1948 Craftsman drill press ?'s

[frugalguido]

I have this old drill press and it has .004" play in the quill to the main casting play in the forward to column direction and .003" in the side to side direction. What would be an acceptable amount of play to have, I'm use to high quality milling machines and in this drill press it seems like a lot.

 

[markba633csi]

It is a lot, usually you want close to zero - maybe 1 thousandth max

 

[yota]

there's runout and there's play. If it's actually moving when you pull on it, then the bearings are likely shot. is it making bearing noise when you run it? I have a 1941 I'm getting ready to redo and sell. bearings in the spindle are pretty easy to change and usually standard sizes. I just did quill bearings on a late 40's or early 50's South Bend drill press. had New Departure bearing in it which were common in those days.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

It is a lot, usually you want close to zero - maybe 1 thousandth max

Only one I ever saw that tight was one I accurized myself.

It was a huge amount of overkill on my part for that machine, but I was bored. Started out with .004-.005 as new from the WEN factory.

I don't really consider a drill press to be a precise instrument of metal working.

 

[cathead]

I would accept it for what it is and do some drilling. Four thousandths of play in the bearings will not
make the drill walk anyway.

 

[frugalguido]

there's runout and there's play. If it's actually moving when you pull on it, then the bearings are likely shot. is it making bearing noise when you run it? I have a 1941 I'm getting ready to redo and sell. bearings in the spindle are pretty easy to change and usually standard sizes. I just did quill bearings on a late 40's or early 50's South Bend drill press. had New Departure bearing in it which were common in those days.

There is no bearings on the quill to casting.

 

[frugalguido]

I would accept it for what it is and do some drilling. Four thousandths of play in the bearings will not
make the drill walk anyway.

Well I have the whole thing torn apart right now, just got done cleaning the 75 year worth of dirt and hard grease out of it. I was checking things out and noticed the amount of play and it concerned me. I didn't want to go though the whole resto process if the thing is totally worn out.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Well I have the whole thing torn apart right now, just got done cleaning the 75 year worth of dirt and hard grease out of it. I was checking things out and noticed the amount of play and it concerned me. I didn't want to go though the whole resto process if the thing is totally worn out.

What type of quill lock do you have?

It’s either a wedge style or it clamps the casting to the quill.

If it’s the latter you just set it up to gently drag on the return stroke and all of the play should be eliminated.

If it’s a wedge you’re still within reasonable tolerances.

Our brand new clausing has .002-.003 at the quill, no idea at the chuck but it’s more than that for sure.

 

[frugalguido]

What type of quill lock do you have?

It’s either a wedge style or it clamps the casting to the quill.

If it’s the latter you just set it up to gently drag on the return stroke and all of the play should be eliminated.

If it’s a wedge you’re still within reasonable tolerances.

Our brand new clausing has .002-.003 at the quill, no idea at the chuck but it’s more than that for sure.

Thanks for the input, it is a wedge type.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Thanks for the input, it is a wedge type.

This is our clausing. Some consider this inferior to a wedge, others prefer it.

It’s always seemed like a cheap way to manufacture something better to me, but others feel different. Set up to “work”, there is .003 play. You can take this to .000, but again, with what a drill press does theirs really no need.