Craftsman Bench Drill Press – Make and year?

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OhioMike

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I’m looking for any information (i.e. owner’s manual, model year, etc.) on this older cast body Craftsman drill press. This is the only photo I have, so this may be a challenge. Any approximation of age would help.

Thanks in advance for your help,

From Ohio - Mike

Craftsman Bench Drill Press.jpeg
 
If it still has its nameplate, post the model number. That will (eventually) ID who made it.
 
brino said:
Hi Mike,

Welcome to the site!

Have you had a look over at Vintage Machinery?

Here's the Sears/Craftsman "Publication Reprints" page:
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=3

and here's the "Photo Index" page:
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=4

I bet some research over there will narrow it down.

-brino
Click to expand...

Thank you,

I will do that search. I am a new member and have yet to learn all of the features of this site. This drill press is kind of a barn find where a friend saw it and sent me the e mail photo. I 'think' it maybe a model 103, but haven't had my hands on it yet. I need a drill press with some heft and believe this may work if it is at all serviceable. Your (members) knowledge of the drill press history will get me over the learning curve quickly to avoid buying another piece of scrap iron.

From Ohio - Mike
 
Craftsman model numbers are three digits, a decimal point, and three, four or five digits. Like the Craftsman 12" lathe equivalent to the Atlas 10D is 101.07381.
 
I do believe it is a "103" A fine drill press depending on your needs. Im thinking the one in the pics does not have the low speed pulley based on the pics, if not the speeds will generally be higher than needed for metal work. I have one and that is what I have found, Im going to a 90vdc conversion eventually to get the speeds I need for metals.
 
BrianT said:
I do believe it is a "103" A fine drill press depending on your needs. Im thinking the one in the pics does not have the low speed pulley based on the pics, if not the speeds will generally be higher than needed for metal work. I have one and that is what I have found, Im going to a 90vdc conversion eventually to get the speeds I need for metals.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply to this post.

You make a good point about spindle speed. According to most information I have found, the slowest speed for the original motor (1750 RPM) and pulley arrangements is 610 RPM? Were they kind of all like that? The chuck sizes I have seen in older user 103 manuals are 1/2". So I should be able to poke holes 1/2" holes in mild steel with that setup? But things change, so, what is your suggestion for changes to bring the RPM down - Variable speed motor or pulley changes - can you provide details or direction to where I may find that on H-M?

From Ohio - Mike
 
Hi Mike,

By my math, 610 RPM is ideal for drilling a 1/2" hole in mild steel with a HSS drill bit (80 sfpm).
For smaller diameters you want higher RPM for same SFPM.

There are a few good ways to slow down a drill press.

Here's a couple threads on adding another pulley:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/gearing-down-a-jet-drill.42251/
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/slowing-down-my-drill-press.33007/

Here's a thread on slowing a wood cutting band-saw down for metal work by converting it to a variable speed DC drive treadmill motor:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/wood-to-metal-bandsaw-coversion-made-easy.12386/#post100184

Here's one on replacing a band-saw motor with a 3-phase and using a VFD (variable frequency drive) for speed control:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/converting-a-wood-bandsaw-to-cut-steel.22593/

-brino
 
brino said:
Hi Mike,

By my math, 610 RPM is ideal for drilling a 1/2" hole in mild steel with a HSS drill bit (80 sfpm).
For smaller diameters you want higher RPM for same SFPM.

There are a few good ways to slow down a drill press.

Here's a couple threads on adding another pulley:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/gearing-down-a-jet-drill.42251/
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/slowing-down-my-drill-press.33007/

Here's a thread on slowing a wood cutting band-saw down for metal work by converting it to a variable speed DC drive treadmill motor:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/wood-to-metal-bandsaw-coversion-made-easy.12386/#post100184

Here's one on replacing a band-saw motor with a 3-phase and using a VFD (variable frequency drive) for speed control:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/converting-a-wood-bandsaw-to-cut-steel.22593/

-brino
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply,

Yep, your math is excellent. This time of year I use 'fuzzy' math - tax season you know.

I will investigate the links to those threads.

I have yet to see this drill press, but hope to get a look next week. It looks to have been painted that standard machine shop green - speed and pulley tables included. Not original by any means. Any known historical issues I should need to look for that would make me pass on the buy?
Another 'new to the 103' question - Are there other chuck sizes available - like can I find a 1" chuck for this old 103 - would it be capable of turning one if converted?

From Ohio - Mike
 
I don't know the answer to your first question (known historical issues). As to a 1" capacity chuck, the 1961 Jacobs catalog only shows the ball bearing 20N, and it takes a 5JT arbor and would probably cost more than the drill press. 1" shank drills are also going to be scarce and expensive. Do you know yet what the spindle nose is? The choices are probably either 3/8"-24, 1/2"-24 or 1/2"-20. The largest 1/2" threaded mount chucks that Jacobs made are 0-1/2" capacity. Which is most likely what's on the machine already. If the spindle is #2MT, which is less likely, then yes, drills were made up to 1" dia. with 2MT shanks. However, the drill press is too fast for mild steel much above 1/2" dia.

The machine that you are looking at is a 4-speed. If you need a drill press for general machine shop use, I would recommend that you look for a 12-speed with either 2MT or 3MT spindle (AKA quill).
 
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