Crap, broke the most important tool in my shop.

ERIK KNIVES

ERIK KNIVES

Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
883
I broke my Craftsman floor standing drill press today. I bent the crap out of the spindle shaft. It's an older model that I got for free, but I loved it until now. It is one of the 16" models with the 1/4" belt. Sears Parts Direct indicates that the part is no longer available.

I have 2 questions for the experts, if you would be so kind. 1) Can the spindle shaft be re-trued at a machine shop and is it worth it? and, 2) If we are to assume I need a new drill press, what do I buy? This is most likely not a search and get lucky deal for me so I expect to end up buying new.

I know I broke my own rule by not searching and researching. But, drill press selection has not been discussed in a very long time here, so......
 
I chucked up a spindle sander and forgot that I had the belt set at about 7200 RPM. I'm usually running 420-800 RPM. So, to answer your question, doing the wrong thing with the wrong thing attached.
 
Well, next time you know better. When I use a spindle sander I often will take an old live center and drop it in the table, bring the table up to the spindle and load it lightly. Even a dead center can help avoid this issue.

Ok, enough of that, I wish I could of kept my grandfathers old delta floor standing drill press, it was about as solid and steady as could be, but he was the original owner and was pretty meticulous about his tools. I usually opt for good used than new, but that's just me.

-X
 
I appreciate the comments. Don't get me wrong, I don't use my drill press as a spindle sander. I made small wheels for that type of thing. I was not afraid to chuck up a spindle for a completely different purpose because I forgot the speed I had set. I blew it big time, I know. Back to my original question, can the spindle shaft be re-trued at a machine shop and if not, what do I get? I agree with fast that old and solid is great. That's why I loved this press. I also know that I don't have the time to find a gem, because I need a press soon.
 
You probably would press it back straight, but it won't be possible to get it perfectly straight. So then you'd need to regrind it. It might need a stress relieve temper in there too so it doesn't move later due to residual stress from the crash and sequent straightening.

The problem will be that after grinding your dimensions will be undersize. The industry address this with grind/plate/grind, but that isn't cheap. Perhaps different bearings could be made to work. The spindle taper might also need to be reground because it is unlikely it will be properly concentric with the rest of the spindle at this point.

Spindle repair isn't simple or cheap. I have a spindle out for rebuild right now that's going to cost over four grand. But the alternative is run out and vibration.

I think it is possible to repair your drill press, but I don't think you can get it working half way properly without spending many hundreds of dollars.

Also, be aware the replacement bearings you're going to need will probably not be available at the local auto parts store. Bearings come in different grades and I would think that a drill press would need at least ABEC 3 if not ABEC 5.
 
That sucks. I think I would just pick up a Black & Decker/Ryobi/Craftsman etc tabletop press ($150 or so), and keep an eye on Craig's List and local auctions for an older, heavier-duty one. You never know when some old machinist or mechanic is going to retire and need to get rid of a bunch of cool tools. It's handy to have a couple small DP's anyway; I leave my BD set slow for metals and my Roybi set faster for handle materials.
 
Thanks Nathan and James - everything you have said makes complete sense as I read it, and, I will follow your advice. Have a good Sunday.
 
I have a Porter Cable floor standing I got at Lowes with a 20% off coupon for $240 and it's okay. Its runout is acceptable for knife making, but it's not super precise. I keep meaning to get a new spindle taper and chuck of higher quality to see if it helps, but now the mill can be used if a more precise drilling tool is needed.
 
That porter Cable is pretty highly reviewed by Lowe's shoppers. Probably not the most technical bunch, I will bet that press has less run out than my craftsman did. 2" less of quill travel....Anyone know where to get a 20% off coupon?
 
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you can get a coupon at the post office. There is a moving package that has a Lowe's coupon, don't know if its 20% or not. Bummer on your drill press.

Steve
 
Well my 20% off coupon was from Harbor Freight. I had read online somewhere that Lowe's (and Home Depot for that matter) will often times accept competitor's coupons. I gave it a shot and it worked.
 
Craftsman replacement warrantee only applies to their hand tools, their power tools have a very limited warrantee. I went through a year of fighting with them about my defective 17 inch floor standing Craftsman Drill Press which they charged me to repair, the repair was no good, and I ended up having to fix it myself with parts from an industrial supply company

Sears Craftsman Power tools are not what they used to be

-Page
 
I got one of Porter Cable floor mount drill presses little more than a year ago and I have been pleased with it. I got mine at Lowes and used my 10% Vet discount.
 
If you are considering scrapping your bent spindle shaft drill press I will tell you of a similar story I once did to fix my bent spindle drill press.
I about two years ago acquired a Bent spindle shaft Clausing drill press, it was advertised as having a bent shaft so it went for a song. I figured I could fix it up somehow, being lazy I decided I did not want to dis-assemble the drill press so put my Dial indicator attached to a magnetic base on the shaft and rotated shaft to determined how far off the shaft was (Was off about .125 or so). I then took a black marker and marked the shaft at the highest spot as determined by the Dial indicator (DI). I next removed the DI and proceeded to hit the high spot of the bent shaft with a dead blow hammer till it was reading no deviation on the DI. It took me about 45 mins to get it straight and the high spot moved on me once or twice but it was pretty easy to get it back straight. The longest part was determining how hard to hit it in order for the shaft to move, It took over 20 hits before I even figured out how hard to hit it, I think if doing it again I would use a brass hammer not a dead blow. No guarantee this can or will work for you, but hell its worth a try.
Chris
 
Nice Chris, way to be creative! If the dial indicator said she was good, she musta been good!:D Are you still using that press?


blindhogg said:
If you are considering scrapping your bent spindle shaft drill press I will tell you of a similar story I once did to fix my bent spindle drill press.
I about two years ago acquired a Bent spindle shaft Clausing drill press, it was advertised as having a bent shaft so it went for a song. I figured I could fix it up somehow, being lazy I decided I did not want to dis-assemble the drill press so put my Dial indicator attached to a magnetic base on the shaft and rotated shaft to determined how far off the shaft was (Was off about .125 or so). I then took a black marker and marked the shaft at the highest spot as determined by the Dial indicator (DI). I next removed the DI and proceeded to hit the high spot of the bent shaft with a dead blow hammer till it was reading no deviation on the DI. It took me about 45 mins to get it straight and the high spot moved on me once or twice but it was pretty easy to get it back straight. The longest part was determining how hard to hit it in order for the shaft to move, It took over 20 hits before I even figured out how hard to hit it, I think if doing it again I would use a brass hammer not a dead blow. No guarantee this can or will work for you, but hell its worth a try.
Chris
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