ML7 Restoration

Sorry about the delay, I've been moving the workshop and things have been delayed a bit in the project. Anyway, we're underway again and here's the latest update:

I've been stripping down the countershaft, and found all the oilite bushes full of grease, so they came out and I'm ordering a full set of new bushes from www.lathespares.co.uk for the lathe (although they call them sintered bronze - same thing). Seem like good value there.

I've also stripped down the bed - went through some serious amount of Gunk to clean it up. Ended up spraying it down with the hose pipe in the back garden before drying it and setting to with the Nitromorse.

In the end I wire brushed it down to the bare metal, although I did not take off the internal paint, but scrubbed it clean. It's impossible to get to the internal paint surfaces. You have to be careful not to wirebrush any of the machined surfaces like the bed, since the smaller brushes can be pretty aggressive.

I found quite a bit of rust spots under the paint, as you can see in one of the photos so taking it back the the bare metal was inevitable. There were some flecks on the inside too, but I brushed them down and then painted over them - it's impossible to reach those areas.

I also started etch priming with a spray primer from Smith and Allan - fantastic service from them and great products at a great price! http://www.smithandallan.com/prodpage.aspx?id=1445

I think I may have laid on the etch primer a bit thick on some of the components, and I certainly have a bit of spray technique to learn. I had to brush out some drips. Next step is some build primer.

I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Part 5 - Countershaft

Part 6 - Bed strip down and clean

Part 7 - First round of etch priming

Matt

Here's an update after the first parts come off the painting line:

• More Cleaning - Grease all over the place
• Undercoats On The Bed And Headstock
• More Painting - Undercoating the Main Parts

The paints I used are all from the same set and compatible (Tekaloids)

1. Tractol 729 Single Pack Etch Primer (http://www.smithandallan.com/prodpage.aspx?id=1445)
2. Tractol 816 Single Pack Undercoat Dark Grey (http://www.smithandallan.com/prodpage.aspx?id=2567)
3. Tractol 329 Single Pack Machinery Enamel (http://www.smithandallan.com/prodpage.aspx?id=1568)

Here are the back-gear and lead-screw clusters - first refurbished parts.

• First Rebuit components

M

Hello Matt,

I can only see 3 postings on your restoration, all yours. Where did the others go?

I wish you well by the way, nice colour you have chosen. I know Smith and Allan in Darlington, I used to buy a lot of stuff from them years ago and Tractol paint is top gear.

Brian

A nice project. Thanks for the pictorial WiP will follow with interest.

I am tempted to do the same although my ML7 has been cared for by previous owners a tidy up would make it like new and give me the chance to become more intimate with the workings.

I am following the article in MWE of upgrading the headstock bearings.

Will you be going this way or keeping them original?

Ray