Thread: Restoring a Servian Pedestal Drill press

See Bob, they all agree with me.... we do thank you for the inspiration, but we will always call a nice restoration "Bob's fault" from now on
Joe

Originally Posted by jhovel

See Bob, they all agree with me.... we do thank you for the inspiration, but we will always call a nice restoration "Bob's fault" from now on
Joe

Hi joe
I might grab my traveling head shaper out and do a "Bobs fault" on it

Phil

Bob
We may be giving you a bit of a workout here, but I agree with Steamwhisperer Phil, & others.
You have lifted our game.
You have made us reflect.
You have started something that may never finish.
You have sent us challenges.
I was happy with my half thou dial indicators, but no, no no, I must now pursue a tenth of a thou indicator, or better. I find I am looking up Ebay "Comparators"
Thanks for this, you have instilled in all of your readers a new life, & the parting of more money. You have indirectly boosted the economy
My jobs now take a lot, lot, longer, because I,like others, wonder, what would Bob think.
Well done, we need more like you
regards
Bruce

You blokes have all done neat work, it's just that I'm the tosser with the camera. Thanks for puffing me up Boys.

Now Michael! I want that Mercer looking like this ! ( 20 bucks sans indicator from a local pawnbroker )

BT

p.s. Ray's getting some nice milage out of his little Coolpix.

The reality. I'm real careful when it comes to composing my photos. You blokes have shamed me into doing something about the little No.1.

I had started then put the thing back together to use. That would have been 5 years ago.

Bob the Pretender.

Nice condition Bob. Looks like it just needs a bit of sanding and a lick of Hercus green...
Joe

Mechanical condition wise it's great Joe. Cosmetically, it's appalling. Blue brushed on enamel. I'm a fan of the original finsh.

BT

Here you go Ken.
The outside edge of the adjustment nut the locking nut are x-knurled.
There are 4 stamped lines in the upper surface of the adjustment nut 90 deg apart.

Hi Bob,
Nice little mill,
I have one very similar to that I was given about 15- 20 years ago. It has been sitting in my shed for all that time and just needs a bit of work to one side of the knee dovetail way.
I have never been able to find out what make it is, and the only thing on it was a Demco sticker. It also has table power feed driven off a shaft from the main drive and is a belt drive that comes off the back from memory, but would have to check that.
It's a nice little mill and I have been thinking about it lately, then you come along with pictures of your that has also sat for years, LOL

Dave

I'm glad this thread bobbed up again. Been meaning to ask Joe, how are you finding your counterweight system? I'd like to tackle this mod on the Tough and wonder if you have any suggestions or comments? My guess is you'd want a little weight on the table so you didn't have to push it down, but it was light to lift.

Bryan,
the counterweight system is terriffic. I used all sorts of lumps and bits to get it right - and settled on 25kg. That balances my table with drill vice attached. Whatever workpiece I add makes the table easier to drop, but still quite light to lift single-handed.
I recently found a piece of 4-1/2" dia hot rolled solid steel and cut off 25kg. It is now sanded and painted and the whole thing looks like its been there all along....

Joe

Now to get it dirty again....
Maybe that'll make it a resto project for the grandkids in 40 years' time....



Joe

Looks fantastic Joe, and should be a "really useful engine", as they say in the classics. Well done.

Just thinking Joe. Is that column hollow? The pedestal Waldowns have a hollow column where a counterweight could be secreted. My bench Tough's is solid but I don't know about Bryan's larger Tough.

I just noticed the discreet plywood back drop. Nice.

BT