Member postings for Michael Callaghan

Mark, you did a lot better than me with using machine skates, I tried to move a lathe and almost killed myself in the process. I found that they rised the centre of gravity too high and made an already unstable machine into a very unstable machine. I can’t get on with engine cranes, I find that their little rollers just lock up and I end up with my 6 foot crow bar trying to move the whole lot an inch or two at a time.
at the moment it looks like winch and wooden boards. I have asked the seller to drop the knee and the head to its lowest possible position to reduce the centre of gravity and make it more stable. However from what I have heard these pallet delivery companies are not that great on collection and delivery times, so time will tale if it happens at all. I May result to hiring a van with a Towbar and a trailer yet.

and glad to hear that you are still active at 80, hope I will be the same

Thanks Stuart, I am using National pallets, after ringing pallet line for information to make sure I had ordered the correct size, I was informed that I would need to order space for 4 pallets, when I told them yet again that the machine fits onto a one full size pallet I was again told that I needed to order 4 spaces, so went with National pallets. I think it’s up to the driver if he will or can help get the machine across the drive, but I am looking at the worst case. Moving some of the gravel to make a path may help. Will take a look. Thanks for input.

Ian, the truck will more than likely be far too large to take the corner to get into the driveway. If the driver can help or good, but I am thinking the worst and hoping for the best

Noel, I did think of a pallet truck and use that to provide wheels to the pallet. If the machine falls over in the truck that’s the company’s problem not mine, it’s all insurance until it gets to my driveway.
I was thinking of reinforcing the pallet all around before starting to drag it along. I have seen the blocks pull out many times over the years and the resulting damage. But with reinforcement all round pallets can become very strong. Also I have no steel plates, and the cost these days for a one off job would make them too expensive.

Hi chaps, I purchased an old warco KF milling machine. Looking at the information available it looks like this machine comes in at 500 kg. I am having it delivered by one of the pallet delivery companies who will more than likely drop it off on its pallet at the end of the drive.
I need to get the machine across 20 foot of gravel driveway and into the garage. So far I have purchased two 8x4 sheets of shutter board to form a path. I can move one in front of the other as the machine moves.
at the moment I am thinking that I can use my 3.5 ton hand which which is anchored to the garage floor to pull the machine along on its pallet into the garage. I am thinking of using one strap around the pallet to keep the pull force as low as I can to the ground and prevent any pull on the machine itself to prevent it tilting. Once in the garage I have a hoist that can remove it from the pallet.
I am undertaking this move myself, and think that using scaffolding rollers would just rise the center of gravity and my lead to the machine becoming unstable.

what are your views on this, any ideas that would make it easier and safer. Thanks

I have a Colchester bantam which is night and day to the myford 7 I had before. Apart from the power feeds, parting off is almost a joy. And it was 50% cheaper than what I sold the myford for.

Thanks for that information

My bad it’s a KF milling machine. No it’s not the one in the pictures

Hi, having purchased an older warco MF milling machine, I now have the problem of moving it. The pallet companies want to know the weight of the machine, and overall dimensions. Ok I can get the dimensions from the machine itself, but can anyone please let me know the weight. Thanks

Thanks chaps, I was able to form the smoke box, I used solidworks to do all the calculations and marking out for the hole positions etc. then purchased myself a better set of rollers. Came out 100 perfect. Thanks for your support

Thanks chaps, the problem is What is the right price. Some of the machines I have looked at in person would have been better as scrap, yet they sold for a lot more then the same machines in good condition sold for a few years back. Dealers want so much money for items they paid some old boy a few pennies for. Like all things in this hobby, it’s all very odd.

Hi, does anyone have any views on the Chester zx milling machine. I have seen one for sale, but worry that given it’s all Chinese electronics, and old ones at that I may find that I have a purchased a very heavy door stop if anything goes bang.
what is too look out for on these machines. Thanks

One more great idea, thanks again.

Thanks buffer, great idea. I know how to use the lathe gears, but my head was thinking milling machine. The lathe would be a lot better. Thanks again.

Ok, I have rolled the cylinder and it came out nicely to size. Now can anyone please let me know a good way to set the ring of rivers in the cylinder without using a dividing head which I don’t own. Thanks

I started my cnc journey many years back with a 2nd hand proxxon cnc mill. Ok, you will never be able to turn large bits of metal into chips, but it can in many ways do milling jobs better than larger machines. I made a number of name boards for locomotives and model ships, using mach3 and solidworks cad. Just don’t push it too hard, take your time and enjoy. I never get over watching cnc machines working away, be it milling machines, or 3D printers.

Thanks chaps. Ok looking at the drawings which do leave a lot of information out. It looks like the smoke box is made the following way. The outer wrap, then an inner wrap which goes the full length of the smoke box bar 15mm each end. Then there is an inner joining ring which connects the smoke box to the boiler. The smoke box door is a press in job which fills the whole front face of the smoke box.

I have a few problems here. First because I can’t roll anything thicker then 2mm how can I join the inner and outer wrap, would just silver solder along the edges do.
the second problem is that the joining ring is stated at being 1/8th thick, I can’t roll that thickness of material, so looking at making a former and hammering it to shape out of brass flat bar.

so at this point in time, I am going to go with brass, due to the corrosion issue and it’s easier to roll. However how anyone ever made one of these locomotives from the drawings I don’t know, it feels like half the information is missing. I know that there must be holes for the cylinder inlets but they are not on the drawings along with the missing door false hinge points. It looks like I am going to need to draw it all out in CAD before cutting any metal.

Hi chaps, which material is best for a smoke box. Brass or mild steel. Due to a number of reasons I can only use 2mm thickness for the part. So what are your views.

Thanks Howard. Good point made, and I will be sure to make use of your suggestion.

Dc31k, it would just make the job a lot easier using the vertical head.