[Drill] Mastercraft (canadian Tire) 8" Drill Press Rehab

great white

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So I've got an 8" drill press, brand Mastercraft and sold through Canadian tire. I've had it roughly 15 years or so (more I think) and bought it new for something like 100 bucks.

It's a fairly small little thing, but it fits on my bench top and its always done what I've asked of it. It's moved with me several times, literally across the continent and back. It's handled everything from punching 1/8" holes in sheet metal to 3" hole saws and even drilling frozen bolts out of MacPherson struts.

Sure its a little small and I've often had to work around that, but its always been a decent little rig. One speed except for the pulley changes is a pain, especially when looking for lower speeds than it can provide (doesn't go lower than 850 rpm iirc)

No illusions here either: rebranded Chinese lump for sure and the issues that go with that fact.

I've always been put off by its lack of power. So a DC motor upgrade is in the works. Treadmill motor/controller first (since I have one on hand) and we'll see how that goes.

The little bugger is all metal, no real plastic other than few handle bits or knobs:

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Even the pulleys and cover are (what appears to be) steel:

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The plastic bits just gives me an excuse to make a ball turner for the lathe and the quill appears to have minimal play. Pretty much zero decenable play side to side and what feels like a small amount front to back.

The taper for the chuck is, unfortunately, integral to the quill. Chuck is some unbranded piece, only thing on it is a "jt33".

The lack of a geared table raise is also a bit of a pain. I'm thinking about ditching it and just mounting an x/y vice i have gathering dust in the corner (from princess auto and needs work, equivalent of harbour freight) to the base and working out a way to raise and lower the head if needed to accommodate longer/shorter drill bits. Maybe make something along these lines:

_1_zpsyke9rmwq.jpg

Dunno on that one, still thinking on it.

When I get some more time, I'm going to put a guage on the quill and see how much play there is. As I said, a quick grab it and wiggle showed what appeared to be very minimal play.

I have plans for a digital rpm guage to go with the 1.5 hp (continuous, 2.9 peak) treadmill motor and controller.I may use my second cycletrol controller on it if I can get a replacement power relay for it (burned out after a short).

This isn't going to be a quick project, too much else on the go so it will be done in drips and drabs.

All I'm looking to do is give a faithfully little/old friend a bit more versatility and pleasure in using it.

Sure I'd like something bigger. But when it comes right down to it, I don't need something bigger so it would be pretty much spending money for nothing. Used presses are out, can't find them here and if you do they want 500-1000 for junk. Heck, a coup!e guys on kijiji want 150 bucks for a corded hand drill in a drill press adapter...

o_O

Let's see how far I can take this little guy (on a budget) before I look at spending any money on a bigger press.

:)

81CD05D9-9E29-4356-97E8-4B6CD1DA375D_zpskt8ulzai.jpg

F38F53DD-06CC-4DB8-9513-BE712C88E9F4_zpskntehmuc.jpg

F2B28FF5-4958-4618-BA68-2A67D3746B77_zpsoezpydr7.jpg

B26BD16A-0D04-485B-AD69-A3A2CF0DE246_zps5pk9waq3.jpg

_1_zpsyke9rmwq.jpg

81CD05D9-9E29-4356-97E8-4B6CD1DA375D_zpskt8ulzai.jpg

F38F53DD-06CC-4DB8-9513-BE712C88E9F4_zpskntehmuc.jpg

F2B28FF5-4958-4618-BA68-2A67D3746B77_zpsoezpydr7.jpg

B26BD16A-0D04-485B-AD69-A3A2CF0DE246_zps5pk9waq3.jpg

_1_zpsyke9rmwq.jpg

81CD05D9-9E29-4356-97E8-4B6CD1DA375D_zpskt8ulzai.jpg

F38F53DD-06CC-4DB8-9513-BE712C88E9F4_zpskntehmuc.jpg

F2B28FF5-4958-4618-BA68-2A67D3746B77_zpsoezpydr7.jpg

B26BD16A-0D04-485B-AD69-A3A2CF0DE246_zps5pk9waq3.jpg

_1_zpsyke9rmwq.jpg

81CD05D9-9E29-4356-97E8-4B6CD1DA375D_zpskt8ulzai.jpg

F38F53DD-06CC-4DB8-9513-BE712C88E9F4_zpskntehmuc.jpg

F2B28FF5-4958-4618-BA68-2A67D3746B77_zpsoezpydr7.jpg

B26BD16A-0D04-485B-AD69-A3A2CF0DE246_zps5pk9waq3.jpg

_1_zpsyke9rmwq.jpg

81CD05D9-9E29-4356-97E8-4B6CD1DA375D_zpskt8ulzai.jpg

F38F53DD-06CC-4DB8-9513-BE712C88E9F4_zpskntehmuc.jpg

F2B28FF5-4958-4618-BA68-2A67D3746B77_zpsoezpydr7.jpg

B26BD16A-0D04-485B-AD69-A3A2CF0DE246_zps5pk9waq3.jpg

_1_zpsyke9rmwq.jpg
 
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The JT33 on the chuck is the Jacobs taper your chuck can be changed. The machine don't look to bad. Don't give up on her.
 
If you want it to go slower (and faster), you might be able to add a third cone pulley to allow more ratios by compounding. If it was me I would just use it as is until you could find your dream drill press, whatever that is, and then sell your current one. I always need to ask myself if the modifications will likely make it just what I need or whether it will still be the wrong tool for me. Just me...
 
If you want it to go slower (and faster), you might be able to add a third cone pulley to allow more ratios by compounding. If it was me I would just use it as is until you could find your dream drill press, whatever that is, and then sell your current one. I always need to ask myself if the modifications will likely make it just what I need or whether it will still be the wrong tool for me. Just me...
no room for another pulley. It's only and 8" press.

I'm past the "dream XXX" purchases.

If I needed more that's different, but I don't. This little guy has done pretty much everything I've asked of it for the last 15 odd years. Once in a blue moon I would need something a touch bigger, but not enough to warrant buying one.

I bought it once upon a time when funds were tight, intending to get a bigger one later on. But time and use have shown me it's pretty much all i need.

Fixing it up is just a fun little project and maybe make it a little bit more than what it is.

It's also a no cost "upgrade" since I have all the stuff I need laying around already.

:)
 
Closer inspection reveals the treadmill controller is an mc1200.

It's a nicer controller than the older mc80, but it won't take a simple potentiometer.

It needs a pwm signal.

So trying to decide if I'm going to use one of the "pre-built" pwm boxes I have lying around or if I'm going to use an arduino.

The rest looks pretty straight forward.

:)
 
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