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.