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Author Topic: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue  (Read 13527 times)

Offline lchris21

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Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« on: March 06, 2015, 05:29:48 AM »
Hi All,

Just some pics on a small Boxford VM30 mill I rescued last year. Its a quick make over compared  to some of the fantastic projects on the forum  :bow:

Anyway here goes......

Was looking for a small compact mill with a bit of rigidity and came accross a fairly cheap, slightly neglected, ex school 3 phase VM30 on our favourite money pit...ebay !!.

When it turned up it was covered in various shades of hammerite paint and had been stuck in high gear milling wood for most of its life. The high/low range selector was stuck in place with PVA glue, and there was wood packed into all the slides.

First job was strip down and clean...


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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2015, 05:33:15 AM »
next job was to get the plasma and grinder out and set about the base.....

I have very little real estate in my workshop/garage so wanted to shave a few mm off the footprint...

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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2015, 05:36:47 AM »
skip forward a bit and after a good clean, rub down, and scrape I started the re-assembly......

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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2015, 05:44:24 AM »
then onto the electrics. had to convert the motor to delta from its star config by opening it up and fishing out the connections. this then allowed the use of the VFD I bought. then it made some swarf !!!

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Offline Meldonmech

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2015, 06:04:37 AM »
 
     Looking good in its new livery.

                                                    Well done
                                                                      Cheers  David
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Offline philf

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2015, 06:13:12 AM »
You've done a very nice job.  :clap:

Looks to be a solid machine and I'm sure you won't let it get into such a state again.

Pity about the vice - it has suffered some serious abuse!  :(

 :beer:

Phil.
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Phil Fern
Location: Marple, Cheshire

Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2015, 06:54:25 AM »
Quote from: philf on March 06, 2015, 06:13:12 AM
You've done a very nice job.  :clap:

Looks to be a solid machine and I'm sure you won't let it get into such a state again.

Pity about the vice - it has suffered some serious abuse!  :(

 :beer:

Phil.

yep its got a nice abwood bolted to it these days....
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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2015, 06:58:21 AM »
decided to make some upgrades or should I say "mods" to the thing.....

first up was a powered feed:

decided against shelling out a few hundred quid on an off the shelf unit, so picked up an old variable speed DC drive motor and set about getting that to work. unfortunately it lacked a bit of torque but a quick rummage in the scrap bin and i located the head off an old angle grinder. with a 3:1 reduction the torque was more than enough.

« Last Edit: March 06, 2015, 07:54:43 AM by lchris21 »
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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2015, 06:59:42 AM »
finally the cherry on the cake was a cheapo DRO which is good value and is more than accurate for messing about on bike bits.....

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Offline vtsteam

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2015, 09:55:41 AM »
What a satisfying job you've done, Ichris! I love knowing old and negllected equipment is restored to usefulness, and use. I like seeing that happen as much as anything in these threads!  :thumbup: :thumbup: :clap: :clap: :beer:
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I love it when a Plan B comes together!
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Offline Manxmodder

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2015, 10:00:27 AM »
Ichris,I wasn't aware that Boxford made such a mill until I saw your photos.
What a lovely,solid looking machine it is. The angle grinder reduction drive is a true MadModder touch and the restoration job is a true credit to your efforts. :clap: :clap:....I'm really impressed with the whole project.....OZ.
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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2015, 12:25:02 PM »
thanks for the kind comments  :thumbup:
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Offline Arbalist

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2015, 04:56:16 PM »
Nice job. They had one of those where I used to work. I always thought it was a nice looking little mill in its orange livery.
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Offline charadam

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2015, 06:41:41 PM »
Nice work on the restoration.

I have one of these mills and have wanted to move the table lift wheel to the right hand side, which I see you have done.

Is it an easy mod?
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Offline lchris21

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Re: Boxford VM30 Mill rescue
« Reply #14 on: March 16, 2015, 04:52:39 AM »
simples.....4 x screws underneath the knee. just rotate 90deg and your done
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