The classics

There is one thing that older horisontal milling machines do better than many modern vertical mills. That is heavy material removal on the one axis that leaves vertical mills too flexible. Usually meaning light cuts and slow going. Also tooling for that setup is expensive and often hard to find. They still make horizontal and now the more common universal mills but means you have to do a lot to prepare it for horizontal cutting mode. Universal mills are also mostly available in the larger more expensive models putting them out of reach for home shops.

Instead you can opt for an older classic if you can afford some loving care. They are often cheap, dirty and sometimes incomplete or badly broken so the usual checks for wear and tear. Given they are predominantly used to cut in the X axis most of the wear may be limited to the table ways. As the cutters are of the larger type relying on lower spindle speeds something to look for in the bearings is asymmetrical or load point wear as well as general wear.

This Tom Senior M1 #262 manufactured between 1947 and 1948 has been relisted several times. It was close by, mostly complete and used MT3 tooling. I would have to replace the motor with a single phase unit after stripping it down, cleaning and painting it.

A daunting task but well worth the cost and effort to supplement the milling machine and other machining operations. Next on the list to recondition after the band saw. I've already collected a spare spindle and some brass to replace the overarm support bearing.

Oh Tigger

When I got my first inverter I loved the step up from my old transformer weld supply. Size, weight and capability aside, my weld quality and capability definitely became more consistent and easier to maintain. Also did some arc welding with it and really enjoyed the quiet compared to my usual buzz box. But being DC it is limited and while the HF autostart was great I felt I could start using a pedal so it was sold to make way for something else I had my eye on.

Birthday and bonus time came around along with a sale at a local machinery supplier so I took the opportunity to get this unit. First indications of using it on steel and stainless was an even greater consistency in the weld supply and while I have not had to crank it to 11 yet I will in time enjoy the additional range. When time permits I may get around to some aluminium too.

For now I’m back to making stands and shelves as my weld supplies don’t fit the stand I first built. As I also inherited a MIG unit it is a good time to review how I organise them all. More later…

About space and organising

I have been making do for a very long time and while room to work is one thing making the most of where you store and organise is definitely something you need to invest in. Anybody that keeps a few fasteners, marine fittings, mill and lathe tooling and other general tooling will tell you a few tins and bottles will only get you so far. I used to keep a few plastic small parts organisers which are great when you start. Then they get heavy and you only have to drop and shatter one to feel the overwhelming rage of a 1000 monkeys! Local budget autoparts stockist listed these on special.

More importantly also the shelving unit they fit in to save unpacking them all to get to the one I want. The parts trays sit on a shelf with decent drawer-slides so can easily take the weight when filled with fasteners as long as it is secured so it won’t tip. Ended up buying two of these units.

Still need to make something so I can slide the remaining plastic trays in a similar fashion. My old dentist tool cabinet also became too small for all my hand tools so my eye turned to getting a rolling tool cabinet. Local Bunnings plays host to a TV renovation show and had the full unit below on sale for pretty much the price of the bottom cabinet which is a deal considering the quality compared to some of the other units above the price level.

That left me building some new shelves and stands which I will cover off in another entry.

Coming in from the cold

Home renovation and other commitments meant that I had to focus on the smaller of my projects for the last year. Though the now kids play nicely by themselves and due to unseasonably good weather I got going on the shaper and the Vernon style milling machine. I stripped the shaper down to parts and bare metal and repainted and assembled most of it. The will get a blog entry of its’ own.

While I had all the tools out and room to strip clean and assemble I took care of the mill. I was concerned the bearings may need work but they looked good and after setting pre-load and running it for a while it seemed good. Wear in the ways is minimal and just need the leadscrew nuts tightened to reduce the minimal play.  I did not feel the urge to strip and repaint it. This is a working mill and other than the few chips in the paintwork still looks reasonable. Sadly the replacement bright yellow 2hp single phase electric motor stands out a bit but not worth trying to find matching paint for.

Incidentally the Tanner 14” band-saw is currently in stages of being rebuilt and painted too. Have a nice green hammer finish paint selected for it.

I also cleaned my old Rong-Fu RF-30 style mill ready for sale. I had mixed feelings about selling it as it is still a sturdy machine compared to other versions of it – note the column casting at the back. Still a better drill press than anything else I have. After a few tyre kickers came to look at it someone put down a deposit with intent to pick it up after the new year holidays.

It went with the old flexible angle vice that I picked up for cheap somewhere. Kept the 4” k-type vice that originally came with the RF-30 to use on the shaper.