Replies

1. 
   Len | Jun 25, 2008 05:35pm | #1

   I don't know if 25 years qualifies as old. Have you checked on OWWM.com?

   I would see if the pulleys are balanced. The link belt takes up most of the vibration. I would replace the chuck. That's where I found most of my run out on my drill press. Bearings should be fine if the motor is 90% new. A good cleaning may be all that's in order. I've restored a number of old machines and most of the time they just need a good cleaning and lube.

   Len

   "You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox

2. 
   oldusty | Jun 25, 2008 06:30pm | #2

      Boiler man ,

            When you say it's adequate : how does it work , anything wrong ?

      Is it underpowered or to small , or does it drill oblong holes ?

                   Finding a more suitable DP won't be hard to do , personally I use older ones and am usually willing to buy the parts needed to restore them into working condition .I have a very old Delta floor model and an old  Atlas floor press , I just like the old iron .

                      dusty, who craves some of your ocean air

1. 
   boilerbay | Jun 26, 2008 03:33am | #4

   Len, Dusty, and Cincinnati,It's not the age as much as sloppy original manufacture. It's well cleaned, with the stand polished and floor base repainted and waxed.
   There is more run-out at the chuck than I want and a little more vibration than I want.
   I'm thinking the chuck but I also remember reading about an after market vendor of balanced pulleys for presses.Any sources for a keyless chuck?I also like the old ones. A certain kinship...Dusty, I feel for you down there. Not to rub it in, but it's about 73 with an onshore breeze. 55 at night. I can see some night fog moving in over the waves.My daughter lives slightly east of Redway. CA and her next door neighbors place started burning. Some 70 fires burning in the Humbolt alone.
   I hope the heat and the dry lightning gives way and breaks with some cooling rain for you. This West Coast heat is brutal, I have reports of high triple digits in the Tri-Citys area, Western WA.thanks all,John

1. 
   Cincinnati | Jun 26, 2008 05:40am | #5

   Is the vibration from the spindle run out? What is causing the spindle run out? ie is the play in the bearings or elsewhere?Greg

   <!---->•••••••

   Exo 35:30-35<!---->

2. 
   oldusty | Jun 26, 2008 06:04am | #6

     boiler ,

           The chuck is the easiest place to start , see if improvement was made .

          If the quill is loose or wobbles , pull it down all the way grab it and try and move it side to side , if there is play then your refurbish will be more costly .You might check this first , see if without the chuck it still vibrates or what ?

        Sell it or use it to do a dedicated operation perhaps and replace it with a more skookem model . I have an old one set up to do only half a 35mm hole for corner pie cut hinges .

                         dusty , and warm , but nights have been cooling down

     

3. 
   Len | Jun 26, 2008 09:02pm | #8

   You can try ENCO, Grizzly or ebay for the keyless chuck. If you buy an old one, you should make sure it is balanced as well.

   My guess is once you get a new chuck that will solve the run out problem. My drill press is one I bought from Harbor Freight years ago. Once I replaced the belts with link belts and put on a keyless chuck it was fine. But the real upgrade was building a good drill press table.

   Hope you daughter is alright. We are getting the smoke from the Monterey fire. Tough on the lungs.Len

   "You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox

1. 
   boilerbay | Jun 26, 2008 11:58pm | #9

   Thanks for the input. I'll try the chuck first and then decide which way to go. It's a pitty there isn't a way to supercharge these hummers with aftermarket parts. Like putting a 289 into an Sunbeam Alpine body. Maxwell Smart's (the old one) favorite wheels (Renamed a Tiger)Thanks again.
   I'll report back

1. 
   PeteBradley | Jun 27, 2008 02:29am | #10

   "It's a pity there isn't a way to supercharge these hummers with aftermarket parts. Like putting a 289 into an Sunbeam Alpine body"Supercharging implies a tangible goal. That V8 Sunbeam will do things way beyond the original (before it kills you).There are more than a few companies now that will help you "customize" your woodworking equipment, but most of it is JC Whitney stuff -- more show than go. Particuluarly for a drill press, there's not a lot you're going to do that will make it perform noticeably differently, since it's already doing its job.How about a drill press customization you *can* appreciate, like a nice over/under flame paint job?Pete

2. 
   [email protected] | Jun 27, 2008 11:27pm | #11

   The Sunbeam Tiger was a well engineered factory option, worked out by Carol Shelby and the Boys, at the request of the Rootes group.  Nothing after-market at all about one. 

   The home grown attempts, unless done by real professionals are generally scary, poor handling beasts. 

3. 
   Cincinnati | Jun 25, 2008 07:50pm | #3

   You mention or at least imply a problem with the precision of the DP in it's current condition. What is the actual problem.

   If there is not a problem cause by wear or damage, clean it and lube it. Repaint it if you want it to look better.

   Of the things you mentioned, here's my recommendation. (Remember you get what you pay for.):

   1. Replace the power cord. More for safety than anything else.

   2. Check spindle runout. Get a good chuck if the current one is worn.

   3. Custom turned pulleys are an overkill. If you are a machinist, and enjoy making them, they are still overkill, but you could justify them to yourself.

   4. The most common cause of pulley failure is wear. If they are worn so that a new belt runs too deep, buy new pulleys.

   5. If you are concerned with the amount of vibration, check the alignment of the two pulleys. aligning them is will do more to reduce vibration than most other "non-obvious" problem areas.

   6. Look for play in the bearings. Cheap bearings may be a problem area. Replace them with Timken or similar high quality bearing. If they are pressed on the quill, are you equipped to remove the old and more importantly install the new without damaging the bearing?

   7. Unless the quill is bent or damaged, it is likely not a problem area.

   8.

   Greg

   •••••••

   Exo 35:30-35

4. 
   RickL | Jun 26, 2008 02:53pm | #7

   The motor is fine but the power cable is starting to harden up.

   New cord!
   I have thought perhaps replacing pulleys with precision ones or have then turned. Thoughts?

   Not going to help and you won't find them off the shelf anyway.
   Already using link belts.
   I would like to upgrade the chuck to keyless.

   http://www.wttool.com 
   Perhaps having the quill turned or replaced? Bearings?

   Turning the quill will  only make it smaller and sloppier. There is a spray metal technique to build up the chuck. Expensive and the wrong approach. Putting some brass set screws in the main housing is a much cheaper and simpler approach to tighten the quill. Changing the bearings isn't going to improve it either. Worn bearings tend to make noise or bind long before it gets sloppy.
   Has anyone done this? Any thoughts out there for upgrades?

   Upgrading to an older, better DP is a cheaper option. The old Rockwells were over $3000 in the 70's.
   Anyone have any favorite resources for this beastie - other than Black and Decker?

   I rebuild machines. You can only improve these drill presses so much.