Walker Turner 20 inch drill press, Model 1100

[joseph mansker]

Well, as it turns out, retirement allows me to attend auctions whenever I want! So I bought a 20 inch W-T press today for $350. It was a monster to get out of the basement where the PO had his shop, but three of us managed to move it and load in my pickup. I unloaded at home with my engine hoist and that procedure worked out like a champ. Now have to do some reassembly and see how it works. It has the power feed and everything is there. The production table is pristine, no drill marks and has slots machined for vise attachments. Motor is single phase. From the W-T badge, appears to be manufactured prior to 1948, serial number is shown as 27-1144. Hopefully the spindle bearings are OK and I wire the motor back correctly!

[Bill Orbine]

Well, as it turns out, retirement allows me to attend auctions whenever I want! So I bought a 20 inch W-T press today for $350. It was a monster to get out of the basement where the PO had his shop, but three of us managed to move it and load in my pickup. I unloaded at home with my engine hoist and that procedure worked out like a champ. Now have to do some reassembly and see how it works. It has the power feed and everything is there. The production table is pristine, no drill marks and has slots machined for vise attachments. Motor is single phase. From the W-T badge, appears to be manufactured prior to 1948, serial number is shown as 27-1144. Hopefully the spindle bearings are OK and I wire the motor back correctly!

Pictures????? It didn't happen.......

[Carroll Courtney]

Bill do you see a WT drill press?I don't,something that big we should be able to see it,right?
Oh dang Joseph that is awesome,and with power feed at a give away price.WT made nothing but quality in those days and you are the proud owner,congrats sir and welcome to SM Creek

[Darcy Warner]

WT an Atlas made some of my favorite drill presses

[Bill Dufour]

Is this yours?

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1162

[joseph mansker]

Gentlemen....I have posted pictures of the DP as requested. The press is shown in as recieved condition. I had lowered the head assembly and removed the motor for transport, but raised the head and re-attached the 1.5 HP motor this afternoon, rewired and tested. It works! I do not know how to engage the power feed yet, so if anyone has a tip for me I would appreciate the advice. I put a Starrett Last Word Indicator on the quill, rotated the quill by hand and it shows 0.010" runout. So, all in all, I am feeling pretty pleased with the purchase.

Bill,
Yes, mine is a model 1100..probably made between 1944 and 1948.
Joe377027377028377029377030377031

[Larry Edgerton]

I had a larger version of that with the fixed table and a head that cranked up and down. Nice drill press, very nice. My brother still has the model that you have without the feed but with a Reeves drive. Mine was reversible and could be used for tapping with the power feed but you had to get the drill and feed speeds sycronized for the tap at hand.

That lever on the front controls the feed, really only good for steel, but still cool. Its simple, you will figure it out easily.

The return springs are like gold so treat it with care. I wanted a unit that took up less real estate so I bought a Clausing, but I have to say the old Walker Turners once you get to that level are pretty damn good. Enjoy, you did well.

Be carefull about sanding the post, I use Ospho and a light scrub with a scotchbrite pad. If you get carried away your table will be sloppy and there is no adjustment. Ospho will stop the rust and turn it Gray/Black and just live with that, its fine.

[joseph mansker]

Thanks Larry for the info on rust removal on the post. I used a wire wheel to remove some of the rust just to see how it would work. Will get some scotch brite pads and go over it.
Joe

[Carroll Courtney]

Print the manual that Bill posted link to,that will help you understand how it works.Very nice DP

[Larry Edgerton]

I like the big bearing on the bottom of the post to swivel the table, and the crank mechanism being at the right angle so you don't bang your hand on an auxiliary table, and smooth to boot. You can tell the Clausing has ties to Walker Turner as they still use that same system today, and it is a joy to use.

There was an add on Reeves drive for those that works wonderfully, I will keep my eye open for one in my travels.

[Bill Orbine]

It happened........ very nice drill press! This will clean up nicely.

[joseph mansker]

Fellas....I have an idea that might be a little wacky so I need a sanity check. I found another WT 1100 yesterday for sale nearby. It's a benchtop set up. I wanted it initially to obtain the belt guard, but thought about taking the head raising gear and rack and adding it to my floor press. Why?...I dunno....cause I can I guess. Has anyone ever heard of this being done and would it be useful for any reason? Thanks...I will return to my corner, quietly mumbling to myself....:).

