Author Topic: Boxford back from the dead  (Read 27576 times)

Offline awemawson

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #100 on: June 29, 2019, 02:31:47 AM »
Ade, I bought a job lot of 100 mm glass magnifying lenses a few years back and have one 'to hand' by most machines and also at my desk. One of those and putting the part on a sheet of white paper makes such comparisons much easier.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline PekkaNF

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #101 on: June 29, 2019, 02:41:59 AM »
... I think it's 55 degree, but it's hard to be certain. There's not a lot in it, and my eyes aren't what they used to be. If anyone has an easy way to determine a 55 degree vs. 60 degree cutting tool, speak now...
For threading tool, I would compare with aforementioned thread gauge. Maybe a little blue (sturat's or felt tip pen) would help. The tips of threading tools are getting smaller, I noticed that even my old bits have shrunk and I need to resort to loupe more often than before.



For readymade thread I go to local bolt-store and bug the senior sales guy. He really has a knak of knowing wht to look for and waht is most likely to go where.

Pekka

Offline AdeV

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #102 on: June 29, 2019, 02:32:12 PM »
Today I finished machining up the front end of the belt tensioning shaft, and drilled the holes in the adjuster nut to take the handle, and the grub screw to secure the nut to the shaft.

First I cut the hex. To my surprise, I got within 2 thou of a tolerable fit first time out of the blocks... so after a little skim, it slipped on perfectly, with only a tiny bit of wiggle.

Next job was to cut the thread. To aid me, I'd purchased a new split die (I have a 1/2" BSW die, but it's not a split one, and it doesn't have a lead-in taper), but then I hit a snag.... by making the centre post that goes in the nut a little larger than Boxford's original... meant it interfered with the thread slightly! And being hexagonal, I couldn't get the die centred properly.  :doh: So, plan "B" was invoked, and I single-point cut it all the way. The serrations on the hex are where the toolbit just touched the corners of the hex. I'd say it looks neat, but TBH it just shouts "amateur!!!". A few thou smaller would have made the problem simply go away... Anyway, we are where we are.

Once the threads were done and the adjuster collar was able to be screwed on/off, it's back over to the mill for some drilling. Ironically, you have to screw it on over the hex! It's a bit wobbly to start, but works surprisingly well considering how shallow those cuts are! I hemmed and hawed about the grub screw, but eventually went with an M6 thread, as I have about a bazillion cap-head screws, one of which I could cut down. Fitting the shaft and nut together, with the nut clamped precariously in the vice, I carefully drilled a 5mm hole into both nut and shaft (to assure perfect alignment. Purely by luck, the depth of the hole in the shaft was exactly 1/4"). Then I withdrew the shaft and tapped the M6 thread into the nut. Whilst I was there, I also drilled the 8mm (! yes, really, it's pin on 8mm) hole for the handle.

The cap-head screw has 1/4" length of thread turned off, to fit snugly in the 5mm hole in the shaft; then the cap was milled away to leave a grub screw. The original Boxford grub screw used an Allen key, but feeling lazy and in need of a coffee, I cut a slot (freehand with a 6" grinder, I'll have you know!) for a screwdriver. Unlike the original, this is just to hold the two parts together, there will be very little force exerted on the screw itself.

So... the pics show the component parts; then the collar screwed all the way in (out?) to allow access to the grub screw; an finally an overview of what it should look like in service.

The last remaining jobs on the shaft are to trim it to length (optional, quite frankly) and deburr the far end, drill and tap a hole for the "cam" which rides in the thingybob underneath the motor plate, and does the actual pushing in/out. I'll turn the "cam" bit out of phosphor bronze I think, since I accidentally ordered 2 pieces, so I've got more fozzy bronze than I'll ever need now!

There's one more thing to do to the adjustment collar; the big chunk that's missing from the relieved section (see 2nd pic) needs filling with weld, then turning back to diameter. The original Boxford setup had a grub screw protruding into that relief, which the collar then bore against when being adjusted. In theory, it shouldn't see a massive load (because you'd not turn the adjuster with the belts tensioned), but as we can see, it's vulnerable to being hit. Think I'll turn up a piece which is a nice sliding fit in there, drilled and tapped for a grub screw (or maybe just pinned, like my shaft). It wont be as strong as just using the grub screw, but it won't offend my OCD either. Somehow, just having the end of a grub screw sticking into that recess doesn't feel right.

More tomorrow, hopefully.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline Sea.dog

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #103 on: June 30, 2019, 07:06:08 AM »
That's a nice job.

