My latest restoration project Drill Press

**Kudzu** · 4th February 2007, 11:52 AM

A little over a year ago I answered an ad for a old DeWalt radial arm saw. I had been looking for one like that for close to year. The fellow wanted to give it away to someone that would restore it. Needless to say I was very interested. After many weeks we finally got together and I ended up with all of his dad old cabinet shop machines. All had been stored for many years and poorly maintained. None were really usable and they needed a restoration. I have slowly been working through the tools one by one. This is one of two drill pressed and it the worst so it was chosen to be next.

BEFORE PHOTOS
Attachment 39625 Attachment 39626

This is Craftsman (Sears Roebuck) model 103.2314 drill press. I don't have an exact date but it was made somewhere in the late 1940's to early 1950's. At least that is the best guess based on catalogs and the dates on the other tools that it came with.

It still worked but barely, it has one bearing making a horrid noise. Everything is rusted and just doesn't work well at all. So I have not used it. One of the things I like about this machine is it has the optional jackshaft. Per the catalog it will can run down to 200 RPM's or up to 15,000 RPM's. Don't think I am going to try the high side!

Attachment 39627

I spent a couple of hours in the Lab breaking it down into smaller pieces. I will spend some more time taking all these pieces apart into even smaller pieces. Then clean and repair, repaint, restore and reassemble.

Attachment 39629

Mean time the head is soaking in the electrolysis tank removing the rust and 50 years of dirt and dust! Will follow up as get more work completed on it.

Attachment 39628

Jeff

**lpg_falcon** · 4th February 2007, 01:34 PM

Jeff,

can you explain how the electrolysis tank works?

I am assuming you are going to pass a current through the steel to clean it?
If so what voltage, what anode/cathode metal are you using?

Vern.

**Kudzu** · 6th February 2007, 05:54 AM

I just use a automotive 10 amp battery charger for power. You want low voltage so no one gets hurt. My anode is just a old piece of rusty iron. Most anything that rusts will work. This is rebar, I have used fence posts and sheet metal. The bar can be bent to fit the tub so I like it better.

If you need some details just Google Electrolysis Rust and you will find lots of information.

Jeff

**Kudzu** · 6th February 2007, 02:23 PM

Work is keeping me out of the Lab, but when you self employed that is a good thing. OK, I would rather be in the shop but I need income.

Attachment 39763

I pulled the head out of the soup and got it primed and painted. I decided to stick with the original gray. It matches all the other machines.

Dunked the base in the soup. I flipped it over to do the other half since it is a little bit bigger than the tank. I saw a bathtub on the side of the road today and I have to admit I was tempted. I was thinking what great tank it would make.

But I would want to keep it out back and I think the LOML would have something to say about that, so I didn't stop.

Attachment 39764

Jeff

**Kudzu** · 9th February 2007, 05:22 AM

OK here is the latest update. I decided it would simpler to put the head back together on the post. I could put it eye level and see what I was doing. Plus it would be stable. Before I could do that I need to clean the post, the table and base and have them painted and ready to be mounted. Here they are.

Attachment 39884 Attachment 39885

Mean time I had to decide how to clean up the column. I wanted to spin it on the lathe but my lathe bed it short. I decided on a steady rest made form roller blade wheels. Being that this was a two time use. (I have another drill press to restore) I didn't want to put a lot of work into it.

I did a little measuring and found the center line and put a board and drew it all out. I made it so the column sat down in between the wheels so I (hopefully) wouldn't need a third wheel. I wanted the weight of tube to hold it in place. I could a piece of angle I had laying around the barn. Grabbed some c-clamps and here it is.

Attachment 39886 Attachment 39887 Attachment 39888

I had it come off the chuck twice, no bid deal. Just scares you. I change the jaws and not it's good. I can't get this one shiny new looking. It has a rough finish on it and the dust there is some black down in these spots that will not come out without actually grinding it down in size. But I like old machines to look old, just not rusty. So this is going to turn out good.

I hope to put all this stuff together tonight. Then I can start cleaning the internal parts and start putting it back together Saturday.

Jeff

**MurrayD99** · 9th February 2007, 06:27 AM

Good project Jeff. Thanks for the progress updates.

**Kudzu** · 9th February 2007, 11:53 PM

Got a little bit more done before my feet gave out. Concrete floors are rough on your feet for sure!

I got the post as clean as I could. All the stains from the rust would just not come out. I think I will try electrolysis on the next one and see if looks any better. Put the parts back together and started assembling the head.

This is the first one I have restored with chrome parts on it. I wasn't sure of the best way to clean them but I decided to try just polishing them. I was very happy with the results. Of course to be really good they need to be rechromed. But here are a couple of photos.

Attachment 39936 Attachment 39937

I cleaned and installed most of the parts in the head. I ran into a problem with the upper pulley fitting back over the splined shaft so I have the spindle back out. It came apart no problem but now the splines want to stick and I am not sure why. My feet hurt so bad I just quit for the night. Will work on it Saturday.

Attachment 39938 Attachment 39939

**Kudzu** · 11th February 2007, 12:41 PM

Closing in on this one. Got the motor painted and cleaned up today. It had the cool metal polished band around the center of the motor. Unfortunately it was so rusty that there was no way I could clean it up. So I choose to paint it flat black. That hides the pitting.

Attachment 40026

I have the motor mount in the soup pot. Once it come out and get painted I can finish this one up. I need to pick up a belt to replace one of the old ones and pick up a length of cable for the power. The one on it is 2 wire so there is no way to connect a ground and I just refuse to have a machine in my shop without a ground!

Attachment 40025

And it's not really blue. My silly camera renders this gray blue looking with the flash.

Jeff

**Kudzu** · 12th February 2007, 01:32 AM

I don't want this to come across as I am just looking for recognition or complements. But if no one is interested in the restoration of old machines I would rather not be posting about it. I am new here and don't know what everyone likes and dislikes. And if this not a subject of interest tell me and I will just stick to talking about hand tools and woodworking.

I don't want to shove my interests on you guys.

**DJ’s Timber** · 12th February 2007, 01:41 AM

Keep'em coming Jeff, it's always good to see some of the older machines returned to there original condition

**Farm boy** · 12th February 2007, 01:52 AM

Jeff
good on you for restoring these old machines,i am banned from getting anything else for my shed so you only make me jealous

I dont know about the other members but i have enjoyed watching the restoration so keep it up
greg

**Kudzu** · 12th February 2007, 02:36 AM

OK, just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something I shouldn't. A little late to ask since I will finish this on up in the next couple of days.

**ss_11000** · 12th February 2007, 05:08 PM

i'm interested in this type of thing. i'd imagine most would be interested but just dont have much to say on the matter but stlill want to see it. also to date, this thread has been seen 313 times, so its going pretty good

cheers

**BrettC** · 12th February 2007, 09:21 PM

Jeff,

I'm watching this with interest, great skill (and patience) to be able to do this sort of thing instead of just scrapping these great old machines.
Keep 'em coming.

**Groggy** · 12th February 2007, 09:46 PM

resto's are always interesting to watch. Personally I find them fascinating. I guess you know about OWWM?

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