Thread: crossed fingers and dripping tears - it's a crime

wow looks like its had a hard life and a less than graceful retirement, but the price could be right.
The knee handle normally its fixed to the machine so its not been knocked off just missing by the look of it.
Two biggest worries for me are is the Y leadscrew even there? and if they have bent the X leadscrew with their careful handling.

No winding the speed change handle when the motors not running(though likely someone has beaten you to it)

Good luck!

Stuart

Shame its so far away. I'm looking for a table like that for my shaper, wouldnt be able to wreck a good machine to get it though.

I can't understand the logic - if they had put a notice up on asking if anyone wanted to buy the mill (even in a poor condition) they probably could have picked up a few hundred from some adventurous soul. As it is for scrap it's probably worth less than $100, and that's if a dealer is prepared to take it - as Des is not in a metro area the chances are a convenient hole would be the eventual destination.

+1 on the crime bit.

Michael

To many a folk it's just "a hunk of metal" but Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

I hope you manage to aquire it. It's a bit worrying but I can't imagine that it was placed in the bin with any care. You may get it for a song, then it would definately be worth your while to try salvage it.

Cheers,

Simon

OK, the manager/s have given permission - at this stage it's mine. (pending no hiccups)

I've arranged for the mill to be gently removed from the skip with soft slings and a franna crane (non-slewing 25T crane) and placed on a reinforced pallet for transport.

IS there anything else I should push for for the 19+ hour trailer ride back to civilisation? (Perth) I can ask about having the head removed, but I may not get that much cooperation (the workshop guys helping me rescue it are pressed for time, and the cranes aren't sitting around doing nothing very often)

Will it be OK to travel "as is" (ie fully assembled) if I can't pull it apart further for travel?
Is there value in securing a piece of timber under the spindle back to the table to add support to the head?

Damage recorded:
Y axis screw snapped off just inside the front bearing - clean break
Minor chips in Y ways (100mm L x 6mm W x 3mm D)
Minor chip at top of Z (knee) way (10x5x5mm)
One shot lube manifold destroyed
Y axis scale (dial for handle) destroyed
X handles damaged (knob knocked off)
Damage to electrical cabling (all over)
Paint and covers damaged by contact with forklift forks.

Good news
The table is PERFECT - no gouges, no marks, no "additional holes", just a protective coating of oil mixed with red dust
The ways (other than damage noted above) show little signs of wear (still see machining/scraping marks in ways)
No evidence of rust anywhere on it - just the oil mixed with red dust on everything
It was powered up and ran only 4-6 months ago - 2 weeks prior to being moved from one workshop to another - it sat in the new workshop until this weekend when it was unceremoniously discarded. (I won't relay the opinions stated by the workshop guys when they found out about this... needless to say it should never have left the workshop, let alone to this fate)

Best news - the price (at this stage) a smile - nothing changed hands, and smiles all 'round now it's being rescued and given a new life.

Once it arrives at the other end of its journey, I'll commence dis-assembly for repair/assessment and go from there. It'll be a long job due to my work commitments, and the fact I don't have a shed big enough for it yet - but even if it sits under plastic for 12 months, it's still better than being melted down in China.

More smiles,
Des

Hi Des
Great news!
For a 19 hour drive I think I'd take the head off one way or another.
Depending on how you plan to get it off at the other end,
If you have a crane to lift if off, then the three bolts and pin to take the head off where it "nods" (there will be a hole for an eyelet in the top of the ram, though make sure its locked tight if you lift here, I've been told a story about the mill tipping with the ram loose and the ram parting ways with the rest of the machine)
If you are going to lift it off in pieces with something like an engine crane maybe undo the four bolts that hold the whole ram swivel(there maybe a nut plate inside the column you should catch)

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

wow looks like its had a hard life and a less than graceful retirement, but the price could be right.
The knee handle normally its fixed to the machine so its not been knocked off just missing by the look of it.
Two biggest worries for me are is the Y leadscrew even there? and if they have bent the X leadscrew with their careful handling.

No winding the speed change handle when the motors not running(though likely someone has beaten you to it)

Good luck!

Stuart

Shame its so far away. I'm looking for a table like that for my shaper, wouldnt be able to wreck a good machine to get it though.

Please explain.................. I might want one too

Des,
I have seen when similar such new mills arrive at H&F Perth, the table is lowered and the head is rotated 180 degrees, or as near to as possible with a piece of wood between the motor and the table. This lowers the centre of gravity without dis-assembly. Good luck with the move and restoration, should be an interesting project and worthwhile project. Alan.

forum for you

BRIDGEPORT & B'PORT CLONES

Hi Alan,
I should have added. I'm only suggesting removing the head as it is likely coming off anyway when it gets to its new home and it may make life a little easier. Leaving it on is certainly an option.

Originally Posted by matthew_g

Please explain.................. I might want one too

Just for long work. Someone wanted me to respline some axles but I couldnt hold them. One of my "gee that might be handy one day" projects really.

Stuart

Hi Stuart,
No problem mate, the more ideas / options put forward for Des to make a decision considering the resources available the better. Its just good to see something being salvaged that may otherwise come back as something else. Alan.

Just an update on the mill...
Today it commenced its journey back to my house, and the long road of receivery and restoration.
It had the motor/gearbox spindle rotated 180 degrees, and blocked up to support the weight on the Y axis ways on the knee (Wooden wedges were used for blocking, and then the wedges were tied in place with cardboard to protect the surfaces).
The table was locked, and the whole unit mounted on 2 lengths of 6" Channel so the mill was stable.
The spindle bore was stuffed with rag, and the whole head wrapped in shrinky plastic (kinda like cling wrap but black, and "stretchy-er".

It'll take at least 10-14 days for the various transport interconnections to get the mill down to Perth, and then it's a case of getting it out to my house, and into its temporary home (my shed currently is miniscule compared to what I want)

Thanks to all the various people on site who helped with the rescue, packaging, and transport... and a very big thank you for those on AWW who offered support, ecouragement and advice - pretty much the universal response to most people has been it should never have been tossed - and that people are glad to see it being rescued.

If anyone hears of other bridgeport clones being scrapped, please let me know - slightly more damage has occurred during the rescue, so I will be hunting for parts, photos, etc so I can repair/replace what I can.

Anyone have any suggestions for a suitable name for the mill? Whilst my lathe is still un-named, this mill will be kinda special due to the rescue - so I think it will need a name - at least during the rebuild.

Thanks All,
Des

Oliver

Originally Posted by Brobdingnagian

Oliver

Why Oliver?

perhaps I should say - if you're suggesting a name, please include a reason for the name.

one suggested at work was "Lazarus" - since it laid in the grave (skip bin) for at least 3 days prior to being rescued - but I tend to shy away from names with religious connotations (call it a quirk)

There was a few suggestions based on the mill having "its knob snapped off" - but I never found "bobbit" jokes that funny I'd name machinery after it

Des

As it's a clone, I guess you could call it "Dolly" (after Dolly the cloned sheep)

Michael