Now you only need find a diamond knurl with the right pitch to clean up the collar  :D

Offline AdeV

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #104 on: June 30, 2019, 04:01:45 PM »
I do have some knurling tools... not sure if I have a diamond one though.... but actually I was thinking of leaving it more or less as it was... or I may have a crack at using some needle files on it to try to restore it the hard way... Let's see how much enthusiasm I have left after a few more bits are done  :lol:

I didn't do a huge amount today, being a lazy Sunday afternoon and whatnot... but I wanted to repair the ding in that collar. So.. set myself up for a bit of mild steel TIGging (Pic 92), ruined the belt sander (93) - remember children, don't get your tungsten stuck under the fence when you're using an inappropriate tool to grind a point on it, because nasty things happen...  Actually, once I'd cleared the shredded bits out, half the belt is still fine, which allowed me to finish off the tungsten and not have to locate the spare belts I bought. They're in there somewhere....

Moving on, I'm really struggling with this welder at the moment. Dunno if it's me, or if it's not working properly.... but I just can't get it to behave. I managed to get some metal melted into the ding, though, and whilst it should have been a nice flow, I had to flatten the worst of it off with a flap disc before mounting it in the lathe to be skimmed flat. I used a brass shim which IIRC John Bogstandard gave me years ago to protect the polished end from the chuck, and managed to tap it around until I had about 2 thou runout - near enough for this task.  Step 1 (94). After skimming, I used one of my superb Mircona parting off tools to fettle the groove (95 - please excuse the enormous bolt sticking up out of the top of the tool holder. I really ought to fix that...). The result (96) - not my finest welding hour, but it's way better than it was; and in use, you'll never see it. Out of sight, out of mind....

Next up, I turned a bit of bronze to match the ID and OD of the adjuster shaft (97), parted it off slightly too short, cut it in half and tidied the ends a little (98), and now it fits nicely(if sloppier than I'd like) in the groove (99). My plan with this part is to drill a hole, probably 3/16ths ish, in the centre, for a pin to drop into. Then I'll turn a special grub screw with a 3/16ths ish nipple on the end of it, so when the grub screw is tightened down, it engages with the hole in the bronze half washer thing, thus doing the same job as originally achieved by the bottom of the grub screw  :thumbup:

There's even room underneath to store the other half of the ring, should I ever need a spare  :lol:

So, that's it for this weekend. I forgot to bring the motor plate to the workshop, otherwise I'd have made the engagement pawl/cam thingy. I'll do that another day, once I've measured it. Meanwhile, I'm in the market for a new TIG welder I think... any recommendations? Needs to be reasonably priced, as my budget is a trifle limited right now...

Thanks for following along, hope you're enjoying the ride as much as I am so far.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
Occasionally: Zhengzhou, China. An even longer way from anywhere...

Offline kayzed1

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #105 on: July 02, 2019, 04:22:23 PM »
Ade, if you want to come across to Holywell you can use my R-Tec 160 ( same as the one tested by Doubleboost ) on his site..
BUT: you will have to set it up.. as i have not even looked at it yet. I have all the bits of kit to get started just that i have not had the get up and go to get up and go...Yet.
Lyn.

Offline AdeV

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #106 on: July 02, 2019, 05:05:39 PM »
Hi Lyn,

That's an extremely kind offer, thanks! I might just take you up on that (but I've got to get the Jaaag back on the road first - need brakes!).

Interestingly, I seem to have got a bit more of a hang of the big old Murex... I think putting a smaller tungsten in and dialling the power back is helping. But what with the superglue, the muck down in the cracks, a pretty porus casting with years of junk in it... I think just burning my way through it (and me... note to self - get long sleeved shirt for TIG welding!) is starting to work. Although I did manage to blow a big gob out of one of the top mounts the other week. That'll be interesting to rebuild... lucky I've got lots of filler rod...

