Drill Press Table Counterweight System for Craftsman 150

Рет қаралды 19,402

7 жыл бұрын

A solution to the lack of easy adjustment on my drill press table. While I love my 60's Craftsman drill press, I always dreaded having to raise the table against its own weight. Here I build a non-invasive solution using a solid steel bar counterweight.
Here's a link to the original article where I got the idea: www.garagejournal.com/forum/sh...
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Пікірлер: 80

@SeeMooreVids 2 жыл бұрын

I’m looking to a similar cable system but will have exterior cable running between motor and drill housing attached to through bolt on table clamp allowing for cover to be replaced without any cutting. This also cleans up work area avoiding work hitting cable.

@gotrust4741 3 жыл бұрын

Just got one of these old drills ... this is a genius idea.. thanks

@SawDustMakerRJM 7 жыл бұрын

Love the look of that old Craftsman Drill Press. Great job on the pulley system.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks, it was coated in rust when I got it but it just needed a little elbow grease and new bearings to run like new! Amazing how solidly built these machines were back in the day!

@Bushradical 6 жыл бұрын

Dude I love the old press! I just picked ups a 1930's Atlas /Craftsman. But I would trade it in a second for a nice King Seeley !

@markmelville6670 2 жыл бұрын

That's a slick one. Simple and effective.

@briannewton3535 7 жыл бұрын

Well thought through, a nice job, and a great result!!

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian, glad you liked it!

@earlledoux9824 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome idea my friend. I too have and love the very same drill press. I will be modifying mine the same way. Thanks pal.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Earl Ledoux great to hear! let me know how you like it when you're done my friend!

@peterdepuy6072 6 жыл бұрын

This was cool to watch. I don't have the skills that he has nor do I have half the tools, but it just as interesting to watch someone engineer a solution and build it out.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Peter!

@buster2725 6 жыл бұрын

That looks great, just got a 1938 craftsman drill press looks new, going to make one just like that.thankyou

@VintageWoodWorkshop 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome, good luck!

@johnmichaelgeorge6284 8 ай бұрын

That's really slick.

@YT4zudy 2 жыл бұрын

She’s lucky to have your help and so are the kids!

@MitchellDeitrich 7 жыл бұрын

love the look of that beast! cool upgrade!

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mitch! Yeah this one cleaned up nicely! they don't make em like this anymore....solid!

@Patricksworkshop 7 жыл бұрын

thats a great idea and solution for a problem on those old drill presses

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Patrick's WorkShop thanks Patrick!👍

@capitaldd5840 4 жыл бұрын

Great upgrade....seems like it's much easier to use now

@opasworkshop8373 7 жыл бұрын

hell of an idea that you seem to have made into a functioning working product. great build my friend now all you need is a magnet to hold your Chuck key.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Opa's Workshop thanks Opa, you read my mind...I did use a magnet to hold the chuck key!👍👍😀

@Jeff-Champwild 7 жыл бұрын

Awesome engineering!

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeff!!

@boatbuilder1954 6 жыл бұрын

Very Nice! I had a drill press just like the one you have however I messed up and sold it.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 6 жыл бұрын

boatbuilder1 thanks, sorry to hear you sold it!

@coburnlowman 2 жыл бұрын

I have one of these. I need to add a third pulley to get it down to steel driving speed. I guess I can add the counter weight down the back side of the column. These are so much nicer than any of the import drill presses.

@Badgerworkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Such a cool solution

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I'd been planning this out in my head for awhile and finally got a chance to build it...works great! No more dreading having to raise the table!

@aslacker 5 жыл бұрын

Great Job!

@stevehildreth1934 5 жыл бұрын

So, how do you change belt speed pulleys with that top bracket in place?

@BentWyre Жыл бұрын

Yeah that was the first thing I noticed is the belt adjustment can't be used

@WildmanTech 7 жыл бұрын

That turned out pretty good.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks, big improvement!

@bobby76full 5 жыл бұрын

very nice man!!!

@kkarllwt 4 жыл бұрын

To clear the belts, notch the square tube and extend the notch above the belts, then add a horizontal bar to extend over the side of the press. Take the wheels from the pulleys and mount them to this bar( best, shoulder bolts into taped holes. Cheapest, allthread and nuts. ) Now to determine the weight weight, loosen the table and use a scale ( bathroom ? ) Add a few pounds for friction and vise weight. Steel is about 650 lbs. a cubic foot. simple arithmetic. about 2.66 cubic inches a pound.

@danielsolowiej 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing solution Sir. There is a craftsman with upper letters ! (You) Excellent

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Nice, thanks Daniel, appreciate the support my friend!!

