press, even if it takes away the originality of the piece. Thoughts?
Yes,no,maybe.....
Generally,parts on a DP are more than adequately handled on or by,the range provided with a "benchtop".
One area... not usually considered by folks with floor models is the space below the table.For years one of our W/T's had a roll around tool cab,parked in this space.We kept tooling in it.On the RARE occasion we had to lower the table...just roll the cab out.
Gets even more complicated because every shop has not only different requirements,"under the chuck" but how much floor space you're willing to spend on drilling op's.
If you want my opinion,would say no on this conversion.Build a cab to put your DP on if you want.Just do so with the idea that you"might" outgrow this DP and will look for a larger capacity floor model.Use the cab you build to fill the empty space described above,under the table.
Generally,parts on a DP are more than adequately handled on or by,the range provided with a "benchtop".
One area... not usually considered by folks with floor models is the space below the table.For years one of our W/T's had a roll around tool cab,parked in this space.We kept tooling in it.On the RARE occasion we had to lower the table...just roll the cab out.
Gets even more complicated because every shop has not only different requirements,"under the chuck" but how much floor space you're willing to spend on drilling op's.
If you want my opinion,would say no on this conversion.Build a cab to put your DP on if you want.Just do so with the idea that you"might" outgrow this DP and will look for a larger capacity floor model.Use the cab you build to fill the empty space described above,under the table.
Oh,and BTW...If you run into a situation where you need more room under the chuck;
If you,bolt the base down,you can spin the table out of the way and put the vise(or fixturing) on the base.May have to slde the head down a little so,make sure when you're going through the DP that the column "clamp" on the head is functioning correctly.
Which is quite often froze up on old DP's.Our W/T 1200 head was about welded to the column.It's a late 40's? and probably never moved since day one.It was a nervous few days trying to break that one loose(pun intended).
If you,bolt the base down,you can spin the table out of the way and put the vise(or fixturing) on the base.May have to slde the head down a little so,make sure when you're going through the DP that the column "clamp" on the head is functioning correctly.
Which is quite often froze up on old DP's.Our W/T 1200 head was about welded to the column.It's a late 40's? and probably never moved since day one.It was a nervous few days trying to break that one loose(pun intended).
Gary
SE Kansas
Plans change, right? I left it as a benchtop press and she's up and running. No visible "runout" at the chuck, but I still need a replacement motor pulley. Darn hard to find one like whats on the press, but I need the lowest speed setting I can obtain in order to spin metal. BTW, I did find a cone pulley that has the same dimension as/on the smallest part of the existing pulley, but it's a 4" instead of a 5" step pulley. Should work IMO, what say you?
Oh, the final product doesn't look much different than when I brought her home, but at least the coloring is clean of 50 years of worn on grease/oil.
Oh, the final product doesn't look much different than when I brought her home, but at least the coloring is clean of 50 years of worn on grease/oil.
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Gary
SE Kansas
ONE DOWN AND TWO TO GO!! In the shop this afternoon with the intent of turning out the 3 knobs for the drill press. Got one finished and then was stung by a Red Wasp, right on my ear. Looks like I've been a professional cage fighter by the looks of that ear. Here's a couple of pics of the knob, it's done in Black Walnut.
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Gary
SE Kansas
Well guys I have a $3000 Wood Lathe and I like spinning her up from time to time and lots of slab Walnut so this was a very good opportunity to work on a couple of skills at the same time. I was going to use Purpleheart or Ebony but because I had more Walnut I went that direction. They "turned" out just fine.