Thread: Two new machines to restore

Murry, I ran into something yesterday. I got the other table mounted and laid a straight edge on it just to see. There is a big difference in the two tables. They are far from level with each other. Not far enough along to know how much or what to do. Might be able to swap some parts around and even it out. If not I have some shimming to do. I will know better once I get everything in place and tight. I can measure it better then.

Latest photos.

These photos of the bearing box are before I started cleaning. It's now primed and sitting in place. I knocked out the end that was hanging so I could wire brush and clean the joint. I have it just about ready to repair.





Once the bearing box is repaired and painted all that's left is the fence. It's in the tank right now.Once the fence is done it will be finished! Well I still have to rig up a motor of course.




Not that much noticeable difference. Added a few small item and have both tops installed. Still have to polish the outfeed table top and repair the babbitt bearing box. And that is just red oxide primer, it's not staying that color!

Literally had to bring it in from out of the rain and just sat it in place.

Should have the major parts finished up this weekend. Will just have the details to deal with. Need to modify the knives, build a motor mount and find a switch for it.

looking great mate

So is that the final colour? Black with the gold lettering? I think it looks awesome!

You've made fast progress.

Closer and closer every day. Got to get me a motor and build me a RPC soon!! Just finished up repairing the bearing boxes on the G.P. Went fairly smooth and my fingers are not epoxied to anything so it appear to be a success. Only 24 hours will tell for sure.

This is one of the blown out sections in the bearing box. This was my biggest concern when I bought it. As it turns out, it wasn't the big deal I was thought it would be. Of course I don't have it running yet either!

The broken piece would not fit back in place perfectly. Or course! So I had to so some griding to make it all fit properly. This is the end that will show and fortunately was the cleanest break. It took very minimal grinding on it and the bolt would even fit the threads. I am sure with just a little sanding/griding and probably a little filling it will look like it was never broken. Wish I could say that about the other end!





Here is the other end. It is behind the cutter and won't show. But it was a nasty break. Took lots of grinding to get it back together. I don't know how it every came apart! There was some big gaps and trying to fill the holes turned out to be very messy as you can see. No doubt I will have to chisel the wood block off. But with some sanding it will look OK. And it is hidden behind the cutter head so it really won't show. But I still hate sloppy work.



Got the fence put together only to notice some primer still showing. Got a little to anxious. Oh well, a few minutes with a paint brush will touch it up. Still have to clean up some bolts. But I wanted it anchored down on there. I think that fence along weighs 100 pounds or more. It's a job to carry it across the shop.

Fast work, question you thought freezing was cause of failure is that still the case now you have it to this point and why not welding first then expoxy to finish or have I missed someting.
Cheers
Mike

Yes, I am almost certain it was freeze damage. That is an oil reservoir for the babbitt bearings. It's open at the top where you can just pour the oil in, no cap or lid on it to keep water out. So if it sat outside uncovered rain could collect in the reservoir. The one thing that puzzled me was why just one end. Then when I pulled the cutter head out I could see the other one was broke too, that convinced me that is what happened.

As for welding, it's difficult to weld cast iron properly, so I am told. I am not much of a welder. Since these two pieces were not under much if any stress epoxy seems like it would work just fine. I have used it a lot in boats and it is works exceptionally well in some high strength applications.

And if a welder ruined the bearing box, I would never find a replacement. If for some the reason the epoxy fails, at least it can be repaired again.

Great to see a machine restored so quickly, and glad that it will be a 'user'. Well done.

She's Restored!

Well 99% anyway. I have just installed the cutter head and that all that I can do for now. I have a one little job left that I am waiting on a part for that will take maybe an hour to install.





I am at point I can do nothing else till I get my motor for it. I have found two that will work I just have to get them here. I located another vintage motor that would be perfect but it costs more to ship it to me than the motor is worth unfortunately.

I am tired and ready to take a break. I miss working with wood! My shop is nasty from this project too. Going to take some time to pick up and clean up and then put this aside while I wait on a motor.

I still have the Bandsaw to do, but I am not in a rush for it. I really could use the jointer now.

G'day Kudzu,

Extremely impressive.

Great project and it looks really superb!!

Look forward to reports when you've got it hooked up to a motor and running.

I also look forward to seeing how you go about the bandsaw, when you have recovered!!!

G'day Jeff,

I hope your back is feeling better. You should be proud of yourself with the amount of effort you have put in and like many others here have been impressed by the end result and the time taken.

I have a couple of questions that I would appreciate an answer to once you have enough spare time on your plate

1) I see you primed the base with red oxide. Does that also kill any bits of rust that may have been missed?

2) Electroysis - do you use mains power in your set up? and is it OK to put the (switch on) connectors (that are attached to the workpieces) below the water surface in the tank?.

Sorry for all the questions

Keep up the excellent work.

Regards
MH

Originally Posted by Metal Head

I have a couple of questions that I would appreciate an answer to once you have enough spare time on your plate

1) I see you primed the base with red oxide. Does that also kill any bits of rust that may have been missed?

2) Electroysis - do you use mains power in your set up? and is it OK to put the (switch on) connectors (that are attached to the workpieces) below the water surface in the tank?.

Sorry for all the questions

No problem with questions. I am not an expert but I don't mind answering questions.

As for the paint, I use Rustoleum brand, dunno if it's available down under?? But it's made for use over rusty metals. It is supposed to have some rust inhibitors in it. If the part has run through the electrolysis tank I don't worry to much as that takes care of the rust. But I always use it when I have to wire brush something like that base that I couldn't tank. Ask me in a few years how well it works.

In your second question our difference in terminology has me a bit confused. So just to be clear, you only use low voltage DC power. I use a 12 volt, 10 amp battery charger. With that I can reach in the water and with our fear of getting shocked. And yes I have put the connection below the water sometimes. I have felt a very slight tingle but it may be because the water is slightly acidic and not the power.

Kind of a long story but I will try to keep it short. A bloke I know was telling me about the motor he had that pulled off a very old jointer several years ago. What he described sounded like it had the perfect look for the jointer, but it was a little big horse power wise. Well he brought it over Saturday and what a motor! It Huge and just about perfect!



I got it torn down and the center band, with all the holes in it, in the electrolysis tank. This motor has babbitt bearings so I will have to clean the most of it the hard way.

Pretty sure that this is going to go on the jointer. It's just such a neat looking motor.... or will be that is.

Since the jointer is or was at a stand still I started on the bandsaw. Just cleaning the base and removing some bad paint. Most of the paint is in good shape s no reason to strip it off. Just primed those spots.



This should be a fairly simple restoration. Anxious to get these two done and getting back to working with the wood!

Just a quick photo. Most all the parts are painted. Hoping to start assembly this weekend. As suspected this is going to be an easy job. Just got to get the motor issues worked out.