Used Drill Press Questions

[Mike Wellner]

My first question concerns the time period when Delta and Craftsman started to outsource overseas for their floor presses?
Has Delta made those drill presses for Craftsman under contract?

When inspecting a drill press, what do I look for besides listening for a bearing going out?

So how old would these models be?

Any info and advice appreciated!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v122/mikew13/010110011506011614200804051deadfb5c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v122/mikew13/010110011502011614200804058eea446e8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v122/mikew13/01010901150401160020080510ccb7c21a4.jpg

[Bob Slater]

Look for runout in the chuck. If you have a dial indicator, put a steel shaft (straight) in the chuck and measure the runout. Look for play in the quill as well. I almost bought a Rockwell Delta 15 inch machine a couple of months ago that was probably 25 years old. It checked out perfectly. They wanted $350 for it. I like the old stuff.

[Bill Huber]

The top 2 pictures look just like my drill press that I bought in the mid 70s.
The bottom picture looks like a different drill press.

Looking at the label on the front it looks like it was an early 80s model.

It is a good drill press and I have used mine for mostly metal work until the last year when I started doing woodworking.

The only thing that is bad about the press is the table does not have a crank lift on it and you have to come up with something to lift it with or it is really hard to lift when you have added a table to it.

It has a really little belt on it and you would think that it would ware out really fast, I just replaced mine about 2 years ago because I thought I should.

The belt cover rattles so I just took it off.

It sold for $370 with the motor in 1981.