Scary, isn't it? I have found that two rules are almost constant in life. Any job will take three times more time than what you estimate and any purchase will be nearly double by the time you actually get around to buying it. Regards, Mark
Thanks for another interesting and informative video. I appreciate the frank, unvarnished facts, none of the "Gee I stole this for just $$$" BS that you often hear. Given that the supply in your area is poor I think that you got a fair price. It is a fact that used machines in decent condition aren't cheap and there are plenty of people looking for them which drives the price up. Congratulations on your new mill, enjoy!!
Mark - I have always been told that if you are going to do it right, allow for as much money for tooling as you will pay for the mill or lathe. From personal experience, I fully believe this.
Mark, love the comment on 'not minding spending the kids inheritance'. Every parent should have no issues with this. remember it is still your money while your alive, so use as you wish. Great investment that you will get many happy hours out of. Thanks for sharing.
Gary, my son will inherit my entire workshop so I don't think he's too bothered. He actually encouraged me to buy quality tools at one point. When I enquired why he would want that he told me "I'll get it all when your dead!" He's not exactly the sentimental type. 😁 Regards, Mark
I've just moved, leveled and trammed my bridgeport, I love it! BTW I simply wired it into a 15A VFD, (240v supply (UK) on a 13 amp plug) everthing works but it doesn't seem to have the initial power to bring the contactors in firmly. They work with a bit of a manual push. Oh and .......Just to sicken you slightly....... I got the deal of the decade on mine. It's a MK1 but everything is in working order, Its been fully reworked by bridgeport at some time and I paid £150.00 for it. (About $175). Just to put that in context, the vice that came withe it is a 6" Kurt on a swivel base is worth £450.00. Sorry
Yes, I do feel sick now! For what it's worth, I did investigate running a VFD or a VSD but my understanding is that you cannot really make 415V from a 240V VFD. The best you can do is supply the motor with 240V three phase but the motor power will be derated. It will work but it won't generate the rated horsepower or KWH of the motor. Regards, Mark
I had a 500kg thicknesser/jointer delivered in peak hr about half hr drive one way, using a crane flat bed truck. He charged me 500 here in melbourne. As for the phase converter, I scored a good deal on an Italian made 7KVA Sincro 3 phase alternator hoocked to 7.5hp 3 phase motor. Sold the VFD that came with it which basically means i got the alternator for free. I just have to buy 7.5hp single phase motor for 400 and install 32 amp supply to my house for 200. Its better to have phase converter instead of converting a specific machine, becuase you can score cheap used 3 phase equipment. Its nice to follow someone who lives in Australia esp. when you mention price in same currency and where you get things from. Nothing too fancy with filming just perfect and great content. Binged through your videos without skipping. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the nice feedback. I realised that the RPC was going to be the most expensive option but I like that it is on wheels and I can just move it around from one machine to another, if I ever get another machine that is. Regards, Mark
In the US we have a saying, "You get what you pay for". When I lived in Oz you blokes switched it around a bit and came up with, "You pay for what you get"! Thanks again for your videos!
Don't get me started on the fiscal policy of our federal government. They keep our dollar low so we can dig up more resources and sell it overseas. Great for them because they get the mining royalties. Bad for mugs like me because we import just about EVERYTHING! Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 And I wouldn't hold the US to a high standard either. We borrow money to give people "welfare" in the form of "tax breaks." Kind of like borrowing money to pay your credit card bill.
If I were going the route of a rotary phase converter I probably would had built one myself with an antique low-speed motor like one for a cotton gin. They're big and heavy but they're quiet and the inertia from the rotor will help start a large load.
My you enjoy your new to you machine Mark. Thanks for sharing. I hate to say it, but for me; the best part of the video was the added sound effect's at the end. I watched the ending twice. So that makes me a certified nut case. LOL. Can't wait to see you put the machine through it's pace's. Good luck with it.
