I just acquired another toy for the shop- - - - -a 3 phase variable speed motor drill press with a little over 10 inches from the spindle center to the column, a 4 1/2" diameter column, and a heavy cast iron table that measures 18 X 20 inches with T slots for hold-down clamps. It's also got a built-in coolant reservoir in the base, and a mounting hole for a recirculating pump. The thing stands just a bit over 6 feet tall, and weighs several hundred pounds. The table goes up and down on a rack & pinion gear, and swivels 360 degrees to expose a floor pedestal that also has T slots in it. With the table in the fully lowered position, it looks like there's going to be room to stand a stovebolt engine block on end under the spindle. Of course, it's not nearly as big as the radial drill press I acquired some time ago. That one's got a 9" diameter column and a power head that travels nearly 4 feet in and out from the column. I believe I've got all the hole drilling chores I can think of covered with those two machines! One more reason to finish wiring up my shop for the 3 phase rotary converter Coilover practically gave me some time ago! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Definitely- - - - -an industrial grade hole shooter! "Go big or go home!" Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
What company built it and what is the RPM range? All the drill presses sold in big box stores are set up for woodwork. Hard to find any with lower RPM's for metal work.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery 1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
It's a Wilton 20" press about 50 years old, one that came out of the maintenance department of a factory that closed down several years ago. It has a Morse taper spindle with a 6" vertical stroke. The speed chart on the control panel shows a minimum speed a little over 60 RPM. It's also reversible, like most 3 phase machines. I found it about 40 miles from my place on Facebook Marketplace. It weighs around a thousand pounds, so it's definitely not a hobby machine! Pics will get posted once the forum gets over being constipated! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Last edited by klhansen; 10/16/20255:19 AM. Reason: fixed image display
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Looks good Jerry and I like that rpm range. It just needs to be cleaned up and it will work for you.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck "The Flag Pole" In the Stovebolt Gallery 1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most!
Once I fabricate a few setup fixtures, I'll use it to drive my line bore tool when I convert stovebolt blocks to use small block 400 V8 main bearings. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Drill press is the ONE tool I won't get rid of, out in my shop. It has earned it's keep many times over. Jerry, I assume it is belt driven and if so, don't wait til a belt snaps. Get a couple extras now.
Craig
My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Back in the day working on big mills etc. I would call a Bridgeport a glorified drill press. But really a very universal machine, I like them now, just can't do big cuts.
Last edited by Truckrolet; 10/17/20254:47 AM.
Kicking self for selling off my Taskforce trucks. Still looking for an LCF or conventional big bolt in decent shape.
As of 10-26-2022, A 55.2 Taskforce long bed now the work begins
