Thread: What's the fuss about a Waldown drill

My Servian. I found it in the back of a workshop many years ago and paid about $150 for it. It is a four speed gear head drive which limits the top speed a bit but for the price I didn't complain. I think Servian were a bit like the Asian importers today, that is they sourced a drill and re-badged it. I know of another like mine the only difference is it has a two speed motor thus eight speeds.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

My Servian. I found it in the back of a workshop many years ago and paid about $150 for it. It is a four speed gear head drive which limits the top speed a bit but for the price I didn't complain. I think Servian were a bit like the Asian importers today, that is they sourced a drill and re-badged it. I know of another like mine the only difference is it has a two speed motor thus eight speeds.

That looks like an Arboga? I guess Servian rebadged it. Either way it's a top of the line machine!

I've seen a few Australian made Servian's they are every bit as good as the Waldown's originally made in Melbourne, but obviously that one is a badge engineered version.


Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

That looks like an Arboga? I guess Servian rebadged it. Either way it's a top of the line machine!

I've seen a few Australian made Servian's they are every bit as good as the Waldown's originally made in Melbourne, but obviously that one is a badge engineered version.


Regards
Ray

My toolmaker BIL offered me a lot of money for it the first time he saw it. i declined! I dislike the round table and the fact that the table does not tilt but some things are worth tolerating.

Originally Posted by Michael G

For really small holes they did a 12,000rpm version - rarer but still in demand at the right price.

AND Dont forget Guys...i need a spindle etc for the one I have!!!

speaking of which...did they use common parts....ie would another model's spindle fit?....brobo didnt say when they advised that parts were not available...so I am guessing the answer is No

I think an adjustable split quill housing feature is over-rated. It can't compensate for an unevenly worn quill.
I'm not too familiar with different ways of designing the spindle/quill. This is how it is on my Walker-Turner.

Jordan

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Having a table that maintained alignment when being raised or lowered would be a blessing.

I should have been clearer about what I meant about sloppy rack & pinion, Bob. The bevel gear system is an improvement in that it avoids the tilting effect of the rack at extremes of vertical travel, when moving the table around the column. But it doesn't maintain position when loosened.

Jordan

Originally Posted by Michael G

Perhaps a few others can add their Waldown stories or of other brands worth the effort of restoring.

Michael

The old Aussie made Richardson are a good machine as well. Came in a variety of flavours as bench or floor models, morse taper spindles, or direct mount spindles. various drive configurations.
I posted some pics of the circular table I fabricated for mine in this thread http://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ri...8/#post1639672

If your budget doesn't run to a Waldon then a Richardson would be well worth considering. There used to be lots of them around.

regards
bollie7

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

My Tough has a direct mount chuck Jordan. If it didn't the chuck would dangle from the end of a 2 Morse quill extension. When I used to religiously check the Reliable Tools site on Ebay, there would frequently be Walker Turners listed. Nice looking bits of gear. Then after tiring of looking at one porch paint job after another I lost my religion. Having a table that maintained alignment when being raised or lowered would be a blessing. I suppose it's why they came up will mill drills.




I would have to be Merlin for that sort of transformation. The unmolested table was bought new from Brobo Waldown. I think this is what you remember - http://www.woodworkforums.com/attach...018-large-.jpg

Bob.

I C said the blind man. That new table does look like the sort of transformation you are capable of though Bob!
A bit disappointing from someone like you but I will let it slide.... on this occasion.

Simon

There is a drill press where the column is capped with a T junction,a nd a horizintal pipe (similar diameter to the column) goes across the top (like a letter T) with the quill at one end of the horizontal, and the motor at the other. I believe the horizontal pipe is used to adjust the throat of the drill.

Does anyone know what that type/ brand of drill is? - My Dad is looking for one.

Thanks,
Des

Originally Posted by desbromilow

There is a drill press where the column is capped with a T junction,a nd a horizintal pipe (similar diameter to the column) goes across the top (like a letter T) with the quill at one end of the horizontal, and the motor at the other. I believe the horizontal pipe is used to adjust the throat of the drill.

Does anyone know what that type/ brand of drill is? - My Dad is looking for one.

