My apologies if this is the incorrect section. Is a drill press "machine shop equipment" or is it simply a power tool?
I have a Walker-Turner floor model drill press of WWII vintage that I am planning to refurbish.
It currently operates flawlessly, but has accumulated some rust on the tables and column. It is also painted in garish John Deere green and yellow. I suspect it came from one of the local high school shops at some point. That is the quality of the paint job, LOL.
I bought it from a guy on one of the rural roads here about 20 years ago for $40. He had a brand new HF drill press. When we were loading it onto my truck, I was thinking, "I am ripping this guy off".
Anyway, it still has the original W-T motor. The bearings feel pristine. The spindle bearings are great as well.
The chuck feels fine, although has some surface rust as do all of the other machined surfaces, including the column.
Thoughts on cleaning the rust from the column and other parts? I don't want to go aggressive on them and ruin the original ground finish.
The switch and motor wiring is also pretty crusty. Currently has an old toggle switch mounted in a box (not the original switch) that is a little creepy. I'd like to replace it with something like a Square D pushbutton switch like in the old days. Red and green buttons for "on" and "off". An actual switch, not momentary contact buttons. These seem to be rare these days. I bought a knockoff on Amazon, but I don't like the looks of it and I now see it is "frequently returned".
Finally, the drive belt. It is a 1/2" V-belt that has seen better days. How are the link-based V-belts? It seems they would reduce friction and be easier to service.
Any thoughts appreciated.
-Will
I restored a WT 900 drill press years ago, and even at 80+ years old it is a sweet machine. The spindle bearings are the weak spot as they are no longer available, but if yours are good, nothing to worry about there. Everything else about it is solid, and the motor should be just as good.
I don't know if yours is a floor or bench model, mine is a bench top, but they are both great, and simple, machines. There is a lot of info about them online, but if you have any problems drop me a line.
I cleaned up a lot of surface rust on shop equipment by simply using WD-40 and a mix of red and grey Scotch-Brite abrasive pads. The soft grey pads even cleaned up the OEM enamel paint pretty well, and didn't harm the finish to any degree.
Re - drive belt
When you say link belt, are you referring to belts make with links and are adjustable in length? Or cog type belts.
I'd avoid the link belt design. Cog belts (while typically for small diameter pulleys), would work just fine in your application.
I recently bought a number of v-belts off fleabay on the cheap. Name brands, often store returns. Just know your sizing and what belts sell for in your town. Then save away.
Love old machines, restored this one a while back , it`s such a joy to use.
Would like to see pix of yours.
I was trying to remember where I saw a rebuild. It may have been the original site (thegaragegazette.com), or GJ, or even somewhere else (small machines forum, etc). But I remember someone putting together some 2x's in an x, with some wheels on them and putting some sort of motor to turn it slowly, while using scotchbrite pads to clean the tube.
Too me, WT drill presses are among the best. Bearings would not concern me a bit. You can bet they will be a standard easily procured size. Like Ray said, rust on cast iron should not be much of a struggle. I have two floor model d presses. One a 1957 King Seeley Craftsman variable speed, and the other a 50's-60's vintage Atlas. The Atlas needs a total rebuild, but like as not, I will never rebuild it. I cannot bring myself to sell it as it sort of completes a collection of Atlas/Craftsman metalworking i seem to have acquired through the years. That was never a plan, just the way it worked out.
Tear it down and rebuild it Will. I always find projects like that incredibly rewarding.
Quote from: jabberwoki on Aug 13, 2025, 04:51 PMLove old machines, restored this one a while back , it`s such a joy to use.
Would like to see pix of yours.
Jabber, is that the one that was on a Navy warship?
Yep the coast guard cutter Winona
Man jab, that is one very fine looking machine!
Quote from: jabberwoki on Aug 13, 2025, 04:51 PMLove old machines, restored this one a while back , it`s such a joy to use.
Would like to see pix of yours.
Beautiful machine.
My High School wood shop had a couple of awesome machines. They were both made by Oliver, and supposedly were surplus from a WWII battleship. One was a large surface planer and the other was either a 10" or 12" table saw.
The planer as I recall, was 36" and screamed like a banshee when cutting. The table saw was solid and vibrationless.
My current table saw is a POS HF 10" that is just about the most useless piece of equipment I have ever seen.
Quote from: bmwrd0 on Aug 11, 2025, 04:09 PMI restored a WT 900 drill press years ago, and even at 80+ years old it is a sweet machine. The spindle bearings are the weak spot as they are no longer available, but if yours are good, nothing to worry about there. Everything else about it is solid, and the motor should be just as good.
I don't know if yours is a floor or bench model, mine is a bench top, but they are both great, and simple, machines. There is a lot of info about them online, but if you have any problems drop me a line.
Mine is a floor model and I have seen that the proper spindle bearings are no longer available.
I have other more important pending projects but will try to post some pics of this ugly duckling soon.
Thanks to all for your input.
Quote from: AbiggerGarage on Aug 13, 2025, 06:10 PMI was trying to remember where I saw a rebuild. It may have been the original site (thegaragegazette.com), or GJ, or even somewhere else (small machines forum, etc). But I remember someone putting together some 2x's in an x, with some wheels on them and putting some sort of motor to turn it slowly, while using scotchbrite pads to clean the tube.
Yes, I wish I had a lathe capable of spinning this thing. I am not going to go after it with a flap wheel because I would like to preserve the original ground finish. The same with the tables.