How to get more useable speeds from a vintage drill press.

Changing out the reduction pulley on my classic Craftsman 150 drill press gives me more useable drilling speeds. This is a simple and straightforward "how to" modification to an antique drill press. if you want to improve the performance for metalworking with your drill press than this is the way to go. The old drill press has never run better and beats out newer import presses hands down in drilling performance, accuracy and durability.

[@bheckel1]

Thanks for keeping me company in my shop. Merry Christmas.

[@donsengine3158]

Any time. Glad you're following. Merry Christmas. Don🎄

[@russellhunter6341]

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas. Brrrr, it is cold here tonight, sure wish you were here to enjoy it. Enjoy the video as always.Keep them coming.

[@donsengine3158]

Thanks Russ. Wish we had some off that real cold here today. Was contemplating just getting a picnic together and going to beach. Don

[@aguycalledlucas]

Hey Don. Good mod. I love the old craftsman drill .

[@donsengine3158]

I do too... its one of my Keepers to be sure. Merry Christmas. Don

[@kentuckytrapper780]

Better usable speeds. Merry Christmas and happy new years.

[@donsengine3158]

Thanks KT. Hope you're enjoying the cold today. I'm a missin it! Merry Christmas. Don

[@kentuckytrapper780]

@@donsengine3158 7degrees here today.

[@donsengine3158]

@@kentuckytrapper780 Mmmmmmm.. my kind of weather. Looks like beach weather out my window today. Yuk! Don

[@rickpalechuk4411]

Nice mod Don, thanks for sharing.
Happy holidays, Cheers

[@donsengine3158]

Same to you RIck. Thanks for watching. Don

[@jt9498]

I have an old IMC 5 speed floor model drill press I converted to a a 12 speed I think). The motor and spindle pulleys are 5 groove, with the middle pulley a 4 groove. However, I don't know where to find any 5 speed middle pulleys. Any ideas? I'm in Canada, by the way.

[@oddshot60]

Hey Don. I have an older, one year only, Craftsman/Walker Turner drill press I've been planning to do the same overall mod on. Where did you get the pulley and could you please share the sizes of the sheaves? Thanks. Happy Holidays to you and yours. All the best in the New Year!

[@donsengine3158]

Sure, The original pulleys from the press started at 1.5 and went to 4". The 5 sheave pulley starts at 1.5 and goes to 5". The pulley I removed was also a 1.5 to 4" pulley. It was an Ebay find so I'm not sure of its make or origins. I have a habit of also buying in bulk, like 15 pulleys for 30 bucks, or groups of ten bearings of the same size for what a single bearing would cost. I tend to figure what I need and then see what got to match it. Wish I had a better answer. Don🎄👍

[@oddshot60]

@@donsengine3158 Just did a check on both Ebay AND Amazon. I got this name: Mxfans 19mm Bore Outter Dia 54-150mm 5 Step A Type V-Belt Pagoda Pulley Belt
They look exactly like the one you have. There's a bunch them with a large selection of sizes. Thanks Don!

[@donsengine3158]

@@oddshot60 That sounds about right.. Probably is the same. Don

[@jg00163206]

i would try to flip one of those pulleys over. the one on the motor( if it was me) and you should be able to get "different" speeds out of it.

[@donsengine3158]

But then Ide have to buy 5 belts. 😃

[@donsengine3158]

And all my seeds would be the same.. Motor speed. +-

[@dalemcinnes1834]

Hi Don , good video. We are just getting over either 4 or 5 days of cold weather. With the wind chill it never got warmer than minus 50 C. At that temperature it's actually colder then -50 F. It was brutal cold. Someone asked during that time how do you winterize your bicycle? The answer was move to Florida.
Dale in Canada 🇨🇦

[@donsengine3158]

Ya, but then your screwed with 9 months of insufferable heat and humidity.