Thanks,
Des

Hi Des, That's a radial arm drill,

Here's a google image search https://www.google.com.au/search?q=r...w=1600&bih=966

Regards
Ray

PS Someone on here had a Waldown radial arm drill, I think with rotating head as well?

Ok found it!

272251d1371195999-brisbane-brobo-waldown-radial-drill-press-img_1601.jpg

Originally Posted by Oldneweng

Having another look the following one has a good description and plenty of photos. Waldown Drill Press in Illawarra, NSW | eBay This one sounds like it would be fine for me except for its location and it is only a bench model. It has a top speed of 5500rpm . Wow.

Around the corner from me, interesting, maybe a mate for the Fidax bench drill in the old shed . . . or pick up for someone else interested.

Originally Posted by desbromilow

There is a drill press where the column is capped with a T junction,a nd a horizintal pipe (similar diameter to the column) goes across the top (like a letter T) with the quill at one end of the horizontal, and the motor at the other. I believe the horizontal pipe is used to adjust the throat of the drill.

Des,
On the ones I recall, you could adjust the head to give a very large throat, and also rotate the horizontal bar supporting the head to drill holes at an angle to a horizontal table. I think they used to be made by Parken, and marketed to pattern makers, and was astonished to find they are still in business (Parken Engineering) making very well specified floor and bench drills (hard chrome column, anyone?).

Back on the Waldown theme the attached photo shows a rather laid back version spotted recently at Mick Moyle's.
20130729_112651.jpg
A wall mounted Waldown? (Only because I haven't worked out how to rotate the image.)

Cheers,
Bill

Originally Posted by Oldneweng

I want a pedestal drill as mentioned, but I am not going to be able to survive without a table lifting Mech.



Dean

Dean ,
I am Kevin Grahame from Queensland and here to help
The table can be counter weighted to overcome sans rack.Does this fine example of past Aus engineering have a hollow column? Its neat and tidy to have the counter weight run up and down inside the hollow tube but there is an alternate .I have the hollow column set up on my old Taiwanese DP.Its a few seconds work to do a table height change ans smooth as silk..all you need is to turn a couple of pulleys and buy some 3mm wire rope and clamp fittings.

It is still possible to run the counterweight say in a piece of PVC tube mounted vertically Parallel to your column.

If you would like further details ,please indicate and I'll hunt out the diagrams /photos.

Grahame
in Mackay where no such gems are to be had

Thanks ray!!!

I'm used to radial arm drills being the big industrial type with a cast arm resembling a slide, with the motor and quill as one piece.

Grizzly Industrial - G7945 Radial-Arm Drill Press - Fine Woodworking Tool Review
and the link you found are the type I'm chasing for my dad - THANKS!!!

Des

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi Des, That's a radial arm drill,

Here's a google image search https://www.google.com.au/search?q=r...w=1600&bih=966

Regards
Ray

PS Someone on here had a Waldown radial arm drill, I think with rotating head as well?

Ok found it!

272251d1371195999-brisbane-brobo-waldown-radial-drill-press-img_1601.jpg

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

Dean ,
I am Kevin Grahame from Queensland and here to help
The table can be counter weighted to overcome sans rack.Does this fine example of past Aus engineering have a hollow column? Its neat and tidy to have the counter weight run up and down inside the hollow tube but there is an alternate .I have the hollow column set up on my old Taiwanese DP.Its a few seconds work to do a table height change ans smooth as silk..all you need is to turn a couple of pulleys and buy some 3mm wire rope and clamp fittings.

It is still possible to run the counterweight say in a piece of PVC tube mounted vertically Parallel to your column.

If you would like further details ,please indicate and I'll hunt out the diagrams /photos.

Grahame
in Mackay where no such gems are to be had

Thanks for the reminder Grahame. I remember reading a post that mentioned this and I then looked it up on the web. At the time was not overly impressed because I had a rack and pinion system but on an drill without lift it would be a way around this.

A few different drills mentioned now. Keep it up guys.

Just one other point tho. If there is something you feel limits your drill or something that adds extra ability to it, open right up so anyone looking to buy one can keep these ideas in mind.

Chris.

What is it about the round table that you don't like?

Dean