With permission from Mac and encouragement from a few fellow Woodnetters, I’m going try something a little different here. A number of folks post information, discussion, photos, etc. of machinery restoration projects, typically in “before” and “after” condition, and occasionally with some questions while in process. But we don’t often get to follow along throughout the restoration process, looking over the shoulder so to speak.

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, but haven’t come across a good project machine that might be of general interest to the WN crowd, would not be too difficult for folks with varying levels of background and shop infrastructure, and is likely to cover a lot of topics that come up here on occasion. A good, solid drill press that needs work seems to fit the bill pretty well, and I finally snagged one to try.

The purpose of this not to show “how to do it” or even just “how I do it.” Instead, hopefully, it will generate discussion, questions, and encourage others to chime in with input, other suggestions, alternative approaches, etc. The intent really is to show what’s involved, that it can be as much or as little work as you want to make it, you don’t need lots of equipment or knowhow, and is just a process that goes along at whatever pace you wish. I’m not going to rush on this, just take it as usual -- a couple hours at night most nights, a fair bit on weekends, and don’t work when I don’t feel like it. It is just a hobby, after all. The only difference is I’ll document it as I go, rather than waiting until it’s done.

For the record: as usual, I am bound to screw up, may do things nobody else would ever consider reasonable, and will use whatever tools, techniques, ingenuity, and other resources I have available. Throughout, I’ll include the good, the bad, and the ugly… which definitely fits the project machine (to be described in a subsequent post). Cringe if you want, and I invite scrutiny and criticism on any front. Unlike most threads, where we see the project after it’s done, I don’t know how this will turn out. I hope and expect it to be nice a few weeks down the road, but don’t know what’s going to turn up… every project is different. Hopefully, we’ll see a really nice drill press in about a month.

Finally, for now, I’m not sure whether it will be more appropriate to run this as one long thread or to break it into separate subject “chapters.” I know, going in, that the project roughly breaks down into a few key topics:

- Introduction, Acquisition and Disassembly
- Stripping, Cleaning and Painting
- Bearings, Pulleys, Chuck and Mechanical
- Motor and Electrical
- Reassembly, Tuning and Operation

As we go, I’m only going to show what I do, but will give passing mention and links to resources regarding other subjects where appropriate. If you have input, suggestions, see anything you don’t understand, have something going yourself that would contribute to the discussion, please post away. But please keep it clean, orderly, and on topic, so we don’t get poofed somewhere down the road.

Thanks all… hopefully at least a few folks will follow along, and maybe even a few play along with the home version yourselves.

Bill.

There was a young man with a dream. Not just any dream, but a dream that looked alot like this ( CT workbench ). It was March of 2008, a basement had been gutted, new insulation had been blown in the garage walls, a insulated floor had been layed down, and new doors had been installed. So by the light of a single 60 watt light bulb some maple was cut. The Ridgid table saw was not happy with the young man and blew the breaker 6 times but finally the ripping was done.



The bench was to be a glorious 3 inches thick, all hard maple, and the man was pleased. Then began the flattening, how hard could it be? I just took a one week course, we learned all about 4 squaring a poplar 2'x6"x1-1/2" board, these are just a little bigger. So to the basement he went, where a wonderful router table awaited as his work platform. But the top just wouldn't do so he appropriated a door from the partially gutted basement.

The anticipation made him giddy, a full long weekend without the wife and child. I'll have this bench built by the time they get back he thought and then he began. Being the clever individual he was he decided to brace his door and base against the now cold concrete wall (outer walls were the first to go in the basement reno), but being super clever he decided that to keep warm he'd also set up by the furnace, and then he was glad. The door handle was still attached and a little in the way and he had to crawl to get to the back but who cared, he had a bench to build and no time to worry about such trivial concerns.



He threw his entire fleet into the endeavour and they laboured on and on for the next two days creating bags and bags of glorious shavings




to be continued...

You can buy spares at www.industrialabrasives.com Cheap Cheap mention Woodnet. Keep your old belt to measure the correct size when you order
HTH

Odd, I thought Michael M had a decent stuff at good prices. At least I thought that was his rep, but it looks like he hasn't posted since mid '08.

While working on a prototype for walnut mantel...BAM.. a 5 horsepower kickback. Ripped the Grip-tite off the table and through it across the shop through the window. The bucket in the yard shows the range of the debris field.






The board, as you can see, has a nice 22* bevel arch cut through it. I expected to be working with wood today, but it looks like glass will be the material of choise. Scarred the h*** out of the dog outside.

I mentioned in one of the other reindeer threads that the LOML needed a few more for late Christmas gifts for her Church small group. I decided to take a different approach this time.

I've really never made anything out of the fire wood pile before, but I might do it again sometime.

Heres where I got the wood from. It's warm today, don't need a fire anyway.



Here's the "chosen few".



Jointing first, to get a couple of flat edges. The tape is for a straight line when I get to resawing. I didn't joint that top edge, so I couldn't get a straight line with a pencil that would show up enough.



A little minor resawing.



Tracing the pattern. The white marker showed up much better than a pencil.



A little scroll saw work for the tight turns. I drilled the first ones I made with a forstner bit, but this just seems a little faster to me.



A little band saw work comes next.



Next I move to the spindle sander. I used the belt on the Ridgid Spindle Sander for the outside curves and the spindle for the holes. Those vertical lines you see on the side are grain lines, not bandsaw marks. It's smooth as a babys bottom.



After a coat or two of spray poly...here's a couple in all their spalted glory.



I wouldn't have bored y'all with yet another post about the things, except for the fact that I took them from firewood to finished product. I have no idea whether or not they'll hold up in the long run and not crack apart. I didn't take any time for acclimation, or sticker drying. However the firewood has been cut for a year or so, and the tree was standing dead when it was taken down. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll stay together, if not...I'll make some more out of kiln dried stuff.

Thanks for looking.

Submitted for those who are interested.

Photographing Your Work - A Tutorial

Special thanks to Alec Hosterman (Alec H) and Robert Stuart (Wipedout) for their excellent feedback. Thanks, guys!

I am in receipt of two used Unisaws. Being of a giving and caring nature (please refer to my post history for confirmation), I propose to donate one of these to Charles Jackson III, known by you as beginningwoodworker.

My intent is simple: I will, along with two anonymous benefactors (one on the west coast--she wishes to remain unknown, but is a frequent poster, one member of the Tribe in NY), absorb the initial cost of the base unit. I will also try to arrange to have the unit delivered to Charles. Perhaps someone going from Florida to Kentucky or thereabouts.

I already have offers of aid and support from some of you. Charles has indicated a willingness to put in the sweat equity on the saw. This is the 34-802.

The motor and arbor mechanism work, as it was in use last week. A cursory assessment indicates the following:

Needs left wing and right extension table (or he can build one).
Has Bies, needs tube and rail.
Has guard.
Needs motor cover.
Needs dust port.
Needs new switch.
Needs grip on one handle (I think).

Other than that, Charles can supply the muscle, cleaning agents and grease to put it in top-notch order.

I know that there is at least a small percentage of you folf who would be willing to help--$$, parts, guidance, advice, suggestions.

Especially you Unisaw mavens, and you know who you are.

Let's here from you via this thread or PM, and get this show on the road

SWEET DEAL!!! Did you get it when you did the propane exchange?

Ok folks, let's put at least a first name with the moniker. I hate calling people ert321

I'm Anthony "Yak" Yakonick. I'll answer to Anthony or Yak Mom used to get very upset when someone called me Tony

51, been turning since 1994, someday I'll get good.