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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
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    Newcastle, AU
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    238

    Default What colours were Tough drill presses originally?

    Uh, so there's another drill press in my possession for restoration - this time a Tough - it looks green as it stands which I can try to match, but is that the colour it would have been originally? Has anyone restored one and has suggestions re: paint colours to attain a close to original look?

    The lady who I got it from had kept it for about 20 years after her father passed away, who used it in Perth when they lived over there. She was keen on it going back to the original colour.



    Motor and plate are present, just not pictured.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    ex Perth, now Mittagong
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    105

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by J.C. View Post
    Uh, so there's another drill press in my possession for restoration - this time a Tough - it looks green as it stands which I can try to match, but is that the colour it would have been originally? Has anyone restored one and has suggestions re: paint colours to attain a close to original look?

    The lady who I got it from had kept it for about 20 years after her father passed away, who used it in Perth when they lived over there. She was keen on it going back to the original colour.



    Motor and plate are present, just not pictured.
    The Toughs I saw when they still made them were painted silver with the wording on the front in red. This was in the mid 60's and beyond. They may have used a different color prior to that, perhaps a long time Perth member may chime in. They were a good solid drill and well worth bringing back to service.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Southern Flinders Ranges
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    1,536

    Default

    Mine is green. I have no reason to think it’s not original paint. I’ll get a picture for you a bit later when it’s not 400 degrees outside.

    On a seperate note, while you have it apart, could I talk you into taking a cast of the name badge on the front pulley cover so I could have it reproduced for mine?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Glen Forrest, Western Australia
    Age
    62
    Posts
    80

    Default

    Here is mine, still unmolested and not quite as old as yours but close. The first photo is with flash and the second with no flash. Slightly different colours but basically a silver with a hint of green.

    Hope this helps

    Rick

    20191218_091933.jpg 20191218_091925.jpg
    20191218_091950.jpg 20191218_092000.jpg

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Glen Forrest, Western Australia
    Age
    62
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    80

    Default

    Just did a google search and found one green and one silver in your vintage so I don't think you could go wrong with either

    Rick

    11328877.jpg30468_0.jpg

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
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    65
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    1,669

    Default

    Heres an interesting short story about a Tough DP. It was the silvery with a hint of green colour too.
    Back in 2015 I was helping my aunt sell off most of my late uncles equipment. He had a Tough pedestal DP.
    Anyway the person who bought it was either the son, or nephew (I cant remember which now) of the person who owned the company back in the day. He wanted to get an example of the DP they made.
    Just in case some don't know, the name "Tough" was actually the family name. The bloke who bought my uncles DP last name was Tough.
    peter

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
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    71
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    6,458

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    My pair of Toughs might date from the Seventies. The pressed steel belt guards retain their original finish. I was surprised to find that White Knight "Rust Guard" Hammered Finish in GUNMETAL is a near perfect match, in my opinion, to the colour on the guards. Surprised because the rattle can cap colour bears no semblance to the can's contents.

    IMG_20190531_162959599.jpg

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Dardanup W.A.
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    72
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    331

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peter Fou View Post
    The Toughs I saw when they still made them were painted silver with the wording on the front in red. This was in the mid 60's and beyond. They may have used a different color prior to that, perhaps a long time Perth member may chime in. They were a good solid drill and well worth bringing back to service.
    Peter, I hope this is not too late for you, but I can confirm that the ones from that era were mid blue in colour.

    Mine is of a very similar vintage to that one, and is certainly in its original paint.
    Hope that helps

    TOUGH drill press.jpg

  9. #9
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    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    Quote Originally Posted by ptrott View Post
    Peter, I hope this is not too late for you, but I can confirm that the ones from that era were mid blue in colour.
    Maybe not all of them. Here is a Tough of similar vintage in silver.


    DSC_7913 (Large).jpg

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Glen Forrest, Western Australia
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    62
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    80

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    Quote Originally Posted by ptrott View Post
    Peter, I hope this is not too late for you, but I can confirm that the ones from that era were mid blue in colour.

    Mine is of a very similar vintage to that one, and is certainly in its original paint.
    Hope that helps

    TOUGH drill press.jpg
    That one does look like it has been repainted, the wings on the Tough tag are painted blue. All the tough tags I have seen have been red and polished ali

    Rick

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    34

    Default

    I've got 2 in my shed of different vintages, not sure if they've been repainted or not. I'll post photos a bit later

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Dardanup W.A.
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    Bob, yours certainly looks original paint.

    I have to eat my words and stand corrected, because closer examination shows that what I thought was metal where the paint is chipped, is in fact hammer-tone silver
    I am not going to say that the silver is original either, as it is unlike the silver on the one in the original post, and I don't know that hammer finish paint was around back when this was made?? ( would like to have an approx. age on this drill press)

    I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I can't help but notice that the spindle protrusion out of the quill on the ones posted appears to be much shorten than on mine.
    Mine is so long that it is often not possible to fit jobs under a large (long) drill bit, so I have often contemplated cutting it shorter and having a new MT2 cut into it.
    Is that a viable option? Something I might achieve myself even?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
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    1,105

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    Quote Originally Posted by ptrott View Post
    I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I can't help but notice that the spindle protrusion out of the quill on the ones posted appears to be much shorten than on mine.
    Mine is so long that it is often not possible to fit jobs under a large (long) drill bit, so I have often contemplated cutting it shorter and having a new MT2 cut into it.
    Is that a viable option? Something I might achieve myself even?
    Those shorter ones won't be morse taper so are limited to using the drill chuck only. Yours is much more versatile but as you say difficult to fit large jobs under.

  14. #14
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    Sep 2004
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    Dardanup W.A.
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    72
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    Quote Originally Posted by Com_VC View Post
    Those shorter ones won't be morse taper so are limited to using the drill chuck only. Yours is much more versatile but as you say difficult to fit large jobs under.
    OK thanks for that info. I have had it for 20 years and have never used it for anything but holding things in the chuck, so I wouldn't miss the MT2, however would it not be possible to cut one?
    If not, then am I correct in assuming that the spindle end is cut to the taper of the chuck socket?

  15. #15
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    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
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    1,105

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    I doubt there would be enough material there to allow for this. Yes the spindle end is cut to suit the chuck taper.

    However if you were happy to loose the capability of the MT2 then i'm sure you may find another member willing to trade spindles.

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