Congratulations, it is a marvelous investment'. I bought the same mill about 4 years ago from of all things a machinery consignment shop in New Jersey with at least 100lbs of tooling For $1700.00 US. Had it delivered to Pennsylvania, about 70 miles on a rollback for $350. I was lucky to find it at such a low price. It did require a lot of parts & labor, which I like to do.
Chris from the US here, great mill! I own a Bridgeport (Textron) 2J (1979 I think) with original BP powerfeed and a Mitutoyo DRO. Really good mill BUT notoriously noisy (it's normal). A good source for parts and info is H&W machine repair. I don't know about the shipping but they are a good resource. They also offer a repair/rebuild manual that is top notch. Good luck with your new addition! Cheers!
Chris, I have been watching all the H&W videos on YT, and I have been stalking their website. As you say, loads of good resources. It's good to get some feedback from other users with 2J heads. I fully expected mine to be noisier than it is so that's a win. Regards, Mark
R8 tooling is the stinger! A mill running ISO 40 spindle opens up a world of cheaper tooling and a much better selection to choose from. ISO 40 also allows fitting of a powered drawbar as it can eject tooling without needing a hammer like you need on R8 tooling. Best thing ever was biting the bullet and having three phase run to the workshop.
Andrew, my view is that even R8 tooling is better than morse taper which is what I was stuck with on the old mill. I am going to build a power drawbar and I actually tried it using a butterfly impact wrench. The hammer action does eject the tool but whoever owned the mill before me hammered on and mushroomed over the hex end of the drawbar so much that a spanner wouldn't fit on it. Regards, Mark
Well Done. Maybe some company will press You into making custom parts and make it all back. Meanwhile You do what You Love to do and that is good for your heart and mind.
I wish I had the same experience. I must say I got a bit frustrated trying to take the quill drive shaft out. I tried every pair of snap ring pliers I had and even bought another pair trying to get the outer snap ring off without destroying it. I watched the H&W Machine Repair video and even they said they usually broke the snap ring getting it off. However, I did eventually get it done. I am glad I did the job though. It gives you an opportunity to see how everything works. Regards, Mark
Thanks! I must say I now feel quite lucky that I got the one that I did. I have been hard at work dismantling the bottom end of it and it seems to have a lot less wear than I was expecting. Regards, Mark
Hey Preso, that's a nice collection of tooling you've got there. I can see a few items I'll have to save up for! Thank you for the shout out too, I notice there are a few new subscribers since this video aired! :-) Your sticker collection will grow quickly I am quite sure!
Craig, John Creasey and I are doing a sticker swap. I'm glad you got some mileage out of it. I feel like we should all be promoting each other's channels. Especially the Aussie makers. Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 that's great. John's become a great repository of a variety of stickers from makers and machinists all over. Promoting each others channels is exactly the idea. I built one sticker board, and filled it very quickly. I need to add a second sticker board this weekend, and yours will be the first one to go on that board. I remembered to show off your sticker in the last video I made. I expect most of my viewers are already subscribed to your channel, but we'll see - you might get a few new ones. So, how's that paintwork coming along? :) Cheers, Craig
I don't know how you have under 10K subscribers. Your channel really is fantastic with exceptional content. Thanks for sharing this- while I don't live in Australia, this was super interesting to see!
Thanks for that. For a long time I was happy to have a couple of hundred subscribers. My main motivation was to archive the projects I do on something other than my home PC. I didn't feel under any pressure to produce a lot of content and I felt like I could back out at any time and not hurt too many people's feelings. Now it has grown somewhat but I promise I won't be monetising my content or selling out to sponsors. Regards, Mark
You can pick up a used variable speed Bridgeport any day of the week in Ohio, USA for around $1200 USD. A “J” head Bridgeport is a little higher. You can get a clone or offshoot Bridgeport for under $900. I picked up a clone variable speed head Bridgeport for $750 USA and it cost me another $700 just to get it shipped 16 miles to my garage. I’ve had it almost 10 years and use it at least once a week. I love it. It runs on 3 phase. I feed 220 single phase (split in to two legs, L1 and L2) into a5 hp 3 phase motor. I got the motor for free. After rope starting, I switch it on and L3 generates the 3rd leg of the 3 phase. Works perfect. I do not have power feed or a coolant pump. The variable speed head Bridgeport’s are notorious for being noisy. It’s the cone pulleys. I prefer the step pulley head, but they are hard to find.
