HF drill presses - Page 3

**Oldsalt** · 09-26-2009, 11:34 PM

There are no "manual" machine tools made in America. None. This excludes CNC equipment and the like. No drill presses, lathes, mills and such-like manual machine tools have been produced for a LONG time in this country. But if a guy looks long enough, or gets lucky, a nice old Delta, Rockwell or other pre 70s press will turn up for the right money. As for what the right money might be? A HF 13 inch floor model is still probably about 150 bucks, perhaps that can be used as a base line for a desireable low price. But there are a couple of pit falls in buying an old machine. 1. Many are worked to death, but still look O.K. at an auction. You most often will not have a chance to evaluate the tool's condition by operating it. 2. The better ones are three phase power. If you are not so equiped a new motor is in order. 3. If a part in that old mechanical sheave vari-speed breaks or wears out [or any of a number of other old parts, even a simple return spring] you will be SOUT. 4. As everyone seems to think that moveing machinery is easy [but most often have no experience of aptitude] there is a reasonable chance that some idiot has dropped it during one of it's 50 moves from one place to another. Believe me, if it is warped from a good jar it will be a pain to operate in an accurite fashion from there on.

If I were out looking for an old quality American made drill press, but wanted a press to use in the foreseeable future, I'd buy a HF mid-priced model and get to work in a timely fashion. The attached photo is a HF drill press that served me well but is now retired because I have a high zoot vari-speed that's so much better. Of course it cost many times the price of the old cheap HF press. Anyone want it for 75 bones?

Oldschool · 09-27-2009, 08:30 PM

Hey Mark G I just noticed your Buffalo is a smaller version of my Canadian blower and forge. Not quite tghe same but I see a similarities I did a little digging and they are the same company!

If you have come across 3 phase equipment there are ways to run it on single phase power so don't turn your nose up at it right away

**Mark G** · 10-14-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldsalt

There are no "manual" machine tools made in America. None. This excludes CNC equipment and the like. No drill presses, lathes, mills and such-like manual machine tools have been produced for a LONG time in this country. But if a guy looks long enough, or gets lucky, a nice old Delta, Rockwell or other pre 70s press will turn up for the right money. As for what the right money might be? A HF 13 inch floor model is still probably about 150 bucks, perhaps that can be used as a base line for a desireable low price. But there are a couple of pit falls in buying an old machine. 1. Many are worked to death, but still look O.K. at an auction. You most often will not have a chance to evaluate the tool's condition by operating it. 2. The better ones are three phase power. If you are not so equiped a new motor is in order. 3. If a part in that old mechanical sheave vari-speed breaks or wears out [or any of a number of other old parts, even a simple return spring] you will be SOUT. 4. As everyone seems to think that moveing machinery is easy [but most often have no experience of aptitude] there is a reasonable chance that some idiot has dropped it during one of it's 50 moves from one place to another. Believe me, if it is warped from a good jar it will be a pain to operate in an accurite fashion from there on.

If I were out looking for an old quality American made drill press, but wanted a press to use in the foreseeable future, I'd buy a HF mid-priced model and get to work in a timely fashion. The attached photo is a HF drill press that served me well but is now retired because I have a high zoot vari-speed that's so much better. Of course it cost many times the price of the old cheap HF press. Anyone want it for 75 bones?

There is a company here in Oregon, WISCONSIN that still makes brand new drill presses. So theres at least one

. I agree with you on the four pitfalls to a point. I was able to test the floor mounted one before I bought it. I talked to the original owner, who had bought it new. It was one of several that he had and it saw very little use. I don't have 3 phase power yet, but I'm working on it. It is a Craftsman, so getting parts should'nt be an issue. It is heavy, so I HOPE no one has dropped it, but it has been in the same shop since new so I think the chances of that happening were slim.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldschool

Hey Mark G I just noticed your Buffalo is a smaller version of my Canadian blower and forge. Not quite tghe same but I see a similarities I did a little digging and they are the same company!

If you have come across 3 phase equipment there are ways to run it on single phase power so don't turn your nose up at it right away

I bought the Buffalo drill press purely for sentimental reasons. I'm originally from there and at one time Buffalo use to be a manufacturing GIANT. Everything was made there, and good quality stuff too. Theres still alot of manufacturing there, but nothing like it used to be.

I remember the old Buffalo Forge plant (before they tore it down) was HUGE, I think it was around half a mile long?? Anyway I figured for a $20 it was totally worth it, and it does work great. I'll end up disassembling it and blast /paint it, plus the belt cover is aluminum so it should polish up real nice

. Just what I need, another project.

**minibikedude** · 10-14-2009, 02:32 PM

Take a look at Grizzly tool, They have some good prices on drill presses, There better Quality than H.F. I have seen there Large cabinet 12" Table saws and a couple of there larger equipment and was impressed at the quality. Better than I thought they would be. There Good for the Money. They make Harbor Freight stuff look like junk. But their still made Taiwan and China. But a lot of the newer Delta stuff stuff is made there too now. I got older Delta equipment that made here in the USA. My Delta floor model drill press is made in Taiwan.

oldphocker · 10-14-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldschool

Hey Mark G I just noticed your Buffalo is a smaller version of my Canadian blower and forge. Not quite tghe same but I see a similarities I did a little digging and they are the same company!

