Scored a drill press today. Please help.

[JG Custom Metal Works]

So I've been overdue to get a better drill press and found one on craigslist today. It's a Delta Model 15-225 bench top drill press. It's probably one of the biggest bench top models I've ever seen and I had a hell of a time getting it loaded into my car. Unfortunately I kind of went into the purchase blind as the model # 15-225 doesn't gleam ANY information when searched for online. I've tried google, Delta, and a couple other searches. Nothing. The guy had it plugged in and it did work. He stated that he bought it in 06' and only used it a handful of times. He didn't know a damn thing about it. He wanted $400 but I talked him down to $300.

Here's my questions to you guys:

From what you can tell from the specs(see pic below), did I do okay on the deal? How much would a model like this usually run?

Do any of you guys have any idea if there is another model similar that I could compare it to or that possible shares a similar manual?

This thing is so awkward to lift and I'm guessing it weighs over 200lbs. Any ideas on how I can disassemble it to a more manageable point in order to get it down my basement stairs and onto my bench? I'm sure the top/head assembly comes off but I'd hate to break this sombitch.

Any particular things I should inspect or function check on this drill press before use?


Please forgive the crappy pics. It's night time and my camera ran out of juice and had to use my ipotato. I'll drag it out into the sunlight and use a real camera tomorrow:















As I said, this thing is monstrous for a bench top model. It stands 40in tall from the base to the top of the pulley/belt cover and is 24in from front to back. It easily weighs 200lbs and possibly more.

Hopefully I'm able to get this thing up and running fairly easy, but like with anything I do, I'm sure there will be a hiccup or two...or three... I'd definitely appreciate any information you gentlemen could offer me on this. I thought about starting up an account over at The Practical Machinist forum if it ends up being too involved. Hopefully I don't have to because that engineer/machinist jive just flies right over my head a lot of times.

ETA... It looks very similar to the Delta 15-270 and the Delta 15-231.

 

[zooker89]

I would bribe a friend to help carry it down there. A beer or two usually does the trick.

Check the runout and I would run it at 230v if you can.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I used one of those for a good while until the motor burned out. It is a pretty good unit for a bench top.

Lube everything you can on it. Adjust the shaft/quill tension so it has minimum runout.

Get a good cross slide vise for it.

For info on setting it up and adjustment, try searching for a manual on a 14, 15", or 17" multi-speed floor model. The basics are all the same.

 

[Toolferone]

There should be 1 or 2 set screws in the head in-line with the column. Loosen those and the head should lift off (helps if you twist it as you lift). If that is still too heavy to do by yourself, you will need to disconnect and remove the motor to make it any lighter.

 

[butcher_block]

one tip on the cross slide vice is jsut use it to locate your work withought having to reclamp. do not use it to try to mill bad for the barrings bad for the chuck and bad for the tper and if the chuck comes loose from the taper best case you loos that piece of work worst case is you get bloody

 

[kc custom]

Taking the base and the table off is going to make a big difference on weight. I've' got a floor
model from the mid 1970's pretty much the same press. Whenever I've had to move it, Base,
Table, and head have come off, then its moveable.
Ken.

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

I got it moved today. I took the motor and circuitry off from the head and then removed the rest of the head from the stand. I only had to undo one cable from the circuitry and have each wire marked for where it went. I'm gonna get back after it once my old lady goes to sleep.

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

Just wanted to follow up with the thread. Like I said above, I disassembled the drill press and got it down the basement. I broke it down into 4 pieces(motor/electrical housing, head, stand, and table) and it was real easy to move after that. I will say that it was a MAJOR pain in the back(literally) to remount the motor.

Anyway, I only have one issue really at this point. The the back plate/hinge on the back of the press, that puts tension on the belts, is held by one .320in roll pin and washer. It's on the top of the hinge. The bottom of the hinge has a solid pin(with no washer) in it but it keeps falling out. Should I install a roll pin/washer like the top of the hinge? Here's pics:

The roll pin on the top:



Here's the pin on the bottom:


Pic of both:


Here's a pic of it setup next to my old HF 5 speed press. I cleaned all the rust off.