You are lucky to have so much choice in the USA. Plus of course, Bridgeport is a native brand and there are very few Australian machine tool manufacturers so nearly all machine tools are imported. Regards, Mark
Good for you Mark! this new machine will help you continue your excellent and enjoyable, for you and us, work. Of course we all like a new toy to play with from time to time. Being responsible is overrated 😄 regards vic
Good Show Mate...as always. I am really happy for you. I am not surprised your viewers want a Bridgeport. The type of folks your channel is going to appeal to are into machines and cutting metal. Even if they have never done it before. Having looked for B'ports before, I think you did well with the machine and tooling. Being in Tennessee it's a little hard for me to come and help but that would be a hoot for me. Probably would drive you nuts. I am OCD with a lazy streak. I'll have to stay on this side of the pond and teach my grand daughters archery and other fancy stuff. I am really looking forward to your refurb of this machine. Be careful. There is almost no light stuff on a B'port. Like you don't know that already.
Yes, I manhandled the saddle and knee off solo but I did use a chain hoist for the knee. The table is balanced precariously on my tool cart for the time being. I am truly impressed by how easy it is to dismantle this machine. Most of the work can be done with one sized spanner and a handful of allen keys. Regards, Mark
Dale, yes, my wife is great about my hobbies. When I proposed to her I hadn't purchased an engagement ring. I told her that since she had agreed I would go right out and get one. She said "Oh don't worry about it. I don't want one." How good is that? Regards, Mark
Nice looking mill .You may find you throw that tramming tool in the bin because they are a pain in the ass to use ! , You may have watched RR's video on it ! A set of R8 collets you will find useful as well , All industrial in the US have a good set that goes to 1'' . I have to do a couple of lube lines on my one as well . Cheers .
Max, I did watch Randy's video but I actually found it quite easy to use. I calibrated it on a 123 block first and it only took a few minutes to get it in tram in both directions. I used to sweep an indicator on my old mill and it was a pain having to look around the back or use a mirror. The collets are on the "list of nice things to have" Regards, Mark
Hi Mark, if you haven't seen them already, Keith Fenner, Turnwright , has some videos of rebuilding a bridgeport head. Hope this helps. Thanks for all the videos
Great video. I have just purchased basically the same mill and now amassing tooling so I can play with my new toy. I looked at phase converters and decided that I would build my own. A company named WNY supply sells a kit to build a phase converter for $145, all you need to do is Supply a three phase motor. Locally there is an electric motor rebuilding company and I was able to purchase a rebuilt three phase 5 hp motor for $100, now it’s got to be wired up and I’ll be up and running. Any how, I’m looking forward to more of your video’s and best of luck with your new toy. 😬👍
I am not sure why the phase converter that I purchased was so expensive but I guess I was paying for my lack of confidence with regard to electrical installation. Your option sounds like really good value. Regards, Mark
I think a rotary phase converter is the way to go. If you do decide to run more 3-phase equipment that should have no problem running it. Indeed I've only just started building up my shop and trying to stay under budget is.... well may as well double it 🤣. Thanks for sharing, Mark. Waiting in anticipation to see you and your mill in action, cheers! 👍😁👍
Hi Mark. I recently got a Bridgeport clone and I found the UA-cam channel of H&W Machine Repair and Rebuild very informative and helpful. They have a whole series of videos on how to strip and rebuild a Bridgeport and they sell spares as well.
G’day Mark. Hey it’s the kids inheritance, they can afford it, I told mine they can have the house but don’t be surprised if the bank account is empty. Good luck with your new toy. Cheers Peter
I'm sure you will be very happy with the machine! Price doesn't actually sound too terrible I'd love one for the 'jack of all trades' capability of these mills
Hi Mark There is a company in the USA called H & W machine repair, they have a lot of videos on UA-cam about tear down and rebuilding Bridge Port machines, and discretion of replacement parts. Might be a good place for info. Looking good Randy
Oooh, you live in Tinny. Great part of the country. Have climbed and run abseiling sessions on Mt. Tinbeerwah and one of my very good friends used to live at Tinny as well.
