Old Craftsman Benchtop Drill Press

[Gary]

Craigslist has been good to me the last couple of weeks. Today I bought a old (late 50's early 60's) Craftsman 150 Drill Press. I don't have it yet, I pick it up tomorrow and hope to get some pics up. I've been needing a Drill Press with a ½" Chuck for some time. I've heard good things about the older Presses so for $75 I can't get hurt to bad. Still able to get bearings and sundry parts if it needs a rebuild.

 

[Pistolero]

Unless it has been let get and stay damp, it should be pretty solid.
Old Craftsman was pretty good. Another thing to look for is Homecraft, which
was Delta's home line in the 50s, not sure when they stopped using that name.
I have a table saw, bandsaw, shaper and drill press from my father, all Homecraft
lots of heavy cast iron, good quality parts in them.

I have a fairly good Craftsman drill press, got it before my father passed away, and
it is really a decent one, too.

For that price, you should have a real bargain.

Bill

 

[Gary]

Here's a pic of the press as listed and the table looks in decent shape and the gunk and surface rust will come off. Already downloaded a 150 Manual.

 

[Missionary]

That one looks like a winner ! Heavy cast iron cases with a steel case electric motor with brushes can be easily repaired and live on into your grandkids working days.

 

[fiver]

good lord I think you have my FIL's old drill press.
check the belt and pully's.

 

[Gary]

Your FIL's name isn't Joe, is it? I'm totally going to go through it and replace bearings, ect if necessary. From the pics I've seen she's going to need a good de-gunking and polishing on the press tube and other places. Definitely will check the pulley's and the belt is going to be changed. Kinda stoked in having another "rehab" project.

 

[Pistolero]

Looks pretty stout, lots of iron in that one. You'l be buyin or making some round knobs.

Bill

 

[Gary]

I have one of the big PowerMatic wood lathes and some Walnut Burl. I'll first get the thread info from the press handle; drill and tap the blank and turn the knobs. Might even use different woods and different styles.

 

[Pistolero]

That sounds really classy!

 

[freebullet]

Looks like a nice one to save.

 

[fiver]

nope it was Ross
but if it was his you'll find his name on it somewhere.

 

[Intheshop]

Old Cman equipment gets maligned way too often by....oh,how you say..keyboard heroes.Considering their design/engineering criteria,it represents an extremely good value.Going through your new DP,it should provide good solid service.

On an interesting side note....I'd rank old Cman cast iron,if not the best....then right at the top for it's weldability/machining properties.Noticeably easier than Delta,Powermatic,W/T,etc..."some" of the Taiwan equipment(cast iron) is pretty close,which is a head scratcher.

Now find you some good drills and a vise.Heinrich (sp) makes probably the best,"quick vise".....be seated when you see their price,but if you can snag one cheap'er,do so...they're that good.

 

[oscarflytyer]

SWEET!!! IMO, can't beat any of the old tools with cast iron tables! I JUST bought a '50's/'60s vintage Craftsman's 100 Table saw ($100) + two extra table extensions (another $96) and love it. And had a custom roller cart included, plus some other extras. Guy on the net posts that cant make a silk purse outta a sow's ear, but he is comparing a 50-60 yo saw/tool to a modern $1K table saw! I guarantee the old one is better than the flimsy new ones you will buy! You Scored!

 

[oscarflytyer]

oh yeah, also have an old Craftsman band saw... FILs

 

[Pistolero]

I noticed the ear plugs hanging on the saw. Here's a tip. If you have never tried
a Diablo brand carbide saw in your table saw, and I ONLY mean that brand, you are
in for a big surprise, in a good way. They are easily half, maybe 1/3 of the noise
output of my other blades. My father's old Delta HomeCraft table saw was always
a screamer, I remember it as a kid. When I inherited it, it was a screamer, just like
I remembered. I picked up a Diablo blade on a whim, saw the lazer or water jet cuts
in it, and from my engineering simulation work, I know that disks can get into really wild
vibration modes, and that changing the shape can change the vibration modes a LOT.
I figured it should cut well and be quieter.

Boy, was that a huge improvement in very smooth cutting and much less NOISE for under $30.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-8-1-4-in-x-40-Tooth-Finish-Saw-Blade-D0840X/202051437

Give it a try.

Bill

 

[Gary]

SWEET Tablesaw!!
I got the drill press home and in the shop. Going to start disassembly tomorrow (hopefully). The motor spins up very fast and fairly quiet. I'll get a belt for it tomorrow and see what the spindle sounds like. I did notice the pulley on the motor is thin in spots, so a new pulley is needed. Tap and Die set should arrive tomorrow so I can accurately guage the threads on the bare handles. Not going to replace bearings, ect until I get an idea of the condition of the present ones.
I'll get some pics tomorrow. BTW, whats the original color of the cast pieces?

 

[Pistolero]

I think they were battleship gray, but maybe I am being swayed by my Delta HomeCraft which are definitely gray.

Bill

 

[oscarflytyer]

Bill - yes the ear plugs. The 100 is a screamer at least with the blade I put on it. And as I always remember! I posted elsewhere that it is the old school whine I remember! I will DEF try a Diablo blade, and they are not all that expensive. Will still wear plugs (was around high end diesel generators in the Army - burned a lot of cilia hair out of my ear canals!). But every little bit helps! Thanx

Gary - Thanx! I sure like it so far! Posting cpl more pics. 2 extra cast iron tables that were in boxes. One on the saw was a deep dark grey black. two in boxes were shiny black machined surfaces - WHERE they hadn't rusted/pitted! rough cast was dull grey. I did wipe the smooth table down with evaporust and then Eezox.

 

[Gary]

I gotta get some Evaporust for the drill press and get started.

 

[Gary]

Did some "deep state" diggin' last night and discovered a site (Vintage Machinery) that contained a section on old steel colors. Seems the older Craftsman Drill Presses were a "golden Bronze" color and the color match for today is a Krylon spray paint called Satin Caramel Latte #51250. Now to find some or order some from Krylon. They also have it in Hammered finish, and I really like a Hammered looking finish, but it wouldn't really be original.