Photo Index - South Bend Lathe Works - Cat#: CD400B / Mod#: 14 B 3A

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
South Bend Lathe Works
South Bend, IN

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Drill Press
Machine Size:	14"
Submitted By:	Randy Lisbona

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Cat#: CD400B / Mod#: 14 B 3A
Date of Manufacturer:	?
Serial Number:
Last Updated	12/24/2004 12:00:00 AM

Comments:

I bought this drill press from a used machinery dealer in Dallas between '90-'92 for $150. It was covered in grease and Aluminum chips and it had a 3ph Dayton motor on it so my guess is it came from a small fabrication shop. The paint was worn off the base and table, the paint on the head was tight but had absorbed grease or small metal filings that I could not remove so it looked very dark and dirty.

I cleaned it up a bit and used it until 2003, when I was shamed into restoring it after a friend restored his old Craftsman drill press. (I had good intentions but never quite got around to it)

I had it Soda Blasted to remove the old paint. To my surprise, the crown, which I thought was die cast aluminum due to its shape and smooth surface, turned out to be rough cast iron. It took several coats of body filler and many coats of paint to restore the smooth appearance.

The original bearings were so noisy that I rarely ever ran it above it's slowest speed. With the new bearings, it is almost silent.

I have yet to find a picture of another Southbend 14" drill press but I did find a reference to one in a machinery auction a few years ago.

This is a great machine!

Photo 1:

Comments: The rear switch is for a light just behind the spindle, the front switch is for the motor. Originally Off was the up position and On was the down position. This didn't make sense to me so I reversed the swtiches so On is Up.
Source: Lumix FZ20 Camera

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Photo 2:

Comments: Closeup
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Photo 3:

Comments: Someday I will get or make a new Southbend cover plate.
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