Can someone identify this powermatic drill press?

[Tai Fu]

No idea of spec or whatever but here is some picture. Spotted it at an auction site but it has no info. Guy wants only 120 dollars for it so I want to know if this is a "get it now" deal or pass?
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[John Coloccia]

There seems to be an awful lot of rust on that quill. Makes me wonder if any amount of adjustment is ever going to get it tight and smooth at the same time. There's no way of knowing without actually seeing it, but when I see lots of rust everywhere else, I have to think there's rust elsewhere too.

I think the model is an 1100VS or an 1150.

[Tai Fu]

Yea I just looked closely and it looks like the quill is stuck down... not even sure if it works at all. Probably a complete disassembly and hope all the parts are still good. But thing is I'm using a Grizzly G7943 (the 14" benchtop drill press) and it serves me well. Just wondering if this Powermatic is a much better drill press...

[John Coloccia]

I think that's just how they are. That's probably just the chuck...I meant to say chuck, not quill, but there's rust everywhere you look so it's hard to tell if there will be rust on the quill too. That's what I meant to say :)

[Ben Martin]

Are you really in Taiwan? If that is the case, finding parts might be an issue, but it looks all there and well kept...

That wouldn't last very long over here at that price. A Powermatic 1150 Variable Speed with the Production Table (bigger table) like that is about the best woodworking drill press that was ever made. Literally.

Ben

[Thomas Hotchkin]

Yea I just looked closely and it looks like the quill is stuck down... not even sure if it works at all. Probably a complete disassembly and hope all the parts are still good. But thing is I'm using a Grizzly G7943 (the 14" benchtop drill press) and it serves me well. Just wondering if this Powermatic is a much better drill press...

Powermatic 1150 Drill Press with variable speed. Quill is not stuck down, is made that way so you can use morse taper drill bits. Even old and dirty it will out last your Grizzly G7943. Run as fast as you can with your money and buy it before someone else see it. Tom

[Tai Fu]

Ok, at this price I'm going to take a gamble. I hit "buy it now" just so no one else sees it. Will contact the seller about seeing the machine in person and stuff...

[Bob Falk]

Powermatic 1150 Drill Press with variable speed. Quill is not stuck down, is made that way so you can use morse taper drill bits. Even old and dirty it will out last your Grizzly G7943. Run as fast as you can with your money and buy it before someone else see it. Tom

+1...I paid $600 for my 1150 and thought I got a deal....rebuilt, I see them for over $1000. bob

[Jeff Duncan]

Yup, I paid $600 for my first and it's worth every penny and more. They're not rare at all which makes them fairly easy to find info for. If it needs work you can find step by step breakdowns online that'll take you through it. There are also a fair amount of used parts available online. However from your previous descriptions of machinists rates it may be cheaper for you to fabricate anything needed than buy it and ship:eek: If you go to e-bay I'd bet just buying a column or table will run you close to $120;)

good luck,
JeffD

[Tai Fu]

Now I'm thinking this is probably a 1100. Note the single row of numbers on the RPM dial... the 1150 has 3 rows (but I can't be sure).

I'm not sure what the difference is but it seems the 1100 has 4" quill travel while the 1150 has 6" of quill travel, otherwise everything else is the same. It's twice the weight of my current drill press in either case... The picture provided sucks because that white cord just about covers the model/serial number plate, not sure if its intentional or he just don't know what he has. The VS will be a real upgrade for sure! No one in Taiwan really sells any VS drill press.

What is the difference between the 1100 and 1150?? Seems to have the same motor, weight, table configuration, size, etc. except for quill travel. It will be a serious upgrade to my current drill press if I end up getting it... my current one only has 3 1/4" quill travel although I am not sure if the extra quill travel is worth it since most of my drill bits aren't long enough anyways. Lets hope it won't need any tramming because my current drill press table dips down a little bit, enough to mess things up when using the Wagner Safe T Planer.

[John Coloccia]

What I did with my SafeT Planer is I made a top out of MDF, got the table as close as I could, and then shimmed the top with pieces of paper until I got it right. I eventually got my drill press top properly shimmed to be dead nuts, and then I just added a piece of paper to a corner of the SafeT planer top so that only the front edge ever makes contact and it prevents the tool from grabbing. I think it even says that in the direction that I threw away :) Anyhow, that's how I handled my SafeT Planer. Too bad the guy doesn't make them anymore.

[Loren Woirhaye]

I would buy it in a heartbeat at that price. Even if it's knackered (which I doubt) the table alone could easily be resold on ebay for more than $120.

