Thread: Chasing a chuck for Dawn vintage drill press

Can't help you out with a chuck but have attached some pics of the original setup and a chuck that suits. In saying that only if is the same drill. The original drill bits have a flat side to suit the original chuck.

Hi Peter M,
Had one of those many years ago.
The Chuck on mine, was all one piece 2 1/2 in. long x 1 1/2in thick with a hole to put the bit in & had a bolt to do up on the bit to hold it in the hole.
But I changed it around, just like the photo of a Jacob Chuck, that made it easier to use.
Hope that helps a little.
Regards,
issatree.

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi Peter M,
Had one of those many years ago.
The Chuck on mine, was all one piece 2 1/2 in. long x 1 1/2in thick with a hole to put the bit in & had a bolt to do up on the bit to hold it in the hole.
But I changed it around, just like the photo of a Jacob Chuck, that made it easier to use.
Hope that helps a little.
Regards,
issatree.

Good onya you blokes - thanks a lot. You have just given me an idea - I can shop around the flea markets for the scungiest and oldest electric drill I can find with a Jacobs chuck, cannabalise the chuck and adapt it to the Dawn arbor. Why I didn't think of this before, I don't know.

Besides, it's a good excuse to go looking, and who knows what other treasure one may come across!
Cheers
Peter

How much would one of these in good condition be worth?

I have one, complete, with chuck and the cutting bits - from my late Father's shed.

I imagine this was a precision tool in its time.
Ken

Kendy,

Anything like this is worth whatever you can persuade someone to pay for it. Having said that, I bought one in very good condition, but with no chuck or drills, for $140 about six months ago. I have absolutely no idea of so-called market prices, but was happy to pay what I did purely to get a piece of history. (Incidentally, the original asking price was $170, but a bit of haggling saw it come down to my final figure). I will now sit back and wait for some members to tell me I paid too much, and others will say I got a bargain. Either way, I am happy with what I have.

I ended up giving mine to the son of the lady that gave it to me (it was destined for the kerbside throw out). She had told me the drill was originally destined for a museum somewhere but never made it due to the passing of the original owner. I told her son the story and at first he didn't want to take it but eventually said he would either use it or it would go to a museum. I could never bring myself to sell it but needed the room.
I think $140.00 is a good price, they are a well built unit.

I've also see Dawn or similar makes with something similar to a Morse taper and chucks with square jaws like a hand brace for tapered square shanked bits. I don't know if those were original or adaptations by the owner at some stage.

Hi guys i have a Dawn Drill press MFG 616. it works beautifully and all the parts you can turn with your little finger they work that good. EXCEPT for the chuck which is so ceased that i have know idea how to undo it, it has a rather large Drill bit stuck in it and i have no idea how to get it unceased. I was wondering SHOULD i try and get someone to loosen it like a mechanical engineer OR should i try and find any old chuck and use that.

regards,
Andy

Originally Posted by Andymckenzie

Hi guys i have a Dawn Drill press MFG 616. it works beautifully and all the parts you can turn with your little finger they work that good. EXCEPT for the chuck which is so ceased that i have know idea how to undo it, it has a rather large Drill bit stuck in it and i have no idea how to get it unceased. I was wondering SHOULD i try and get someone to loosen it like a mechanical engineer OR should i try and find any old chuck and use that.

regards,
Andy

Chucks weren't original to them so it shouldn't matter to change it to any chuck. The end of the spindle used to take the drill bit directly.

Originally Posted by Andymckenzie

Hi guys i have a Dawn Drill press MFG 616. it works beautifully and all the parts you can turn with your little finger they work that good. EXCEPT for the chuck which is so ceased that i have know idea how to undo it, it has a rather large Drill bit stuck in it and i have no idea how to get it unceased. I was wondering SHOULD i try and get someone to loosen it like a mechanical engineer OR should i try and find any old chuck and use that.
regards,
Andy

I assume by a seized chuck you mean a normal adjusting chuck? - that isn't in the pictures you put up, right?
Then I would soak it in WD40 and bang it lovingly a bit with a hammer ... and repeat that for a few days.
You could heat it with a propane torch from the hardware store ... or put it in the oven for a while.

I can just about guarantee that once you can get a little bit of movement out of it you are 98% there.

Cheers,
Paul