If you've been scouring nearby estate sales or browsing old device forums lately, you've probably seen the particular craftsman drill press model 335 appear more compared to once. It's among those classic pieces associated with machinery that symbolizes an era when equipment were built to outlive their proprietors. While modern power tools often sense like they're made of recycled soda containers and hope, this particular old Craftsman is really a different beast entirely. It's heavy, it's loud, and when you treat this right, it'll probably be the final drill press a person ever need to buy for the home workshop.
The reason why this old device still matters
There's something incredibly satisfying about flipping the switch on a craftsman drill press model 335 and hearing that will low hum associated with a motor that truly has some excess weight behind it. Many of these models were produced back when Sears was the particular king of the American garage. They didn't cut sides on the castings. The head, the particular table, and the particular base are usually solid cast iron, which does wonders for vibration dampening. If you've ever tried to drill an exact hole with the cheap, modern benchtop press that vibrates so much it walks over the workbench, you'll immediately appreciate the stability here.
People often request why they need to bother with a device that might end up being forty or fifty years old. The answer is pretty simple: simpleness. These machines were designed to become serviced. There are usually no proprietary outlet boards to fry or plastic armor and weapon upgrades to strip out. Everything is mechanised. If a showing goes bad, you are able to tap it away and press within a new one. If the belt slips, you tighten it or replace it having a standard link belt. It's a tool that respects the person using it simply by being fundamentally repairable.
Getting to know the hardware
The craftsman drill press model 335 will be generally a benchtop model, though you'll occasionally see them mounted on special floor stands. It's compact enough in order to fit within a part but beefy more than enough to handle more hobby work. Many of these came with the 1/3 or 1/2 horsepower motor, which usually sounds small by today's marketing standards, but that's "old school" horsepower. It's got plenty associated with torque for dull through hardwoods or even mild steel if you've got your speeds fixed correctly.
Talking about speeds, this is a belt-driven device. To change the RPM, you possess to open the top cover and move the belt between different pulley steps. It's less "convenient" as the variable speed call, but it's much more reliable. There's less to visit wrong. Usually, you'll find three or 4 steps on the pulleys, giving you a variety that covers almost everything from high-speed wood drilling to slower speeds for metalwork. Just make sure the machine is unplugged before a person start sticking your own fingers near individuals pulleys—safety first, actually if the machine appears to be an old friend.
The table as well as the quill
The desk on the craftsman drill press model 335 is another highlight. It's usually a simple, rectangle design with a couple of slot machines for bolting down a vise. Something you'll notice upon well-used models is the "arc of shame"—those little dimples where previous owners unintentionally drilled into the table. If you find one without those, you've strike the jackpot. The particular table usually tilts, too, though I'll be honest, most people just keep it in a perfect ninety degrees and call it each day.
The quill travel—the distance the get rid of moves down—is generally around 2-1/2 in order to 3 inches. That's plenty for most DIY projects. What's actually nice is the particular feel of the particular feed handles. Whenever the bearings are clean and lubed, the movement is usually buttery smooth. There's a certain tactile comments you obtain with these types of older Craftsman models that helps you feel exactly how the bit is cutting to the material.
Cleaning up a "barn find"
In case you happen in order to find a craftsman drill press model 335 that's been sitting in a damp basement for a decade, don't be discouraged with a little surface corrosion. These things are surprisingly resilient. Many of the time, some WD-40 and a little bit of fine steel wool or a Scotch-Brite pad may bring that cast iron back in order to a good sheen. I've seen some men go full recovery mode, stripping the particular original "Sears Gray" paint and repainting it, but there's also something awesome about the original patina.
The most important part of the "refresh" is the spindle as well as the throw. If the get rid of is seized, you might need to soak it in some going through oil. If it's really far long gone, you can just replace it with the new keyless get rid of or a regular Jacobs chuck. Examining the belt is the next phase. If it's damaged or has a "set" from sitting in one place for years, simply toss it plus get a brand new one particular. A fresh belt will make the machine run significantly quieter and smoother.
Coping with the particular motor
Occasionally you'll find a craftsman drill press model 335 exactly where the motor offers finally given upward the ghost. Don't let that prevent you from buying the machine when the price is correct. These presses utilized standard NEMA frame motors. You may usually find the replacement motor at a farm offer store or even online for the reasonable price. Updating to a slightly more powerful motor is a typical "mod" for the, and it can convert a good drill press in to a great one. Just ensure the shaft size matches your pulleys, and you're back within business.
Ideas for daily use
Once you've got your craftsman drill press model 335 called in, there are usually a few things you can do to keep it running perfectly. First, keep the line clean. A light coat of paste wax on the main pillar helps prevent rust and allows the table in order to slide down and up without sticking. I do the same thing for the table surface—it makes it easier to slide your workpiece around and stops the iron through staining.
Look at your runout every occasionally. Runout is generally how much the drill bit "wobbles" since it spins. Upon these older devices, a little little bit is normal, but if it's too much, it's usually possibly a dirty throw or worn-out bearings in the quill. Replacing the bearings isn't an enjoyable job, but it's a Saturday afternoon project that can help the machine feel brand name new again.
Also, don't be afraid to make use of a sacrificial board under your function. Since these tables are solid metal, you really don't wish to add your own marks to the "arc of shame" I stated earlier. A simple piece of scrap plywood clamped to the table helps you to save your own bits and your machine's finish.
Acquiring parts and neighborhood
One of the best things about owning a craftsman drill press model 335 will be the community. Mainly because Sears sold thousands of these tools over the years, generally there is a wealth of knowledge on the web. If you're missing a specific bolt or need to find out how in order to tension the return spring, a quick search on sites such as Old Woodworking Devices (OWWM) will generally yield a PDF FILE from the original guide or even a forum twine from someone who else solved the very same problem in 2012.
You can also find plenty associated with spare parts on auction web sites. People often "part out" broken devices, so if you break a handle or shed the belt guard, you are able to usually find a replacement within a week. It's much easier compared to looking for parts for a modern "no-name" brand that faded from the market two years right after it was released.
Is it worth the effort?
In a world exactly where we're constantly told to upgrade towards the newest tech, there's a real joy in using some thing as straightforward since the craftsman drill press model 335 . It doesn't have got an LCD display screen, it won't connect to your Wi-Fi, and it also doesn't have the laser that's most likely from alignment in any case. What does possess is mass, reliability, and a good getting the job carried out.
Whether you're a serious woodworker or simply someone that wants to be able to drill a direct hole in the bracket once every single six months, this model is a fantastic choice. It's a link to the time when items were built to final, and with slightly bit of oil and attention, it'll keep spinning regarding another fifty years. It's not just a device; it's a piece of shop history that actually makes its keep every time you draw the handle.