I need a drill press

[bluedog225]

My current carpy press carped out. It was a pos from the day I bought it. Early adopter at harbor fright. I’m glad it’s dead, sorta. But I have some stuff to drill and it’s holding me up.

I’d love a huge, giant, unreasonable, german industrial work of art but not seeing anything on facebook marketplace or craigslist.

I don’t really want anything modern or made in china.

This one looks reasonable. What do y’all think? It’s a 4 hour drive but maybe he will meet me in waco. Says he has replaced belts and bearings, painted, and put in a single phase motor.

Everything in Ausitn is overpriced.

Mostly 1/4-1/2” mild steel.

Edit-he’s asking $500

edit 2-powermatic 1150, circa 1964

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[Jim Mahan]

Interesting way to store the collet key. I have a smaller benchtop press that was a hand-me-down gift from my FIL. I use a tiny super-magnet to hold the key on the center of the handles. If it were mine, after the paintjob, I'd shine up the bare steel parts, too. Just curious, what's the seller asking for it?

[Nicholas Scheuer]

Looks like it has a deep vertical travel, which is good. If the spindle and chuck have no wobble when at rest, it seems like a a worthwhile deal. I got my old Delta 10 years ago for $95 but the spidnle is a bit loose (ok for what I need) and it has been very useful. Before retirement I had big tool room drill presses available anytime I needed one.

[bluedog225]

$500

He says the chuck shown is not included. And it has an MT2 taper.

And one of the motor bearings is “acting up.”

[Paul Pless]

call john t
he has his finger on the pulse of used equipment and machine tools in texas
if i were in need of any tool in tejas he would be the first person i would call for advice
as it is i often call him for advice on tools

[bluedog225]

Excellent point

[Garret]

$500 with no chuck? Seems a bit steep. A decent chuck is ~$100.

[SchoonerRat]

I have a Craftsman from about the same era. It looks much like that drill. My one complaint is that I don't have a geared vertical adjuster for the bed. I'd try to find one with an adjuster. I find it a major pain to adjust without one; especially with my arthritis ridden hands.

[bluedog225]

There’s an old atlas in town for 250. Needs a rebuild. Everything is expensive.

good advice on the geared bed. I didn’t know that was a thing.

[Canoeyawl]

$500 with no chuck? Seems a bit steep. A decent chuck is ~$100.

A decent chuck is $500

edit: With apologies to Garret.

Certainly one can buy a "usable" drill chuck for $100, but my experience is that they have a lot of runout among other issues. Which probably doesn't matter much for most drill work...
(Drill chucks have been a bad deal for me lately, I have sent back the last three that I purchased. Ever since the Jacobs "ball bearing" chucks went offshore it has been very difficult to source a decent chuck, like $500 and up)

But I know exactly why the seller wants to keep that chuck!

[bluedog225]

Atlas. $250

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[Canoeyawl]

That powermatic is a nice drill press, and will sell for $500 no problem, if you want it you should get it asap.
Bearings are a non-issue
A couple of details, First there is no elevation crank or gears to adjust the table height, and (for me) the low speed is not really low enough. That is my first criteria when looking at a drill press... Something around the 150-170 rpm is good. I have a 5/8" Taiwan drill press bench model that I bought new fir less than $500. It has drilled a million holes some of them quite large, over an inch (in steel)
Adjusting that table will get quickly old.

(Powermatic is the bottom of the line for true commercial service machinery)

A decent 3/4" chuck w/#2 Morse taper is not cheap, and you will need the tool to withdraw the chuck (maybe he has it)
Bring a flashlight and a small mirror to look up inside the tapered bore and see if it has ever "slipped" and scored the bore (Many points off if that has happened)

Drill presses are a competitive market because every DIY homeowner wants one.

I think a good import will serve your needs very well, just select for a lower low speed.
What is the hp and low speed on the one you have? You might just buy a new motor and up the hp a little. The "frame sizes" are standardized.
(I have bought new electric (brand name) motors on ebay and had good service from them. There are large specialized dealers there. Free shipping even...)

[lupussonic]

Just sayin'

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[David G]

I'd be happy with that Powermatic knowing I'd need to fettle/upgrade.

Grizzly offers a wide range of imported brand new machines - some of which are in that same price range.

[bluedog225]

Now that’s the ticket. Maybe Restore will have one.

