Member postings for Dave Barr

Zan, thanks for your reply. I know swivel bases don't suit everyone but the things i do and the way i work I find them very useful. Good point about the drive and swarf I'll maybe re-site it or perhaps make a guard from acrylic sheet cheers!

So after some extra expense and hassle I have tonight finally 'made some chips'.

Bought a Vertex VK4 mill vice. Smaller than I expected but DOH my VM-30 at work actually has a VK5 fitted though I mistakenly thought that it was a '4'. Still will do fine I think.

Work light from Ikea. Will get me started but really need something better.

VFD is an Invertek unit 1.5kW, I have used their 18.5kW drives at work so was happy to pay a bit more for this brand. Need to make a remote switch box, running from the front panel for now. Initially it was tripping my house sockets RCD but after unscrewing the 'filter contact screw' on the side this is resolved.

Some quick and cheap spraying of a few bits (mainly the rusty suds pan) using Halfords 'Garden Green' enamel spray paint and the grey spray primer as well.

2 new drive belts but only using the new front one as the rear belt quoted in the manual is too wide??? Hmmmm...

Some new revolving handles for the handwneels from eBay cheap but fine.

Made a new rubber cover sheet for the Y leadscrew using the original stainless profiles and a grey silicone rubber dog bowl mat from Amazon

Fair bit of cleaning and application of 3 in 1 oil.

Wouldn't have got this sorted except for my new 2 tonne SGS engine crane. Huge but a lifesaver.Also excellent service and straps/shackles from SafetyLiftingGear.com their 2 tonne stainless shackles are so lovely I could weep.

I'm looking at the Axminster 'Trade' ones right now, 2 models at £400/£500. From the photos look quite well made however looks can be deceiving I know. I like the switchgear compared to the Draper heavy duty machine we have at work and the worklight as well. Anyone got one?

Martin, many thanks for your kind offer. I've just taken delivery of an SGS 2 tonne crane today which I will use to build up the machine in my 'back garage'.

Meanwhile I am busy tarting up the swarf/suds tray with Halfords garden green spray enamel as well as other bits of the machine. I don't have the time or inclination to go chasing a perfect colour match just want to build up a neat and tidy machine that I can use.

I expect before the end of the year I may have a 7 inch length of 1/2" steel rod in my hand that needs one end turned down for a 3/8 thread so if you are still available at that time I might give you a shout.

Someone said earlier that they were surprised that a 'metric' machine would have imperial threads on it. So far my limited experience with this one machine is that it has a mix of both thread systems.

Cheers and best regards, Dave.

Cheers Norman you have just given me a great idea for material for my machine!

Have a spare grey dog bowl mat in silicone gonna try cutting a rectangular sheet out of this.

Tony, thanks for the tip about Berger.

The missing rod is a shame as it's a bit that probably never wears out or breaks or gets lost except on this occasion. It's just a piece of 1/2 inch steel rod with a 1/2" BSW thread at the machine end and a 3/8" BSW and the other. Not got access to a lathe so might approach a local machine shop see if they will turn down the 3/8 end for me. Not seeing it as a bit I'm likely to come across anywhere...

pictures re above post

Again thanks for even more info above.

Got it home late last night. Base: I stood inside it and held it by diagonal corners and walked it to my shed. heavy but managed not too bad. Head: motor already off, lifted it and just managed to carry it to my shed. Quite heavy!

Column with knee and table still attached. I didn't want to split the knee off but OMG this lot IS heavy. I had bolted it to a 120cm by 80cm pallet using lengths of M8 stainless studding and washers. The Vauxhall van I hired from Arnold had perfect tie down loops over the back axle so nothing moved even through the first 10 miles or winding farm roads.

8pm and dark. My mate from next door came over to help. The pallet slid with great difficulty to the back door of the van. I had 6 offcuts of decking that I had just used to refloor my new shed. Made a ramp with these lying on the van rear bumper. With much grunting and cursing we slid the pallet down the ramp then onto cardboard sheets. Then used brute force and planks as levers to slide the pallet into the front of the garage. Sprayed all metal bits with WD then locked up and crashed out.

Gonna buy: another engine crane, more lifting straps and shackles, buy/make a dolly with castors etc. so I can get this built up, but all in good time no rush.

Anyone suggest a source of a missing quill handle/broken knob at the end etc?

Should you really lift the column and knee/table (the massive bit on my pallet) using the head bolted on with straps round the head? Does this put the top of the column casting where the head rotates in any danger?

Thanks, Dave.

Thanks, more great advice cheers!

I'm taking a pallet/bolts/drill/saw/leftover decking planks/screws/tools/cardboard boxes/100m 16mm rope/an old duvet etc etc.

Agree the lack of solid tie downs in a van can be a problem. I went to look at the Transit I'm hiring yesterday and it has a few tie down loops low down near the cab bulkhead so gonna put the pallet there. Will brace with rope and decking planks screwed to pallet etc.

Mike, will be taking the motor off the head. How heavy is what remains, will myself and the vendor (a guy who repairs earth moving equipment so presumably strong/handy) be able to lift the head off and lower to the ground?