Mine cost 3200USD, including a VFD. It runs on 230V single phase. My power feed is 115V single phase and I don't use a cooling pump. One of the big advantages of the VFD is the ability to do power tapping with torque limiting control, and instant reversing. Private sale, no tax.
I must say that I agonised over the VFD/VSD/Phase converter conundrum for some time. I couldn't find a VFD that would supply the 415V that the motor needed from a 240V supply and the information that I got from various forums was that using a 240V VFD would run the motor although it would also de-rate the motor power. Probably this wouldn't be an issue unless you were doing really heavy cuts on a regular basis. I am guessing most hobbyists would only run their mills at a fraction of their capacity so it would most likely never be apparent that there was some loss of power at the motor. Regards, Mark
Great Video Mark, yes sometimes you need to fork out a little more to get what you want, these are a well built and sort after machine that are extremely versatile in the shop. I wouldn't be without mine. PS, E-mail sent with some Bridgeport Manuals.
Cam, thanks for the documentation. I am really looking forward to using the quill on this machine. It's something that I had to do without on the old Denbigh. I might also be able to finish a job without smashing an expensive end mill too. Regards, Mark
That's a good price for that phase converter, i was quoted $4,500 down here in Melbourne, so i got three phase put into my shop for $4,000. Pulling apart that mill will be easy. I pulled apart my rambaudi mill to repaint and repair no problem at all.
Phase converters aren't all the same. It pays to drop $ on them and only get a rotary. Years ago we put a phase converter (not rotary) on a 3hp lathe. With a heavy cut, you could stall the spindle... totally useless.
Yes that's true, sorry i meant to say rotary phase converter, the company who i got the price from also said i will need to have a 30 amp outlet for the rotary phase converter to work, i only have 10 amp outlet. I can't remember if i needed to get the line upgraded to 30 amp. So maybe $500 or more for the upgrade on top of the $4,500 I think i got got a very good deal with getting the three phase put into the shop.
Thank you, for a long overdue cost break down video on a popular machine tool. I know of no other on this important topic. As a guy once responsible for a machine shop of a larger manufacturing operation for years I budgeted new equipment and tooling. Not once in 10 years did the value of the machines themselves exceed the value of the tooling. Add to the tooling the shop supplies and metrology tools and for a typical CNC shop in the US the machines themselves are roughly ½ the total value. Home shops are quite different but the point is the tooling is very expensive. You were lucky you already had a vise and didn’t count that in the total. But lets face it you need two new ones. .. and OMG you have already taken it apart! This is going to be interesting to watch Mark paint with a brush?
No! No brushes! Such a travesty when I see that happening. Spray guns aren't that expensive and even a cheap compressor still makes the same compressed air as a $10000 screw compressor. Well, maybe not as dry but near enough. I am part way through the process now and I have decided not to film it. There are already a couple of good restoration videos out there and at the end of the day it's like watching paint dry - literally. You are correct about the tooling cost to machine ratio. There's no escaping it. Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 Awwwwww we don’t get to see Mark use a brush. Probably doesn’t even use one painting a house. Nice thing about tooling in the home shop is that you can buy it as you need it. Not like you have to load up 60 stations on a Mazak.
