Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Post Drill


Finished restoring an old rusty crud covered Champion #90 post drill for my forge shed. The drill was a mess and the whole thing was seized up. The guy I got it from told me it had been lying in his grandfather’s barn ever since he could remember so that’s at least 30 years. I believe the drill would have been made in the early 1900’s.  

 I tore the whole thing apart and scraped what dried crud I could and then used an angle grinder with a metal brush to clean up the rest. After a paint job and some lubrication, the drill works surprisingly well. These old post drills have some wobble in them but for what I’m using it for it won’t be a problem.  I also installed an adjustable chuck as I can’t find any bits made for post drills.  

Operation is simple, just put in your bit adjust the top wheel by turning it until the drill is in contact with the work and start turning.This type has a knurled knob up by the top wheel that lets you adjust the advance 1 or 2 clicks every revelotion of the handle. When the hole is drilled you flip up the feed paw and unscrew the top wheel to remove the drill bit from the work.


I also took a picture of my anvil and vice bench. Before the shed, I had been doing my blacksmithing outside. That’s hard to do in Nebraska because there is almost always a strong wind around 30mph. I will take more pictures of my forge shed once I get everything done. I can’t wait! 


10 comments:

Keith said...

I have one very similar to that. Excellent.
Keith.
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com.au/

Gorges Smythe said...

I once had a post drill that I'd salvaged from a fire, so it might not have been worth the saving, but it got sold when I had to get my stuff out of the barn several years ago. I've still got my anvil and post vice, though.

Ethan Liou said...

This is the first time I see anything like this. (I am pretty new to woodworking) Thank for posting this.

Reg T said...

Looks good. I've got an anvil and post vice in storage that I am looking to set up once we find a place to buy in the country.

I've also got one of the last few portable U.S. Army cavalry hot shoe forges in existence (AFAIK). Bought it from a community college welding instructor who had it. Since my father's brother served with one of the last real cav outifts just prior to WWII, and since I used to raise draft horses (American Shires), it has sentimental value for me.

Frontier Carpenter said...

Reg T,
Would love to see a pic of your forge.

Sgt42RHR said...

Hi,
I stumbled across your blog quite by accident. I have been a living history reenactor (F & I and RevWar)for over 40 years; and, I am also a hand tool woodworker. If you go to you will see some of my projects, one of which is the restoration of a Champion post drill almost the same as yours.

Are you on the Old Tools list? If not, I think you'll find it a friendly and very helpful place, it has certainly enhanced my woodworking and tool making skills.

Cheers,
John Johnston

Frontier Carpenter said...

John,
What is the old tool list? Sounds interesting. Do you have a Blog?

Unknown said...

I am finishing up a similar restoration. I am curious about the updated chuck you used and how you installed it. Any recommendations?

Frontier Carpenter said...

Audrey,
I got my chuck at a hardware store. You could probably find one on Amazon. I took a bolt that fit the threads of the new chuck and cut the head off, then I installed the shaft in the chuck and placed it in the chuck of the post drill. To keep shaft from slipping I filed a flat spot on it for the setscrew to set firmly.

Unknown said...

Thanks!