Project by CastleOfCheese | posted 10-30-2015 04:51 PM | 5154 views | 1 time favorited | 20 comments | ![]() |
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I picked up an old Delta Rockwell DP-225 on craigslist not long ago. She needed a lot of love, but it was a really fun project to work on. Growing up, my dad always had a 1940s Delta Homecraft drill press that I loved. There’s just something satisfying about making an old machine new again. Currently, I’m finishing up a new table for it. I’ll post an updated picture when it’s all finished.
20 comments so far
splintergroup
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4973 posts in 2276 days
#1 posted 10-30-2015 05:48 PM
Beautiful job!
How far do you take it? That is, do you just do a cosmetic cleanup (paint/rust removal) or did you get inside and replace bearings, etc.?
I hope the PBR wasn’t just for grease removal 8^)
fivecodys
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1730 posts in 2690 days
#2 posted 10-30-2015 05:58 PM
Nice job!
I really like it when an old tool is cleaned up, painted and put back into service.
-- A bad day woodworking is still better than a good day working.
CastleOfCheese
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10 posts in 2199 days
#3 posted 10-30-2015 06:32 PM
Thanks, guys! I was fortunate that, despite it’s rough appearance, it ran like a dream when I got it, so the bulk of the work was cosmetic. It did have a broken return spring, but luckily it was only the last 1/4 or so that sets into a slit in the spring housing. The un-tensioned spring had enough slack for me to just make a new bend in it to fit the slit.
It still bothers me that the switch isn’t original, but I don’t think my wife will approve the price to purchase the original haha.
jcees
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1079 posts in 4853 days
#4 posted 10-30-2015 09:31 PM
Nice job!
-- When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. -- John Muir
taoist
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124 posts in 3545 days
#5 posted 10-30-2015 10:01 PM
You did a really nice job restoring it. I like it because of the single lever handle. Mine has a three spoke handle and is sometimes a pain to bring the bit to the material.
blackcherry
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3345 posts in 4877 days
#6 posted 10-31-2015 12:21 AM
I like the old patina look myself, but you’re work brought this old work horse back to its former glory. Enjoy using and stay safe…BC
ericspaw
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29 posts in 4527 days
#7 posted 10-31-2015 12:32 AM
I have the same drill press. Mine is a 1955 vintage. Your restoration makes her a real beauty. I believe the belt guard was a deluxe feature add on at the time. Thanks for sharing.
Eric
-- I keep cutting and it is still too short. http://mypam.blogspot.com/
Levex
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46 posts in 2209 days
#8 posted 10-31-2015 02:18 AM
She’s a beauty. I’m a sucker for older equipment like this, the classic styling and all metal components look so cool, especially when compared to today’s plastic stuff. Great job on bringing this one back to life.
Woodwrecker
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4240 posts in 4629 days
#9 posted 10-31-2015 04:01 AM
Hard to believe it’s the same machine.
Nice job !
Ivan
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16721 posts in 3921 days
#10 posted 10-31-2015 07:34 AM
Realy amaizing tranformation and makeover. I like the idea of tool restauration.
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
jeff
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1306 posts in 4518 days
#11 posted 10-31-2015 10:49 AM
Really nice job.I love before and after pics are restoration projects.
-- Jeff,Tucson,Az.
ChuckV
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3370 posts in 4581 days
#12 posted 10-31-2015 11:49 AM
You did a great job and have a wonderful machine. I really like the older drill presses and have enjoyed restoring a few.
-- "Join the chorus if you can. It'll make of you an honest man." - I. Anderson
lcwood
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220 posts in 3818 days
#13 posted 10-31-2015 02:17 PM
like Terminator…. ”old, but not obsolete” !
GreaseMonkey2275
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183 posts in 2207 days
#14 posted 10-31-2015 04:09 PM
What a great restoration! There is something that is just so cool about bringing old tools back to life. Well done!
-- Jake
Stevedore
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109 posts in 3079 days
#15 posted 10-31-2015 09:45 PM
Nice job! I love those older machines; they’ll last forever.
-- Steve, in Morris County, NJ
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