Nice video Mark. I think it highlights to Americans and Australians that there is hidden costs here. Shipping around aus gets expensive when you don’t live in the 2 main states. The American companies I’ve try charging $200 for a $50 item
Just came across your page , i and am not far from you , if you need to get any other machines up from Victoria, I used Morgan’s Freight at Yandina , they picked a old Dawewoo 4tonne CNC lathe from a farm in Vic to my door for $800 , great video’s 👍just started going thru them
Thanks for the tip. I must say, the whole saga of getting the mill to my door was something of an ordeal. After shelling out a lot of money for something that you've bought sight unseen you really have to trust the people who are transporting it for you. I half expected to take delivery of a pile of scrap or a broken machine. Luckily it all went well though. Regards, Mark
Thankx Mark for your amazing insight i had been considering get one for around year or 2 and this really has helped on my future dicision making and cost evaluation on whats needed. Cant wait to see what your first project with it will be. - Lexi down in Coffs
Lexi, I guess the whole budget thing is often swept under the carpet or you just pay as you go. I had to make a guess at what I thought I was going to spend since I was withdrawing money from my super. I hope it does inspire some people to give these machines a good life. I was truly horrified one time I went to a TAFE college in Ipswich to pick out some of their surplus machines to take back to our secondary school engineering workshop. They had a warehouse full of lathes, mills and shapers and the guy showing me around said that it was all destined to go to the tip to be buried! It had all been written off as unserviceable but everything I took is still being used except for one Russian Stanko lathe that developed some terminal electrical issues. I got quite angry with the guy, but it wasn't really his fault. It was just "policy". Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 yeah i hate alot of tafe policys. i handle a lot of computer recycling which i give to family in need. i have tried to get stuff off tafe but it all goes to tip. i makes me sick tthe amount of wastage.
Heh... Greetings from Portland, Oregon. Anyone from here who has driven to Mt. Hood to go skiing or hiking has driven past Boring, so it's quite well known. There's also a city in Oregon with the inspired name of "Oregon City" and it's on the same road as Boring. So, as you're driving past you see the sign for the exit labelled "Boring Oregon City."
Bridgeports are great, but after using several versions of them, I'd take a Trak mill, the conversational programming and the better ergonomics of the electronic handwheels really are wonderful.
Gary, I will be removing the motor shortly, mainly so I can check the condition of the belt but given how many components there are in the drive it actually sounds pretty good. Certainly a lot quieter than my Colchester lathe. Regards, Mark
Great vlog, looking forward to some precision swarf, after the blue printing of the machine 😀. Being from the UK, I can understand the high costs in transport, and you being so far from away from the manufacturing centres of the continent of Australia, but even looking at a world map, I can't comprehend its size. I think there is a maximum speed that the quill feed should be disengaged, ref when you showed it running. Thanks for sharing. Regards John.
John, thanks for watching. Yes, the distance we have to travel here in Oz can be hard for people to understand. We once had visitors from New Zealand who told us they were thinking of driving from Brisbane to Cairns for the day! It's a 24 hour drive. I am liking the Bridgeport more and more and I love the fact that you can dismantle the entire machine with just a handful of tools. Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 Hi Mark, With regard to machine transport costs, I paid £ 150 to have my second hand Bridgeport collected from a machinery supplier less than 20 miles, and skated into its position in my garage, circa 2012, this was with two guys and a full sized truck with crane, I had no problem with this cost, for three hours work. Prices for Bridgeports (working condition) here in the UK varies from £ 500 to £ 5000, reconditioned ones can be up to £15000, similar sized CNC milling machines, with conversational controls are about £ 28000 new. Most of the cutting tools and holders I purchase are Korean, ref Korloy, Taegutec, YG etc, very good quality. Hope you don't find any nasties on strip down. Regards John.
Great post Mark, it's rare, interesting and horrifying when we see the total cost of these machines. I'd previously suggested that we may get to see the 'How to zinc plate a Bridgeport' video, but now having seen it in the flesh you should consider 'How to chrome plate a Bridgeport' 😊 Thanks for sharing.
Stephen, It's funny how you look at a machine when you first get it and think, it's just a bit dirty, I'll clean it with a rag and it'll be fine. A couple of days later it's in pieces and you are finding more reasons to completely repaint it. I think I did the most horrific part of the process today which involved degreasing the worst parts. I can powder coat some of the smaller bits like the way wipers but the green paint has been put on with a brush and it's peeling off because it was painted while it was still assembled. They even went around things like the one shot oiler and the switch console. There are dribbles of paint behind these parts and it drives me mad. Regards, Mark
I have a friend with a Bridgeport milling machine with the variable speed drive. His mill runs a lot quieter than yours. Joe Pie. has a video on taking his head apart to replace bearings. I am eager to see the next video with the table and knee removed. Heavy pieces. Dave.
