Monday, January 28, 2013

This is a drill.

This is my drill.
If it looks old, that's because it is. It belonged to my grandfather, a man that I never knew because he died when I was three, back in the days when we were still sending manned missions to the moon. After he died, this antique lay undisturbed in my grandmother's basement for 30+ years until I found it one day and took it home.
It still works, and it works well. It's big and heavy and maybe a bit slow, but it turns a bit like nothing else short of a drill press. Since I've had it, I've used it to repair my deck, install masonry lag bolts, and complete numerous smaller wood projects. Today I used it to drill holes for my newest reloading press. (More on the press later.) It drilled the mounting holes for my last press six years ago, too.

During all of these jobs, this old drill has never faltered once. I doubt that my grandfather had any idea when he bought this drill that it would still be going strong so many years later. I wish that he could see it today, and I wish that I could tell him "thanks".

Apparently the Ram Tool Corporation of Chicago, Illinois has gone the way of my grandfather as I can't find any listing for it today. Pity. They sure made good drills.



9 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:16 PM

    This is my drill. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    My drill is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
    My drill, without me, is useless. Without my drill, I am useless. I must use my drill true. I must drill straighter than my enemy who is trying to drill me. I must drill him before he drills me. I WILL…
    My drill and myself know that what counts in this workshop is not the holes we bore, the noise of our motor, nor the shavings we make. We know that it is the holes that count. WE WILL BORE…
    My drill is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its trigger and its handle. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my drill clean and ready. We will become part of each other. WE WILL…
    Before God, I swear this creed. My drill and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. WE ARE THE SAVIORS OF MY LIFE.
    So be it, until victory is America’s and there is no enemy, but peace!(and a buncha holes)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those old drills will out last ALL of us...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Drill, baby, drill!

    Seeing that pic, I had to go out to the garage to check my 1/2" keyless chuck (I actually prefer keyed) drill - turns out it's an ancient B&D, Towson, MD.

    I last used it with a 2-1/2 garden auger bit to start a t-post hole for a bird house Daughter wanted to put in the backyard.

    ReplyDelete
  4. And I have my Dad's slide rule, with his name engraved on it, back from the 1950's. It still works.

    Dad's slide rule still is in very good condition. But it is no match for the electronic calculator, the laptop computer, or any of these other electronic gadgets which have made sliderules obsolete.

    My son has been talking about going into engineering.

    If he does, then I shall present him with his grandfather's slide rule.

    But I think I can safely bet the mortgage money that when my son needs to do some calculations, he will reach for his calculator.

    But he will keep the slide rule as a memento from his grandfather.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just make sure you replace the motor brushes before they wear out.

    I discovered the hard way that the case of my Dormeyer drill of similar vintage was tied to the neutral wire. Depending. I repaced the cord with a grounded one. Nowadays a GFCI cord from an old hairdryer would probably be a safer addition

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice drill you got there.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Douglas has it right. Check the brushes, and replace if necessary. Otherwise it'll eat the commutators and you'll have a boat anchor. Any motor repair shop should be able to find new brushes for it.

    If you lube the bearings/bushings every few years, and replace the brushes as needed, it'll be working when they use it to drive the screws into your casket.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:22 PM

    They don't make them like they used to

    ReplyDelete
  9. That was back when they used to make them out of METAL!

    Not the cheap Chinese plastic crap we get now.

    ReplyDelete