I'm embarrased to show them, really, but attached are some photos of where we're up to so far with the headstock foot. It's a mess, it's going to need a LOT of sanding back and re-shaping before it's done, and I'll probably end up using a load of bondo/filler on it as well, once I've finished welding up all the cracks. Praise the lord for flap wheels on grinders, is all I can say!
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline vintageandclassicrepairs

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #107 on: July 02, 2019, 06:54:10 PM »
Hi Ade
Old castings need serious degreasing before trying to weld them
Its a bit pot luck as to what method works best, ?
I have used "Marine Clean" in a big container and heated it on the barbecue to degrease some vintage oil soaked bike casings
A go in the dishwasher can help too but I have found that the "eco friendly" modern dishwasher tablets are not a patch on ones I used 5 or 6 years ago  :(

John

Offline hermetic

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #108 on: July 03, 2019, 01:37:48 PM »
My first attempt at aluminium Tig welding was only a few weeks ago, converting my forge to underfan so it would go a foot nearer the wall. I managed to do it, but the casting which I was welding to a piece of ally plate was the elbow from an old gas balanced flue, and it oozed black goo all the time! got it done, but next time it will get a thorough degrease before I attempt it! My Tig is an old Interlass ac/dc from the early 80's, so no foot pedal either. :lol:
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #109 on: September 10, 2019, 02:29:25 PM »
It's been a while since I did anything with the old Boxford... but it's not forgotten! Even if I can't remember where all the bits are right now...

Anyway, one of the things I wanted to do was degrease the headstock and remove the front bearing cup. I'd tried drifting it out with my punch and a hammer, but it wasn't going anywhere fast, and merely mushroomed the end of my punch.  :bang:

So... taking advantage of a bit of workshop time, I turned up a couple of pins, put the headstock on a pair of parallels in the 1 ton press, and pushed it out that way. Easy peasy.

Pic 105: The setup, just before I pressed the cup out
Pic 106: The bits needed, including a couple of short (too short!) pins which at least proved the concept.

Degreasing the headstock was a nightmare, I'm using a Clarke parts washer, with Clarke parts washer fluid, which is worse than washing up liquid I reckon. I'm going to order some more beefy stuff... however, being impatient, I put the headstock in the dishwasher instead (wife's not here, y'see  :palm:). Worked OK, there's a smidge of grease left around some of the corners where the bearings sit, but since those parts aren't getting painted, it's no problem. I intend to paint strip the headstock, sand it back flat, bondo any holes (if any) that aren't supposed to be there, then re-paint.  I've got a few other bits and pieces arriving in the post this week which will - hopefully - persuade me to get moving on this project again.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline John Rudd

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #110 on: September 10, 2019, 02:50:53 PM »
Ade,
I find screwfix's own brand degreaser....its water soluble too, doesnt smell and is cheap....( probably cheaper tha mM stuff..)
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Offline AdeV

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #111 on: September 11, 2019, 02:02:52 AM »
I find screwfix's own brand degreaser....its water soluble too, doesnt smell and is cheap....( probably cheaper tha mM stuff..)

Good call John, thanks for pointing me that way. It gets great reviews, and works out either 10% or 30% cheaper than the stuff I was going to buy (not sure if my price was ex-VAT or inclusive...), so I'll be getting some of that at the weekend for sure!

Edit to add: For some reason, I can't press the Like button. Be assured, I do like your post!
« Last Edit: September 11, 2019, 04:00:23 AM by AdeV »
Cheers!
Ade.
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Location: Wallasey, Merseyside. A long way from anywhere.
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Offline trim

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #112 on: August 04, 2021, 03:39:34 PM »
I know I'm posting on an old thread, but this time it seems appropriate.

I have a model A, serial number 1507, so 1949.  Like your Model C, it also has a 4 v-belt pulley.   It still has its tumbler gear bolt, no cam on the tail stock and foot casting including the switch.  Everything looks original and as with yours, it would need to have had it's plates changed to show the 16speed layout.   This doesn't seem very likely.

So the fact yours and mine seem identical in terms of age and correct features - makes me question the accepted serial number of 1791 for the change over from flat to V. 

I hope you finished saving your Model C.

Offline howsitwork?

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #113 on: November 06, 2021, 06:07:38 AM »
Well Ade

hope you are still fit and well.

I’ve been off site for a while as there’s a bit of a pandemic on and work was a bit hectic!!

Hope things are still progressing . I’m tempted to get back on my AUD his week as on holiday and I need some relaxation. Still bonfire night fish n chips at club tonight  so things are improving

stay safe one and all

Ian

Offline Muzzerboy

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Re: Boxford back from the dead
« Reply #114 on: November 06, 2021, 09:30:39 AM »
My Tig is an old Interlass ac/dc from the early 80's, so no foot pedal either. :lol:

Not a Miller / Interlas 320BP or 330BP by any chance? That's what I've got, although I managed to make a foot pedal for mine, which is a massive help. Bloody great wirewound rheostat - low tech but easy to build.