[Steve Lansing]

Very nice - a table with no holes! Wow, that’s rare.

[Larry Edgerton]

Fellas....I have an idea that might be a little wacky so I need a sanity check. I found another WT 1100 yesterday for sale nearby. It's a benchtop set up. I wanted it initially to obtain the belt guard, but thought about taking the head raising gear and rack and adding it to my floor press. Why?...I dunno....cause I can I guess. Has anyone ever heard of this being done and would it be useful for any reason? Thanks...I will return to my corner, quietly mumbling to myself....:).


If I remember correctly the head that goes up and down is fixed as far as swing. So if you had a fixture close but did not want to move the table, but did want to lower the head you could do it without moving the table as the table can also swing when loosened

I looked at that when my brother and I had the presses in the same building. What the heck?

[CPeter James]

That machine is prior to 1947 when Kerney & Trecker bought W/T. Probably close to the 1947 year. On the table raising gearbox, I just replaced the worm gear in mine and if yo need one, it is a 1220 SR gear. The bor is 5/8" and it has a keyway and set screw. The table raising mechanism is not as nice as the Delta 17" DPs. I put a needle thrust bearing on the worm shaft and that was a help. The spindle pulley bearings can be had, but the shaft is only .009" over sized form a standard bearing and I turned mine down to take "normal" bearings.

CPeter

The old and new gears
377122

[Doug Walls]

Fellas....I have an idea that might be a little wacky so I need a sanity check. I found another WT 1100 yesterday for sale nearby.
thought about taking the head raising gear and rack and adding it to my floor press. Why?...I dunno....cause I can I guess.

From what I have read the lift gear housing will fit both the table & head.
Hopefully it will, Since I recently picked up two manual feed WT presses & plan to use both lift assemblies on one machine!
They both need quite a bit of work including some cast-iron repairs & a really good cleaning, But I'm hoping to make one good unit from the two.

BTW nice find on your power-feed WT!

Doug

[joseph mansker]

Thanks Doug. I might just strip the belt cover off the 2nd machine and resell it...but the idea of being able to control both the table and head independently was appealing. I don't have to do much to the press...mostly cosmetic...but am trying to determine if I want to totally strip it down and replace the spindle bearings and the belts. Looks like quite a job to do that. I will most likely wait until I really need to. I have a number of other jobs waiting for me to complete!

[Keith Weber]

Doug,

Those are some nasty arcs of shame you have there!

[Doug Walls]

trying to determine if I want to totally strip it down and replace the spindle bearings and the belts. Looks like quite a job to do that.

It seems as there was several size bearings used on the 20" WT drill presses?
http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2392

I'm also hoping that the bearings in mine are still usable!
I waiting for warmer weather so I can power wash them before I start to work on them. Being I'm combining two machines I'll be disassembling them both anyways. I've had good luck on other projects just by cleaning & re-greasing the bearings. Sealed or shielded bearings can be harder to clean, But letting them soak in some heated Simple Green for several hours usually works good. As for re-greasing them I use a vacuum pump like shown here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS3lOPVzAUg

Doug

[joseph mansker]

Update on W-T 1100 ..... Guys, I need some advice ..... I am replacing the drive belt on the press and have managed to successfully remove the upper bearing retainer cap. The pictures show progress. The bearing appears to be in good shape, but is totally devoid of grease. Since there is an old oiler cap on the top of the bearing retainer cap, I am assuming the bearing just receives machine oil for lubrication instead of a heavier bearing grease. If anyone has torn down this press, I would appreciate advice on what I am seeing and if I should attempt to drop the quill out for further preventive maintenance such as new bearings at this point? Thanks in advance for the help!
Joe

[Bill Dufour]

I replaced that upper bearing with a sealed one since I do not want oil dripping onto any wood I am drilling. I rally think the quill bearing should be greased as should the splined spindle shaft. I believe the idea was to drip some oil onto the spindle so it moves up/down easily in the pulley. I know I replaced the lower spindle bearing with a single row bearing because of cost/availabilty. A single row bearing should last my lifetime with my occasional use.
I believe the original was a new departure bearing and they are hard to cross reference to modern bearings.
Bill D

PS: my spindle was scored because it spun in the lower bearing. I filled in the scoring with jb weld years ago but I just bought a new/used spindle+quill with bad bearings. I can dig into it and find part numbers if you want.