[bluedog225]

Thanks Jake

[Garret]

A decent chuck is $500

I was thinking amateur grade 1/2" - but your point is taken.

[LOKI]

Bought a drill press many years ago (it goes so fast!) , it has a crank uplift on the table. many speeds by belt/pulley changes, tilt table . Taiwanese I think. Morris taper spindle. Somebody mentioned the table lift, as we get older it does mean alot , especially if you have a vice and the part on it!!

[Canoeyawl]

There are "decent" Taiwan drill presses for relatively little money.
Choose the one with the slowest available spindle speed and the most hp for your money...

[Stiletto]

I have a Taiwanese drill press which has proved just fine for everything I need. I'm not a precision machinist, that is next level stuff.

[bluedog225]

Do they say “made in china” or “made in Taiwan”

[Canoeyawl]

I don't know any more where this stuff is made. China has upped their game in some areas.

Drill presses are not really a "precision" tool.
However, it is important the chuck run-out not be excessive if you want the hole size to be same as the drill size.

[LOKI]

All my tools, wood lathe ,drill-press , bandsaw, metal lathe ,shaper ,planer ,etc all say Taiwan. might be different because of your countries relations visavi China/Taiwan. I find that the Taiwanese work to closer tolerances than the Chinese. Might be a pride thing. Democratic/ commie...

[Paul Pless]

Do they say “made in china” or “made in Taiwan”

some of them say made in roc

[bluedog225]

6778517[/URL]]Just sayin'

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This one’s already in a shipping container. Wonder what the postage will be?

[Garret]

This one’s already in a shipping container. Wonder what the postage will be?

If you have to ask...

The other stuff in there might increase the cost a bit I'm thinking.

[lupussonic]

This one’s already in a shipping container. Wonder what the postage will be?

Nothing, because it isn't for sale.

Run out is everyything. If you do not have one, get a gauge. Mine was 0.1mm up, 0.2mm at lowest stroke.

That is, if bearing precision (hence replacment) is pertinent to you.

The thicker the vertical post is the less it will be unprecise.

It's a tricksy world, older machines of this ilk will be better made than modern ones generally.

BUT

..you want to find an old one that has very little use. Grandpas chainsaw if you will. Patience can bring dividends.

[LOKI]

Grandfathers chain saw, NO thank you. That thing was a beast, even when I was young and full of whatever, that thing was just too dang heavy to lug all day .Our for fathers were definitley stronger than we are.. I think that my grandfathers saw had an engine the size of my snowblower!It had about a 24" blade. it was yellow and when it was running scared the bejebus out of me (5 yrs old)

[David G]

Grandfathers chain saw, NO thank you. That thing was a beast, even when I was young and full of whatever, that thing was just too dang heavy to lug all day .Our for fathers were definitley stronger than we are.. I think that my grandfathers saw had an engine the size of my snowblower!It had about a 24" blade. it was yellow and when it was running scared the bejebus out of me (5 yrs old)

My older brother, who made his living in the woods for a while, and has always heated with wood, collects such beasts. Probably 30-40 in his barn now. All run. And no matter how I try and twist his arm, he won't turn loose of a single one. It's quite amazing to see how much has changed, and how much hasn't. Yes... they are all beasts compared to a modern saw.

[Garret]

Grandfathers chain saw, NO thank you. That thing was a beast, even when I was young and full of whatever, that thing was just too dang heavy to lug all day .Our for fathers were definitley stronger than we are.. I think that my grandfathers saw had an engine the size of my snowblower!It had about a 24" blade. it was yellow and when it was running scared the bejebus out of me (5 yrs old)

My dad had a Sally Saw. Talk about scary! Internet pic - his wasn't shiny.

[Canoeyawl]

I had an ww2 era two man 2cyl chain saw... as a boy with my pal, we stripped it and fitted it to a go cart.

[leikec]

Seems to me that an asking price isn’t necessarily a buying price…

Jeff C

[Breakaway]

My dad had a Sally Saw. Talk about scary! Internet pic - his wasn't shiny.

What does one do with a Sally Saw, Garrett?


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[leikec]

What does one do with a Sally Saw, Garrett?


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Whatever one does, one should do it carefully, judging by the looks of that thing…

Jeff C

[ron ll]

A few years ago this was in Seattle's Hardwicks store. Unfortunately it already had a sold sign on it or it would be in my shop now. I left a note with Hardwicks to let me know if the deal fell through, I never heard from them.

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