Old Drill Presses

Anybody know anything about these companies/quality?
omaha industrial tools: https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:f807c11e-6671-457d-8c0f-02222b0e4f97
Cummins: https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:f807c11e-6671-457d-8c0f-02222b0e4f97
the cummins is made in taiwan from 1981 - don't love its only 5 speed as I mostly drill steel so need slow speed....from what I gather, while its not made in USA, but the early Taiwan production was pretty good.....my other big concern with this stuff is getting parts - as I found out with my old delta....

 

I believe these both came from the same factory, I've got a benchtop version of one of these excepting it has the intermediate pulley for 12 speeds.

They are what they are, FWIW mine works fine.

 

So maybe the question should be are the 80s era Taiwan machines better than the standard, big box store, low end Chinese stuff from today? My guess is yes....stepping up a level, the budget wasn't prepared for going Jet or grizzly, but if I bought new, that's the best I can afford. Realistically I am a lighter home user. Thought these old machines might be a bit better than the cheaply made stuff, but at a better budget. Unfortunately, one is 2+ hours away, and the other is 3+ hours away in the opposite direction....so can't easily drop by to see if what they are is what they are...

 

this is my experience as well with the cheap stuff that is at all the box stores - lots of run-out

Basically, Taiwan stuff (which might have been acceptably decent for my use when new) isn't any better today after 40+ years of usage after than cheap, new junk?

So what is a person to do....buy the cheap junk and accept its disposable? As much as that might seem brutal, I am okay with it as long as the precision is there for a least a bit. I don't need industrial durability in terms of usage - I use it for a handful of projects a year - but I'd like it to be reasonably precise without too much run-out. If started out okay, but only lasted 5 years - I could probably live with that and just replace it - but it seems the cheap stuff isn't just a durability/usage issue, but rather a precision concern. I may be to the point that i have to buy something cheap just to keep me going on some projects this summer while looking for a better long term solution like an old classic, made in USA machine from 60+ years ago - assuming any of those are still accessible, affordable, and not totally used up.

 

Here is some old made in USA option....from what I can gather, slowest speed is around 600 rpm (not that is much different than my current Delta - but I'd like to get down near 400 if possible).
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:c683f263-49f3-4318-8372-5140510ceefa

 

Well for better and worse, budget was a big determining factor, so I went with this....



Its a 1985 Craftsman, made in Taiwan, 17", 16 speed floor model with a 3/4 hp motor.....its nothing special - not some old made in USA unit - but i think the original Taiwan stuff was serviceable for light home hobbyist like me....of course, after almost 40 years, how used and abused is it. This one seems to have sat mostly unused for quite a while....it runs quiet very true with little run-out (at least compared to what I've been using). After I get it set-up, I'll see if I can get a dial on it and measure the run-out. Also collected a couple of other items - vice and some 90 angle for round stock....


total damage was $150 and I didn't have to drive out of town to get it....bodily damage moving a 200lbs object in and out of the truck might be different story....it certainly is pretty big - especially compared to the little 12" next to it, and one of my concerns with a floor model is dealing with its size and either mounting it or making some sort of stable base. The little benchtops drills are much easier to deal with - either mount to the benchtop or use a tool stand like I have under it. Guessing I will sink some concrete anchors and bolt it to the floor....simple large plywood base isn't as convenient in the space...I've read some discussion of maybe using the standard small base and a cable anchor of some sort to the ceiling rafter and/or wall studs behind it.

 

Needs a good cleaning and whatnot....don't think it was used a lot, especially in the last 15 years. A 60ish couple were selling it as as prep for a move out of state. It was bought new by the father of the wife who had a home hobby shop for his retirement - not sure if metal or wood was his focus. When he moved on 15 years ago so, most of the shop stuff went to the other sibling, but the DP went to this daughter as the husband did a bit of wood work. Doesn't look like he used it much - it was buried in the back shed shop which was more storage than anything, although he did have a nice work area in the primary house garage. Sounded like he did property management and had a to keep up with lots of handyman type stuff. Got most of the story as Jen was chatting with the wife while the husband with a bad knee and me with a bad back moved the beast into the truck!

Doesn't look like tons of parts are available for it, but even if it's not a keep it for a lifetime, it's okay at the price point. Basically it cost less than 'new' HF quality stuff today, and I am betting even at it's age, its a bit better machine...when you do hack shop work I do, I don't need a good machine anyway.

 

Cleaning up the big drill press and getting it set in position etc....kind of got to thinking what am I going to do with the 12" Delta - I bent the spindle getting a bit too aggressive with it etc.


There is no replacement spindles available anymore, and the only similar used machines that I thought I might be able to salvage the spindle and keep for parts were way more expensive than the big 17" that I bought.....so at this point, with nothing to loose, I am trying a bit of a brute force method to see if I can get it back to something usable - even if just for small stuff or possibly to sell it.
Anyway....first I checked the run-out - this could be done in the press, but since it was already disassembled and I have these newly acquired blocks and vice, it was easy to do it this way:


Measured around .020-.021" runout.....the brute force fix is then to mark where the 'high' spot is and then try to hammer it back in place....so far I've had to resort to a bfh and have been using a brass drift to protect the chuck mating taper surface.


At this point, I've got the runout down to .010", but it seems to have hit a stopping point, and I am getting worried about the taper surface. I think I am going to put the chuck on it with will protect the surface and possibly provide a bit more leverage off the end of the spindle. Who knows - if I can get it down to .005", I think that would be great.