If you have come across 3 phase equipment there are ways to run it on single phase power so don't turn your nose up at it right away

You can make a converter to run 3 phase equipment it's pretty simple

but takes a few minutes to spool up everything I used to work as a millwright and you use a 3 phase motor and it is spooled up by a smaller motor and when you power it up it makes power to the other leg ....lol

**Oldsalt** · 10-14-2009, 11:40 PM

I've done the motor trick but it's a hassle. Ya need another motor at least twise the size of the motor you wish to operate to make the 'third' leg. If a guy happens to have such an animal and some other things on hand it's worth doing. To buy the stuff is unfortunately more money than a single phase motor is worth or, for that matter, what a floor model HF drill press is worth.

The Grizzly stuff is far better quality and of course more money than HF. My experiance with Grizzly is that they refuse to sell any junk. My little milling machine is from Grizzly and I couldn't like it more.

**minibikedude** · 10-15-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldsalt

I've done the motor trick but it's a hassle. Ya need another motor at least twise the size of the motor you wish to operate to make the 'third' leg. If a guy happens to have such an animal and some other things on hand it's worth doing. To buy the stuff is unfortunately more money than a single phase motor is worth or, for that matter, what a floor model HF drill press is worth.

The Grizzly stuff is far better quality and of course more money than HF. My experiance with Grizzly is that they refuse to sell any junk. My little milling machine is from Grizzly and I couldn't like it more.

I been looking at the mini milling machines, What model do you have. I was looking at the combo unit mill and lath I think there around a grand.

**Oldsalt** · 10-16-2009, 01:03 AM

My mill is a Grizzly model G3102. The picture shows it's usual filthy condition. I am convinced that a mill of any size, even a mini-mill is fine to own. Sure, the size of the things that can be milled is limited but the lion's share of projects in the mini bike hobby will be little pieces. Same with guns and a lot of other things. Let's face it, you will never have a mill large enough to do everything. But, IMHO, it MUST have a 'knee'. A mill/drill that only has a table that moves right and left and forward and back will be near worthless for about half the things you wish to do. The table must be able to be raised and lowered. A mill/drill, again IMO, is like a mop with a rope handle. Just a glorified drill press. I am very happy with my Grizzly. I've operated a lot of different Bridgeports and if the Bridgeport was new [not worn out like 90% that you will currently find] they would be a better machine. But I only paid approx. $1,800 for it NEW. The picture shows a black box on the left side. That is an AC Inverter that makes the motor a vari-speed, no belts to change. The box above and to the right is a three axis DRO [digital read out]. That was given to me by my eldest son and I understand that it was sorta expensive but I don't care. Sure, it adds up to some big dollars but not completely out of reach if a guy really wants such things. Maybe a mill/drill is really the way to go until a full mill comes around, but I am certain you will be wanting a real mill after you get hooked on machining your own parts.

As for a combo mill/lathe, I have no experance with one. I'm told that they [of course] take a lot of time to go from one set-up to another. Probably a good start without having to drop a lot of money. But, again, you will not have a 'knee', i.e., only the quill is moveable up and down.

The other picture is of another Grizzly machine I own. It's a Grizzly knife sander that is suppose to be used to shape knife blades. The belt can be changed from one grit to another in seconds. Honest, I didn't buy it, I'm cheap, it was another thing that my eldest son gave me a few years ago. Again, a fine machine that I have nothing but praise for. In the back ground is the hardly used HF drill press that I retired when a vari-speed came arround. A good machine that works just like a person would expect it to. Not the best, but the thing cost less than $150 new! The first $75 gets it.

Oldschool · 10-17-2009, 10:58 PM

I haven't priced things in a while but PM DC motors from Leeson used to be around 120 bucks up here. And KB drives are dirt cheap ( used to be around 100 ). Magnetek used to sell a motor and drive combo ( they put there own name on the KB drive ) for 150 bucks.

KB Electronics KBIC-120 DC Motor Speed Control on eBay.ca (item 200393954344 end time 20-Oct-09 00:30:29 EDT)

GENERAL ELECTRIC MOTOR #5BPA56RAG8A 1hp, 90 Vdc on eBay.ca (item 160369314291 end time 19-Oct-09 14:39:00 EDT)

Combine the two and you can have some very smooth and stepless speed control for a tool. Just A thought I wanted to mention since there was some talk about the price of motors to replace a 3 phase.
I realy like the KB drives, cheap reliable and bets of all made in Florida.......

**Oldsalt** · 10-18-2009, 03:56 AM

$150 is really a good price. I picked up a DC motor and controller for short money on eBay and put it on my little 13" lathe. Goot lucky because it's in good shape. But new would be a better idea because you never know how much life is left in a used DC motor because they have brushes and wear out.