Drilling machine base

This topic has 17 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 5 January 2019 at 13:21 by Mike Waldron.

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7 June 2017 at 15:51 #301580
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Hi folks:

I have the remains of an old Atlas pillar drill – which should more correctly be called 'drill press', as it was an American machine, as far as I can tell.

I'm trying to improve on the rather Heath-Robinson arrangement I put together when I was a poor D&T teacher – solid steel column, as opposed to 2.25" tube – non standard (?) size as far as I can tell – and 3 speed as opposed to the more usual 4 speed – and old cast iron netball post trumpet bolted to 1/2" steel plates for the base…

Does anyone have a base for one of these machines lying around somewhere? or know where one can get something that would look right?

I have succeeded in making a quill return spring housing and got it to work, now replacing the awful coil spring arrangement I endured for years.

Or know where to purchase a length of 2.25" tube as opposed to the more usual 2.5" or 3" many had? Down here in the South (Tewkesbury) I can't get much good steel, and eBay is a bit of a gamble.

I have no idea whether it was a bench machine or floor mounted on – I need it to be bench mounted.

I would appreciate any help /advice anyone can offer.

Mike
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7 June 2017 at 15:51 #18543
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Request for information or parts
7 June 2017 at 22:52 #301629
JohnF
Participant
@johnf59703
Hi Mike, it might be worth looking at http://www.lathes.co.uk —- **LINK** or click the link to the Atlas drill press section.
If you can see your machine here it might be helpful if you let the team know which one it is. As far as a round column have look for hollow bar or maybe consider hydraulic ram material but size may be problem here and its not hollow but it is very stiff and chrome plated but machinable and not over expensive if you can get an off cut !
John
19 June 2017 at 10:38 #303140
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Looks like from these links that it was model 52 or 62 – not sure whether it was a floor-standing or bench-standing model. The head seems the same.

Only difference is that mine is a 3 speed not a 4.

Mike

Edited By Mike Waldron on 19/06/2017 10:38:32
19 June 2017 at 10:46 #303142
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
You could probably fabricate a base like those by welding plate and possibly sections cut from tube to get the curved sides to give you a "casting" which can then me milled top & bottom and the column hole finish bored. Bit of body filler and a coat or two of paint it it should look like the real thing.
19 June 2017 at 10:57 #303144
Jonathan Garside
Participant
@jonathangarside40968
Mike

Have you looked at the http://www.vintagemachinery.org website.

Search under Atlas Press Company and if you further search publications and downloadable information there ate hundreds of publications available for free download.

I feel sure you will find something relevant for the drilling machines just leave yourself an hour or two as this is a most fascination and informative website.

Good hunting

Jonathan
19 June 2017 at 12:15 #303157
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Mike,

Whereabouts are you ?

I have a very hefty base casting which is yours for free, if you can either collect it or pay the shipping. It currently has an approx. 2" dia. hole, but would easily take 3" if you have the tools to machine it. … There is surface rust, but nothing serious.

MichaelG.

.

P.S. … It's completely unused, and may not be 'finish machined' … Should be nicely 'seasoned' by now, though; it's been under my bench for at least 15 years.
19 June 2017 at 16:14 #303218
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Before you ask …

Height : 3 1/2"

Width : 8 1/2"

Depth : 13 1/2"

Hole diameter : 2 1/8"

Boss diameter : 4 13/16"

Weight : 24 pounds

… all measurements near enough for a freebie.

MichaelG.
22 June 2017 at 08:09 #303624
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Mike Waldron on 07/06/2017 15:51:59:

Hi folks:

I have the remains of an old Atlas pillar drill –

… solid steel column, as opposed to 2.25" tube – non standard (?) size as far as I can tell –

Does anyone have a base for one of these machines lying around somewhere? or know where one can get something that would look right?

… Down here in the South (Tewkesbury)

… – I need it to be bench mounted.

I would appreciate any help /advice anyone can offer.

Mike

[ ^^^ edited highlights ]

.

Mike,

Sorry, I didn't need to ask where you were based … it's obviously Tewkesbury !

Are you interested in my base casting, or shall I put it back under the bench ?

MichaelG.
25 December 2018 at 21:56 #387608
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Firstly may I apologise for apparently forgetting to reply. I’m afraid I had a spell in hospital and it completely passeded outbof my mind, as the issues were somewhat serious.

MichaelG yes please, I am interested in your casting, if you still have it.

Thanks too to those of you who have other helpful suggestions.

Mike W
25 December 2018 at 22:13 #387610
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Mike,

Delighted to hear from you

Yes, I still have the casting … and it's yours for the price of shipping

I am happy to let you organise everything [with MyHermes, or whoever] if you wish.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: I have just checked MyHermes, and their maximum parcel weight is 15kg

… I will let you to think about couriers, etc.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/12/2018 22:18:00
25 December 2018 at 22:37 #387614
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Michael;

Thanks for replying so promptly,

Are you anywhere near Tewkesbury?

I have a son who lives in Liverpool so make trips up and down the M5/M6 – which broadens the scope of a possible pick up.

Or does the bit of Irish blood in me detect someone from the Emerald Isle?

Mike

( is it just me or does everyone press ‘return’ and have the cursor jump back up to he beginning of the box!?)
25 December 2018 at 22:45 #387615
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
In reverse order:

No it's not just you

Irish blood is several generations ago

Liverpool is considerably nearer than Tewkesbury

No problem … I have replied to your PM, so let's take it from there.

MichaelG.
28 December 2018 at 10:04 #387927
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Well after a lengthy gap, it would appear I now have the promise of a decent proper-looking base for my Atlas drill. Thanks MichaelG!

Is there anyone else out there who knows anything about Atlas drill presses at all?

Were they something built for the uk market? I would think they were in competition with Union, Meddings, Fobco and the like over here.

Does anyone else have one?

There are two handy YouTube videos about restoring two models – complete from “tear down” (more correctly ‘dismantling’, as nothing got torn as far as I could see) – one by a British guy with a huge St George’s Cross flag in the background – Little English workshop(?) – ex-pat in USA maybe? – and the other by an American (or possibly Canadian) with the ubiquitous huge workshop.

Neither is the quite model I have, but it is certainly useful to see parts being dismantled and how it should / can be done.

should have said that Lathes.co.uk gives some very useful narrowing down of its date to late 1930s/40s

Mike W

Edited By Mike Waldron on 28/12/2018 10:05:39
5 January 2019 at 08:12 #389437
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
I would like publicly to sat a big thank you to MichaelG for solving my ‘base problem’!

Mike
5 January 2019 at 08:31 #389441
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
5 January 2019 at 12:28 #389498
Yngvar F
Participant
@yngvarf
Here is mine.

Model 74, so late fourties.

This is as found.
5 January 2019 at 13:21 #389508
Mike Waldron
Participant
@mikewaldron61652
Beauty!

I think mine’s either a 52 or 53 – at least the head is.

The rest is cobbled together – now with a proper base!

When I was teaching D&T, a colleague found it and a round table and fitting that has degrees around the edge!

Only it was 3” column, so had to be bushed.

Mike
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