This Drill Press Any Good for Pens?

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Dan Masshardt

Dan Masshardt

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I have no problems drilling on the lathe, but I'd like to get an inexpensive floor standing drill press (I have a benchtop model now)

I'd like the one that I get to have enough spindle / quill travel to be able to drill most pen blanks as well, should I want to.

Anybody have an old drill press like this one?

Item Up For Bidding At Auction - 38 W. Main Street, Shiremanstown PA 17011 in Shiremanstown, PA
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Dan; The old Craftsman tools were at the top of the line 15-20 years ago. I have quite a few Craftsman tools that are still running fine 40 years or more later. Sorry to say, I would not buy a Craftsman tool today. If you can hear it run, be able to put a drill bit in it and see if it runs true, be able to buy it cheap enough, and have extras come with it . Maybe !! $25-100 tops !! Most important is to see if parts are still available and at what cost. Belts, bearings, switches, etc. Next thing is to not get carried away with the auction itself. After collecting old tools and going to auctions for over 50 years, I find that people get caught up in the hunt and pay close to or more than than you can buy a new model for. Now on some antique tools, that's not a problem because they are rare or they just don't make them that way any more. If you are looking for something with a longer stroke, Menards has a benchtop model with a 1 HP motor, 5" stroke, VS, tilt table left and right, light, and lazer cross hairs for around $200 on sale. Jim S
 
Last edited:
plantman said:
Dan; The old Craftsman tools were at the top of the line 15-20 years ago. I have quite a few Craftsman tools that are still running fine 40 years or more later. Sorry to say, I would not buy a Craftsman tool today. If you can hear it run, be able to put a drill bit in it and see if it runs true, and be able to buy it cheap enough . Maybe !! Most important is to see if parts are still available and at what cost. Belts, bearings, switches, etc. Next thing is to not get carried away with the auction itself. After collecting old tools and going to auctions for over 50 years, I find that people get caught up in the hunt and pay close to or more than than you can buy a new model for. Now on some antique tools, that's not a problem because they are rare or they just don't them that way any more.
Click to expand...

How old do you think this guys is? Seems like it would be in that 15-20 plus range.

I'm well aware of auction dynamics. My guess is that a drill like this will go very cheap, but you never know.

Don't really want to get into the quality discussion of the whole line currently. :-)
 
It looks like the one I have, if it is, it is a 16 speed, with a little over 4" of quill travel. I have had mine since about 1981, never a problem, so I say go for it.
 
Dan Masshardt said:
plantman said:
Dan; The old Craftsman tools were at the top of the line 15-20 years ago. I have quite a few Craftsman tools that are still running fine 40 years or more later. Sorry to say, I would not buy a Craftsman tool today. If you can hear it run, be able to put a drill bit in it and see if it runs true, and be able to buy it cheap enough . Maybe !! Most important is to see if parts are still available and at what cost. Belts, bearings, switches, etc. Next thing is to not get carried away with the auction itself. After collecting old tools and going to auctions for over 50 years, I find that people get caught up in the hunt and pay close to or more than than you can buy a new model for. Now on some antique tools, that's not a problem because they are rare or they just don't them that way any more.
Click to expand...

How old do you think this guys is? Seems like it would be in that 15-20 plus range.

I'm well aware of auction dynamics. My guess is that a drill like this will go very cheap, but you never know.

Don't really want to get into the quality discussion of the whole line currently. :-)
Click to expand...

Dan reread my answer, I added a few things to it. I think your correct in the 15-20 range. Jim S
 
I have one just like it and it's about 1983 vintage. It does just fine and the only thing I had to do to it was grease up the spindle once as it was making noise.

Cheers,
Rich
 
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