Author Topic: Hey, from Durham/Newcastle (Read 18497 times)

Symon · « **on:** March 25, 2017, 03:05:52 PM »

Hey all

I'll try and keep this intro short.

I've just acquired a machine I've always wanted...a ~~tank~~ vertical milling machine. A 60-year-old Archdale.

Rightly or wrongly I love the older stuff and I'm lucky that my workshop is surrounded by old engineers.

I bought it for less than its scrap value! From the guy next door who had bought it from the guy who has an old factory behind me. They're both friends of mine and the factory is pure porn for those who love old machines.

Anyways, I've done a good clean up and rewire and now need to oil and prep it. I've resisted a proper tear down for now...I have other projects to do. But it will be done.

Money for this is tight but I'll be chipping away at all the things I need. Starting with the manuals that cost a fortune for photocopies...but I understand the pricing due to their rarity.

Think that'll do for now?

I'll add pics tomorrow if anyone's interested.

howsitwork? · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2017, 03:15:18 PM »

Are old engineers cheaper to run than guard dogs????

Welcome and keep the neighbours on board they can probably show you all the ropes with the machine, if correctly bribed with chocolate digestives and coffee at the required intervals

Pics would be good .

Ian

Symon · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2017, 03:41:53 PM »

The guy who's it was originally was just chuffed I was going to be using it

He's around 90 and his place is amazing.

Sadly a lot of stuff is so wrecked. He has a cupboard full of Moore and Wright micrometers and Boxford plunge gauges (among other amazing measuring stuff)...but it's all ruined through being in a damp factory for so long

But his machines are incredible. Including his gigantic radial drill.

I'm after the manuals simply to keep the machine maintained to the best I can. I don't want to be the guy who wrecks it after 60 years

jb3cx · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2017, 05:04:13 PM »

Hi an welcome .pete from Sunderland

mexican jon · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2017, 05:18:24 PM »

Welcome aboard

krv3000 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2017, 05:41:48 PM »

hi and welcome in in Durham a lil village named Bowburn enjoy

Biggles · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2017, 02:27:18 PM »

Welcome,

we are very interested in pictures.

Symon · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2017, 05:03:07 PM »

Took a few before and afters. The crud and old oil/white water was rancid (3-4cm deep in parts). But I've got it spotless and ready to re-oil. Took a week just for this

This initial clean up will be a proper job later down the line. So much to sort in the meantime

awemawson · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2017, 05:26:52 PM »

A very handy looking machine - now considerably cleaner

jb3cx · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2017, 05:43:18 PM »

Nice ,heavy machine ,

Symon · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2017, 06:04:38 AM »

In order to release the quill dial I've had to fully dismantle the quill gearbox assembly. Lovely set up and I didn't lose any of the ball bearings

But this thing is really trying to push me into a full dismantle despite promising myself I wouldn't. I really don't have the time to be distracted from stuff I need to be cracking on with

Must. Resist. Full. Expensive. Strip-down.

Biggles · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2017, 01:27:07 PM »

Nice machine looks good. I can see it playing on your mind, if it’s working well then resist.

Symon · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2017, 01:32:46 PM »

Me in the workshop

Biggles · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2017, 01:36:27 PM »

howsitwork? · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2017, 03:21:19 PM »

now if you feed the old engineers coffee and offer biscuits to help ....

Things will go quicker AND YOU'LL HAVE COMPANY TO HELP YOU.

There's even the old sofa in the background to sit them on during coffee break!

Symon · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2017, 03:22:56 PM »

Ha! The seat of that sofa that you see is indeed where they sit!

Symon · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2017, 09:49:18 AM »

Btw: What's the correct subforum to use for manual machines? There's a CNC section but no manual section. Would it be "Tools"?

Symon · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2017, 06:58:10 PM »

Just thought I'd post a quick pic of my ~~weak will~~ full strip-down and restoration

Why pay £50 for "basic" information, being held to hostage, when you can tear it down yourself and ~~spend more~~ learn more

DaveS · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2017, 07:06:09 PM »

Very nice restoration, soon be ready for another 60 years

Dave

Symon · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2017, 07:10:59 PM »

That's the hope, Dave

It wouldn't have lasted a week seeing as the main oil pipe (inside) had been squashed by the counterweight. Only realised when I saw an oil window had been broken and painted over. So I investigated and descided a tear-down was in order.

It's a design fault that was later corrected by making them with the oil line on the outside. Still, I'll MadMod it and it won't happen again. Luckily the gears and everything are mint. Oil mudded to death...but mint.

awemawson · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2017, 03:23:54 AM »

Very nice paint job

John Rudd · « **Reply #21 on:** May 01, 2017, 06:30:16 AM »

Looking good

Better than the blue it was before...

Oh and welcome from me too....( originally from Middlesbrough but now residing in Hull....could be on the move up North....

)

Symon · « **Reply #22 on:** May 01, 2017, 06:36:14 AM »

Cheers guys

And yeh...that blue is awful

mechman48 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 01, 2017, 08:45:36 AM »

Welcome Symon. Nice acquisition you've got there, certainly looks better with the cream coat ( off white?) than the blue. I'm just down the road from you... well the A19... in Smoggie land, Teesside,

George.

Symon · « **Reply #24 on:** May 01, 2017, 08:53:21 AM »

Cheers George

It's a light grey (goose wing) and I've mixed up some darker shades for various parts. Every part was painted so it's nice to free the shiny steel, copper and brass from being covered up by multiple layers (light green, dark green, brown, light blue and dark blue).

Lots of replacement bodge, too

News:

Author Topic: Hey, from Durham/Newcastle (Read 18497 times)