[John Coloccia]

Are you really in Taiwan? If that is the case, finding parts might be an issue, but it looks all there and well kept...

That wouldn't last very long over here at that price. A Powermatic 1150 Variable Speed with the Production Table (bigger table) like that is about the best woodworking drill press that was ever made. Literally.

Ben
That was my thought too. With all the visible rust and low price, it sets off red flags and Tai could have a boat anchor that's difficult to repair. Fingers crossed for you, Tai!

[Tai Fu]

I called the guy, he says it works but the variable speed thing doesn't change speed when the thing is turned. Not sure what could possibly go wrong with that and how hard or easy is it to fix? I don't really know how the variable speed thing works anyways.

[Loren Woirhaye]

Reeves drive probably. They can break but it may be just stuck. Also the belt can stretch and the reeves drive looses speed range. My drill press has one. The press is supposed to be running when adjusting the speed.

[Tai Fu]

So I don't know now, it looks like it could end up being an expensive fix, and the place is located quite a bit far from public transportation which means it could be a little expensive for me to go see the machine. So was wondering even with the great price on the machine it could need a lot of potentially expensive work. I'm actually thinking I could spend enough that I might as well get a used mill/drill and get a better machine. I'm not sure what could break in a reeves drive.

[Loren Woirhaye]

The pulleys can wear out. It is possible to switch a drill press with a reeves drive over to stepped pulleys without much trouble.

I'm never scared of used machinery and I perhaps been lucky, but in the 50 or more used woodworking machines that have come through my shop, I have got all of them working well without much more than cleaning and fussing with motors and switches. Perhaps I am lucky, but old heavier machines were made to stand up to hard use and the parts that do wear out are usually simple and cheap to replace, like bearings.

[Bill Orbine]

Whether the Powermatic is an 1100 or an 1150, I would also be quick to buy the drill press! Go for it and Good luck!

[Jeff Duncan]

There is inherent risk in buying any used machine. Buying used is a bit like gambling to a certain extent, you try to get as much information as you can, then you either place your bet or fold. The bigger the pot the more risk you may be willing to take;)

The speed control not working could be several things. If I had to make a guess just from what little info we have I'd say the front pulley is frozen to the shaft. In a humid climate I'd guess surface rust develops pretty easily. Couple that with guys not knowing or performing basic maintenance like keeping the shaft oiled and running the machine through the speed range often, and the result is a pulley that sticks on the shaft:o If the pulley sticks….your speed is not changing, simple as that. If everything else works properly I'd still buy it in a heartbeat. Whether or not the pulley can be freed up without damage, or if that's even the problem you probably won't know until you own it. So your taking a risk, I know for that price I'd take that risk every time though:D

good luck,
JeffD

[Tai Fu]

I asked for more info and he said the thing doesn't change speed when he turns it, its possible the pulley stuck... He said he just ended up using a VFD to change to whatever speed he wants. The thing has a 3 phase motor which I'm not sure if I should be scared of because I don't have 3 phase.

[John Coloccia]

I had meant to tell you to check for that. Does it come with the VFD?

[Tai Fu]

No, but I can probably buy a used one for about 50 dollars. I know it might be a steal and all but honestly, I won't have much luck reselling it to any American for what it's worth and it's not worth much in Taiwan because nobody knows what it is. I was thinking I might get a better deal finding a used mill/drill or something.

Or I can just remove the motor from my current drill press and use it in the powermatic, and fix the pulley somehow. I also have a spare 1/4 HP motor lying around but I think the drill press would be underpowered.

[Tai Fu]

Ok so I went and saw the machine and will arrange a moving company to pick it up and drop it off at my doorstep. Here are some pictures I took:
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I turned the speed change control and nothing happens, notice the part where the speed change knob engages (picture 1) does not move the pulley at all, it's stuck in its position. I will attempt to take the whole thing apart and see if I can clean it or something. I'm not sure how difficult it is. Also I think for the time being I will remove the motor from my current drill press and use it in this drill press because I have no 3 phase power... even though the motor is made in the US...

Overall the drill press looks very solid, heavy, and I turned the chuck by hand it felt like there was practically no clicking sound that could be heard. In contrast my Asian drill press had significant clicking sound when the quill is turned by hand, right out of the box!

[Michael Mayo]

I would love to have a big heavy duty drill press like that and for ~$100 that is awesome. Get your hands dirty and get that baby singing again you will love it and it will be with you the rest of your life they don't make em' like that anymore.