bridgeport table gib

[kingcreaky]

Hi All.

Around a year ago, I was fortunate enough to acquire an old bridgeport J head mill. Im no machinst, but it does make the most amazing pillar drill I have ever used.

Over the course of the past year, I have been tinkering, cleaning and rebuilding parts of it, and building up some tooling, along with watching as much as I can on youtube in a bid to learn.

The machine is now only missing one part, The table gib (left to right). So, Im hoping somebody on here has an old one laying around they may be able to sell me, or alternatively, offer some advise as to how I can get one.

Its never going to be a precision machine, so Id be happy for a used second hand one. New ones are available, but they come oversized, from what i've read, they need machining to fit. I think its probably a bit ambitious of me to go down that route (not to mention they seem very expensive)

Any help or advise would be gratefully received.

Matt

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

Do you know why it's missing ?

Just looked more closely you have the leadscrew and handle missing in the picture do you have those bits

 

[kingcreaky]

all of the other gibs were present, apart from that one. (I bought it in a dissasembled state, how it had been moved previously). It had sat in bits in its old home for 20 years. The table wasnt on the saddle and as such I suspect the gib was lost many moons ago.

I managed to find literally everything, except the one remaining gib (I even have the adjuster screw for the missing gib).

any suggestions or ideas on how I should proceed would be grately appreciated.

 

[MattH]

http://www.sorted-uk.com/

These guys sell them but it will be pricey. They are usually lapped or scrapped in to your saddle and table as well.

 

[MattH]

Number 41 on this page:

http://www.sorted-uk.com/basemachine.html

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

It would be very difficult but not impossible to make yourself.

The best thing would be to buy one, how much it would be I haven't a clue

It would then need to be fettled to get the fit correct

 

[Shox Dr]

http://www.sorted-uk.com/

These guys sell them but it will be pricey. They are usually lapped or scrapped in to your saddle and table as well.

A recon machine isn't out the way cost wise.





Give Brian Caddy a call at Slideway Services, he might be able to help with a gib strip

 

[slim_boy_fat]

.....how much it would be I haven't a clue......

£130 according to MattH's link.

 

[Seadog]

£130 according to MattH's link.

+VAT

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

Well it's money well spent because the machine ain't worth much without it as it's only a drill.

Maybe he could sell you a used one, shim it out and then make your own

 

[AndyStobbs]

Give 'Goodwin engineering' on the North cheshire trading estate, Wirral, a call. They may have one, he refurbs alot of bridgeports

 

[AndyStobbs]

£130 for a precision ground tapered bar sounds reasonable to me, if its new.

 

[lchris21]

Agree £130 is good. Cannot see any lube tank on it??? What ever you do, DO NOT allow the knee gib to seize up or drop out below the slide-way on full travel.....I had one do it a few years back, its not much fun.............google it, its a common fault

 

[piman]

Hello Matt,

I bought one of those recently and refurbished the head, I bought all my bits from Sorted Machinery. Very good service, usually next day delivery, but as said parts aren't cheap. It is worth asking if they have a second hand one?

Alec

 

[MattH]

Hello Matt,

I bought one of those recently and refurbished the head, I bought all my bits from Sorted Machinery. Very good service, usually next day delivery, but as said parts aren't cheap. It is worth asking if they have a second hand one?

Alec

I did the same mate, bought everything I needed for a complete head rebuild and popped down and collected. They're good guys down there but as said prices are high. Cheaper to buy for the States and import but Sorted keep everything in stock.

 

[Spark plug]

There's a bloke on eBay busting a Bridgeport he may have one.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bridgeport-Saddle-assembly-/272097329038?nav=SEARCH

 

[kingcreaky]

Thankyou all for your responses.
over the past 6 months ive tried it all, including sorted, braithwaites any potential people who may have one based on what they are selling on ebay. Nobody wanted to help!.

Until I posted here!!

I spoke to the chap at Goodwin Engineering (what a top bloke). He explained why its not ideal to be using a secondhand one, but was also realistic about my expectations, and has popped one in the post!.


Thanks AndyStobbs for the recommendation.


So impressed with the guys service, I also treated myself to a dro ... (havent told the misses yet)

Il post some pictures of how the gib installation goes once it arrives

thanks again for all your comments

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

I love a happy ending THE A TEAM

 

[Spark plug]

I've also had good dealings with Goodwin they do provide an excellent service.

 

[MrFluffy]

Fingers crossed, but theres a good chance your gib is missing because it got mislaid during a machine move. Without the table (and head if its a fixed one that can't be rotated 90) a bridgeport will fit through a standard doorway, and the easiest way to get the table off is to remove the leadscrew, handle and gib then slide the table off onto something solid is a one person job. Been there got the teeshirt