I've got the impression that some of you have been able to lift the head off single handed, or is this a dangerous idea? Asking more for when I get home. Sorry to sound so ill prepared but have been looking for a machine of this spec on and off for years and it popped up out of the blue. With virus restrictions I'm wanting to drive south and grab it ASAP. Am now buying a 2 tonne SGS crane for this and other future needs (lifting 80hp outboard etc) but won't get it this week.

Thanks, Dave.

Thanks, more great advice cheers!

I'm taking a pallet/bolts/drill/saw/leftover decking planks/screws/tools/cardboard boxes/100m 16mm rope/an old duvet etc etc.

Agree the lack of solid tie downs in a van can be a problem. I went to look at the Transit I'm hiring yesterday and it has a few tie down loops low down near the cab bulkhead so gonna put the pallet there. Will brace with rope and decking planks screwed to pallet etc.

Mike, will be taking the motor off the head. How heavy is what remains, will myself and the vendor (a guy who repairs earth moving equipment so presumably strong/handy) be able to lift the head off and lower to the ground?

I've got the impression that some of you have been able to lift the head off single handed, or is this a dangerous idea? Asking more for when I get home. Sorry to sound so ill prepared but have been looking for a machine of this spec on and off for years and it popped up out of the blue. With virus restrictions I'm wanting to drive south and grab it ASAP. Am now buying a 2 tonne SGS crane for this and other future needs (lifting 80hp outboard etc) but won't get it this week.

Thanks, Dave.

Cheers Phil, worry not all thoughts and suggestions are very welcome.

I design and repair electronic equipment for a living so I'll just be snipping the motor wires ....this is the only area of the whole thing that doesn't worry me.

Plan to get an Invertek brand 1 to 3 phase inverter drive to fit to the machine plus make up a wee control box for run/stop, forward reverse and variable speed etc. Also I'll be fitting a work light and possibly an extra external fan on the motor if it gets hot at low rpm's.

Regarding the weight I'm taking an 80 x 120cm pallet with me plus a drill/bits and bolts/studs/nuts/washers in 6mm/8mm/10mm to bolt the machine (minus stand and head) to. Not burstingly keen to take the knee off, that might have to come off when I get the machine up the road. I'm not sure what size the bolts that fit the column to the base are, could they be imperial, could they be 3/8" in which case I'll go with 8mm to bolt the base to the pallet.

So when I get it home I have a flat driveway that leads straight into my front garage. I'm hoping myself and 3 mates can lift this well enough to slide the pallet out of the back of the Transit and onto the ground then drag into the garage. If this proves dangerous or impossible I'll take the van down to the work and forklift it out and store it some where to give me time to make better arrangements.

I used to do a bit of car engine work back in the 80's and had a brilliant engine crane which would have been just the ticket for this job. Sadly long sold I'm currently scoping out a replacement.

Reading through the above it's clear my plans are still a bit making it up as I go along so genuinely plenty of scope for getting more advice from you chaps.

Cheers, Dave.

Wow! really grateful for all the thoughts and pictures above. Obviously the separation of the knee with table and the column would be really beneficial but how difficult could that be and are there any balls/screws/gib strips or other parts that might fall out and get lost/damaged?

Unless it's straightforward I might leave these 2 bits together and take it to work to unload then later on buy or hire/borrow and engine crane to use at home along with my mates van.

The main enemy is time as I expect the trouble will happen once I get back up the road. Also a hired plywood lined Transit might not have the tie down points I need.

NDIY/Clive, appreciate your thoughts. As a backup plan if the 2 big bits prove totally unmanageable I will take the van to my work where I can use the forklift to unload them onto a pallet and store them indoors until I get myself sorted in my own time. The main part is to bring them into my possession and 250 miles closer to home. Once stored I can transport them the last 5 miles at my leisure.

Hi, I need to move a Myford VMC mill that I have bought. Planning to rent a Transit. Hoping the head comes off easily and myself and the seller can lift it off and place in van. He has a loader machine. The machine will unbolt from the base steel box I expect so the column and table will go into the back of the van as well.

Here's the issue: I get home early evening. It will be raining (Scotland). Will myself and my 21 year old son both large build 6 foot reasonably strong be able to get these bits out of the van using just manpower or am I going to get stuck?

Really grateful for any advice or experiences. No stranger to moving equipment but still....

Cheers Rex I found 500 gram tubs online at the National Motorcycle Museum shop so have ordered from there.

Brilliant! many thanks this is vital info I really need will get this lube ordered up next week cheers Dave.

Andrew and Graham: excellent replies thank you. The three larger collets are in good order but the 6mm one won't slide easily into the lower part of the autolock chuck; seems to have been damaged somehow perhaps by a 1/4 inch shank being hammered in. However GandM Tools have spares so have ordered a couple today.

Brilliant that IS what they are and they also work. Thanks! Dave.

Sorry have a few more questions. Apologies have no manual for this machine.

Does the gearbox at the front of the head have an oil level that needs checked and topped up? If so any tips on doing this?

Also what are the red wobbly panels at the front and RHS of the base unit at floor level. They seem spring loaded no idea what they are for.

Thanks again for any advice, best regards, Dave.