@JarosJaroslaw 7 жыл бұрын

Very cool idea.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@richardbrooks3569 2 жыл бұрын

Very clever.

@mazatrolmultiplex1113 4 жыл бұрын

That is very good job. I am wondering you took the guard away. It look dangerous while the bell run without guard

@ScreamingEagleFTW 5 жыл бұрын

I rarely give thumbs ups. but this vid deserves it.

@girliedog Жыл бұрын

quite clever

@Bluuplanet 5 жыл бұрын

I'm gonna do that! But I think I'll use a single larger pulley and keep the whole works close to the column inside the drive belt. I'll probably have to drill a hole or two for the cable to pass through.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 5 жыл бұрын

cool, yeah that would be great to see. Email me some pics if you end up trying it

@ronbianca9722 3 жыл бұрын

Good video! Have you put any thought into changing it to a milling machine? What would you use for a spindle to replace the chuck?

@VintageWoodWorkshop 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Ron, I have but as I recall, these machines are not up to the task of the lateral forces as is. I haven't researched how to convert it by replacing the chuck. I would really like to get a milling machine in the future (just like a metal lathe) but it's hard to justify the expense and space it would take up for how often I might actually use it. Let me know if you find any additional info on converting a drill press to a functional, accurate milling machine. Thanks

@kevinmcfadden9553 7 жыл бұрын

great idea. what if you have to drill a hole in something heavy? does it still work?

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kevin, I'll have to experiment and see what the weight limit is for practical one-handed lifting....will let you know

@adamthewoodworker2571 2 жыл бұрын

Also, I have a similar drill press, but the column has an open hole only on the bottom side facing the ground. The top side is closed. I wonder I could switch them around or if that would cause problems

@VintageWoodWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

I bet you could flip it, not the easiest, but maybe worth it!

@howardlovecraft750 2 жыл бұрын

Did you restore your press, if so do you remember what color and type of paint you used. I'm in the process of restoring my 150 craftsman floor model press and I see that the color of your press looks like the original paint color from the research I've done on them.

@ziomziomecki 4 жыл бұрын

Looks good but obviously would not work with the Multi Speed Attachment. The 3rd 4-step pulley mounts on the top of the main shaft right were the cable in this mod goes in.

@yt66228 4 жыл бұрын

Great build. Major overkill on cable!

@wallygoots 5 жыл бұрын

Did you weigh the counterbalance? I just bought a 150. I'm thinking about putting a trailer tongue jack under the table so I have a convenient crank, but it would be slowish to make large adjustments. Might go the counterbalance route.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 5 жыл бұрын

Seth Ellis not sure of the weight... approx 40 lbs I’d say

@wallygoots 5 жыл бұрын

@@VintageWoodWorkshop Thanks! I'll start to look for the right weight. Happy new year.

@VintageWoodWorkshop 5 жыл бұрын

Seth Ellis happy new year to you as well!

@jimlem42 5 жыл бұрын

Great fix!

@davetarrant6888 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome solution you earned a subscriber. I made an offer of $125 to pick one of these up tomorrow. After making the offer I looked at the pic I thought I wonder how hard that table will be to move up/down so I googled it and here I am. I don’t have the fabrication skills or tools for welding and cutting metal like you do so I’m I will have to find help or figure something different out. So was it unbearable before you fixed it?

@VintageWoodWorkshop 5 жыл бұрын

Great to hear! No it was not unbearable, just a minor nuisance. You won’t regret how great these are to have. All the tools I have in my shop I acquired within the last 4 years from craigslist, flea markets, and yard sales. So start making space it’s addictive!

@lydashop5746 7 жыл бұрын

What happens when you have to change the speed on your drill press? Does the belt get in the way

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

Lyda Shop good eye! yes, the tab will be in the way for the next fastest speed but you could reattach the pulley system with the belt above the tab at the higher speeds. Since I always use the slowest speed, I designed it around that. thanks for watching!

@lydashop5746 7 жыл бұрын

ok I know I never change the speed so that ok

@bobleeswoodshop7919 7 жыл бұрын

Looks like you taught old fart like me something new!!! I have the same problem with my drill press ! Going to look at my drill press now 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄a craftsman drill press also 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔👍👍👍👍 nice job

@VintageWoodWorkshop 7 жыл бұрын

haha...thanks brother! This has annoyed me for awhile! Finally fixed it...a good feeling!

@adamthewoodworker2571 2 жыл бұрын

At 6:10 what is it that you're doing? That's the only part that I was confused by

@VintageWoodWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

I'm using a cable clamp to "tie a knot" in the cable so that it won't slip back through the hole