Thread: Restoring a Servian Pedestal Drill press

Originally Posted by Stustoys

The drill might have been sharpened as a "sort of" reamer. Works pretty well I'm told but am yet to try it.
Look forward to the pictures.
Stuart

You may have something there, Stu, but this was a brand new one in old packaging (undecipherable). They had lots of them. And as I mentionerd, I've seen this design several times before in other places. I'm sure it's a commercially available standard type - just not sure exactly what for....
Joe

You hit the nail on the head Stu. I found what it is: Melcut Tools - Manufacturing Rotary Shank Specialty Cutting Tools for Over 40 Years
Google is my friend...
Now I'll have to stop drilling holes with it....
PS: mine is NOT carbide... and I had a look: it's made by P&N
Joe

Hi Joe,

Which way around are you mounting the pulleys, I'm guessing the shape of the head casting means that it stays with the small pulley on top, so you'll have to flip the motor pulley upside down, and have small on top... then the idler would be large pulley on top?

Or is it the other way round?

Regards
Ray

Yes, Ray, exactly like that.

I've finished and fitted it for a trial - working like a bought one.
I had some "nearly right length" v-belts handy, but will get new ones on Monday (the "exactly right length" type).
Then I'll start sanding and painting the head casting, table and foot.
Drilling a 24mm hole without pilot hole was no problem and didn't seem to stress the motor at all.

Joe

Hi Joe,

That's a nice upgrade to the capacity of the machine, and a considerable increase in the speed range for the machine.

I especially like the nicely cast pulley cluster in the middle..

Regards
Ray

Joe, that looks great. Do you know what speeds you've ended up with?

Bryan,
interesting question. I went and measured it with my digital laser tacho: the range is 6620rpm down to 270rpm. I checked the ratios with my calculator and that's about right.
However, the Servian speed label on the side shows a range from 9620rpm down to 140rpm. Looking at the eBay photo you alerted me to, the center pulley cluster looks about the same size as the original motor cluster - and there is no way you can get that range! The maths just doesn't add up... ???

Joe

Time for one more pulley Joe 100rpm to 10000

Is the middle pulley free to pivot?

You might need to come up with some sort of cam adjuster as the shorter belts will be harder to move it you cant back the tension off them.

Stuart

Joe, I know not what photos you speak of. But sounds like you have a pretty useful range. The Waldown has a lever on the eccentric. Makes it very easy. After loosening the motor locks, you pull on the lever. This pulls the motor in and loosens the front belt. Push the lever back the other way and the back belt is loose. Just imagine you welded a handle onto your bracket, behind the pivot bolt.

Hi Bryan,
Don't worry, Joe is confusing you with me. lol

But How to you retension the belts on the Waldown? The three pulley drills I know of the center pulley is free to slide back and forth or pivot, the cam/eccentric moves the motor in and out. Don't happen to have a picture?

Stuart

Originally Posted by Bryan

Joe, I know not what photos you speak of. But sounds like you have a pretty useful range. The Waldown has a lever on the eccentric. Makes it very easy. After loosening the motor locks, you pull on the lever. This pulls the motor in and loosens the front belt. Push the lever back the other way and the back belt is loose. Just imagine you welded a handle onto your bracket, behind the pivot bolt.

Sorry Bryan - it was Stu who pointed me to an eBay sale of another Servian.
Yes, the spindle speed range is great. It'll probably stay on slowest most of the time
I could add a handle on the middle pulley bracket - it is indeed free to swivel - but I tighten the bolt after changing the belpt position.
The mtor mount does not move freely, you pick up the motor weight to slide it in or out. Its just too heavy and the holes are rough and oversized.... I may have a look at somehow boring and sleeving them, but I don't fancy getting the head casting off the column (I loosened the clamp bolts and tried to shift it - no way) nor mounting it in any of my machines to bore it....
Joe

Originally Posted by jhovel

Sorry Bryan - it was Stu who pointed me to an eBay sale of another Servian.

Out of idle curiousity, was that a red one in Box Hill from a month or two ago?

Stuart, the centre pulley is free floating, though it's stiff enough that you need to manually rotate the handle to tighten the front belt, then give the motor a shove to tighten the rear belt. This is the best pic I've got. The handle I'm talking about is the thing that looks suspiciously like a coach bolt with a bit of ally tube under the head.

Thanks Bryan,
Its not a couch bolt anymore its been upgraded to precision adjustment lever MKI

Stuart