Small mill rescued from the Hammerite monster

[lotus_esprit_s1]

I bought a couple of Boxford pd8 drills from a scrap man recently, when I went to pick them up he had a VM30 in his garden, along with a couple of boxford lathes. He had cleared out a couple of schools in Birmingham and was open to offers on them - I only paid £100 each for the Pd8s in good condition, he said he "thought the VM30 was worth a bit more than the drills - make an offer". I reckon £200 would've taken it. I didn't even look at the lathes as they were under cover and would make my Super 7 feel very inadequate.

I really wanted the VM30 as well but being realistic it was hard enough stripping the 6ft pillar drills down into component form to fit them in the back of a Defender 90 for a 300 miles trip home - I did measure it up though and the base was massive and would've definatly needed a trailer and 600 miles round trip in the Defender to get it and I was working away for the next month.

The Mrs was none too impressed as it was to be loading up and then sharing the 90 with two pillar drills on the way home, particularly the columns which were resting on the centre seat!

 

[penfold]

A VM30 is worth a lot more than that assuming it's not knackered.

 

[lotus_esprit_s1]

I was well aware of that, it was the small matter of a) time and b) the thought of a 600 mile round to trip in the Defender!

 

[mfletch]

Don't suppose you could send me a private message on the location of the mills

 

[zzr1200]

Don't suppose you could send me a private message on the location of the mills

Oi, I've already asked that by pm.....

 

[mfletch]

I'll try bribery next

 

[lotus_esprit_s1]

Sorry, the drill was on ebay in June listed as "Pillar drill" (no mention of boxford or anything!), with his phone number. I phoned him up and he said he had twelve (!) of them and would save me one so I could collect it and pay cash when I was next passing. I eventually collected it and another the same for a friend in late August from his home on an estate in Birmingham. Ive just looked and I no longer have his phone number, he was a man with a Transit tipper operating from his garden doing part time house and school clearances unfortunatly so no business contact detail either.

 

[Wallace]

Nice DRO. (You now go at the top of my list in permanent marker!)

 

[lchris21]

Nice DRO. (You now go at the top of my list in permanent marker!)

no worries, I have a similar list for peeps with huge workshops and bigger toys to fill them

 

[Wallace]

no worries, I have a similar list for peeps with huge workshops and bigger toys to fill them

I just want the bigger workshop now! I'm interested in the DRO you fitted, are they glass scales? I was planning on fitting some to my POS mill before the gearbox blew up as it drives me mad trying to use the oddball metrinch scales the machine is fitted with. Now it's running again a cheap DRO would be a worthwhile addition.

 

[armalites]

Lovely job on the mill, sad to here all this kit out of schools just being scrapped especially given the money they could generate if it was advertised/auctioned.

 

[lchris21]

I just want the bigger workshop now! I'm interested in the DRO you fitted, are they glass scales? I was planning on fitting some to my POS mill before the gearbox blew up as it drives me mad trying to use the oddball metrinch scales the machine is fitted with. Now it's running again a cheap DRO would be a worthwhile addition.

yeah glass scales.......cheap'ish and cheerful, do the job fine

 

[Keith 140]

Hi Chris. I have a boxford and would like to fit the motor drive to the x axis. The end of my lead screw is inside the lead screw nut when it is fully over to the right, was this the same on yours, did u move the nut?perhaps you would give me a clue as to how you did yours please thanks

 

[RichardM]

It's looking good.

 

[ukracer]

yeah glass scales.......cheap'ish and cheerful, do the job fine

What was Total cost for DRO mate??

 

[kcchan]

If you don't get a reply, it could be because this post is 3 years old and it wasn't the original poster that brought this thread back.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

If you don't get a reply, it could be because this post is 3 years old and it wasn't the original poster that brought this thread back.

Yes, but the OP @lchris21 is still around [was on on Wed] and might pick up on it.

 

[lchris21]

holy thread resurrection Batman !!....
Scale price??....About £200ish delivered if I recall?
As for the clue on the X-axis........perhaps this helps?

 

[Keith 140]

holy thread resurrection Batman !!....
Scale price??....About £200ish delivered if I recall?
As for the clue on the X-axis........perhaps this helps?
View attachment 115023

Hi thanks for reply, I saw that photo but the original lead screw goes into the lead screw nut when at full travel to the right, so to fit an extension for power drive it's either move the lead screw nut over or lose some of the travel. I wondered what u did ? Thanks in advance