A Bit Off Topic but you may find it interesting

[Viatron]

As if I didn't have enough projects....
Just collected this Fobco Pillar Drill. Normally they fetch over £150 in good working condition and I have seen them in poor condition go for over £200. Saw this on EBay locally starting at £25 and just went and had a look and gave the chap £80 for it which he was very happy with. Best part is its a 1 owner from new machine!!! It was converted from 3 Phase to single Phase some years ago and that's good as these were originally only available 3 Phase and a single phase motor will be £100 to £200 by itself. :-)

Plan is a simple strip clean and repaint

[oxford1360]

I'm very jealous. I've been trying to grab myself a Fobco for a while. There's a nice little history here.

www.lathes.co.uk/fobco

[Viatron]

yep read all that before I went to have a look. it was even better that it was only 12 miles away, the problem with a lot of these types of items is they are collection only and by the time you factor in a day off work and the diesel for the van what looks a bargain starts to look not so cheap. like

[davecymru]

Originally Posted by Viatron

Plan is a simple strip clean and repaint

I'm sorry, but saying things like that, on this site, well... i think we all know how it will turn out!

[Viatron]

yes but luckily I cant fit wire wheels to it......or can I?

[EL PRIMER]

Originally Posted by Viatron

yes but luckily I cant fit wire wheels to it......or can I?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/15134...13=80&ff14=108

[Viatron]

:-)
But spent a very pleasant hour in the workshop this evening and have totally stripped it down to component parts. Left the main casing in the parts washer as it was very very greasy. Hopefully should have all the main parts cleaned tomorrow and ready to go off for powder coating. Cant decide if I should keep the colour original or go for something different? thoughts anyone?

The bearings were ok but a full set of new ones isn't a fortune so will change them all out. The run out was minimal but am considering upgrading to the larger Quill assembly if Tony at lathes.co.uk still has any of them left in his pile of NOS FOBCO parts. Packed all the knobs up to go of for re-plating but other than the cosmetics it was in as good a condition as expected. More importantly its a complete unit so no hunting for hard to find bits.
A few picks will follow tomorrow.

[Viatron]

Didn't take long :-)






Last pic was taken this morning when I drpped off the parts at the powdercoaters I've chosen a colour and it's not the original cream :-)
Bearings ordered and I have also ordered a spindle upgrade so it wall take morse taper chucks as I have a couple already. Also have a bit of a special touch that will make it a cut above your standard rebuild watch this space....
TTFN
Mac

[swifty]

Nice bit of kit viatron, we have a few in the workshop and they are solid in construction not like the chinese imports.