Dave, I have seen most of the videos out there on the Bridgeport and the one thing I like is that you can dismantle the entire machine with a couple of spanners and a few allen keys. No special tools needed and I found plenty of resources online to help. Unfortunately, I have decided not to video the restoration as there are already a couple of very good series out there on the process. It's also it's just a lot of cleaning, sanding and painting. I should be able to start etch priming, filling and painting late next week, but I am only doing the bottom part of the machine for now. Regards, Mark
One of these days… one of these days, the will be a mill like that, with my name on it ;-) but it might be a few years :-) I think you made a great deal.
God that's a great deal of money mate, but as you're spending your kids inheritance what the hell lol! Good luck getting the oiling system sorted. I really envy you but I don't have that sort of equity available to me, hey ho! I can only dream. I'm a new subscriber and looking forward to some hot chips! Greetings from the home of your new Bridgeport .
I have the DRO on the shopping list but for the time being I am going to go old school. The dials are very easy to read and they're metric so that's a bonus. Regards, Mark
That's a pretty reasonable price. Like you said though, there are cheaper options. When I got mine I took a gamble on an Ebay listing that only had 4 pictures and very little description, and was more than 1000 miles away. The price was so low that I just decided to give it a shot. By the time the machine was sitting in my shop I was in it about $2000 US. I got very lucky. The machine needed a few very minor repairs, but was in quite good condition once I cleaned it up. I'm not sure that I would recommend to people that they should gamble on a machine like I did. I was prepared to lose money on it. For people who can't afford to lose money on a bad deal, it's probably better to spend more to get exactly what you want the first time.
You did get a good deal. One of the reasons we tend to pay a lot more is the old supply and demand thing. There are only a handful of mills for sale here in Oz and any one time on Ebay and the machinery dealers might have 20 or so but many are out of the price range for hobbyists or they are way too large for a home shop. So when a suitable candidate comes up the dealers know they can charge what the market will stand! Regards, Mark
Hey Preso, I bought my colchester lathe through Newmac, I was very happy with their service, lucky for me I’m only a couple hours drive away, collected it with a tandem trailer. I also purchased a rotary converter, I fell over when I got the price for it, but well worth it when I bought my Bridgeport clone and simply plugged it in and away it went. I was hoping you would let me know a supplier for the rapid feed button cover as mines perished too, oh well I’ll keep looking. Keep up the great videos mate👍🏻 Glenn
Glenn, I had a UA-cam viewer in New Zealand send me two of those covers and I still have one spare. I can send it to you if you like. There's a guy on Instagram called @sgsengineering who made a cover from one of those little priming bulbs used on brushcutters and chainsaws. They are clear but just about the right size. Yes, the guys at Newmac were very good and they kept me informed about the mill and were very accommodating when I asked them to prep the mill for transport. Let me know if you want the switch cover. mark.presling@gmail.com
Pretty reasonable pricing I'd say. I bought a new chinese bp clone a couple of years ago at work for about 8000 GB pounds (excluding tooling and extras ). We had 3phase in the building, but it cost over 1000 pounds to get a cable run from the cabinet to a socket near the machine, so not much cheaper than your rotary converter really
That's the "hidden cost" rearing it's ugly head. It was a lot easier for me to just extend the single phase, 15 amp circuit to above the mill and then run the cable down the same line as the air hose and a 10 amp lead. Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 very much so, you did well, looking forward to you getting it fettled and showing its capabilities (I never approach 10% of what mine can do, you always seem to be operating at 110%)👍👍
I have been waiting to find out which way you would go for 3 phase power since I read your post in a forum. Like you I have no access to 3phase. Anyway good job And thanks for sharing Hoops
I am always a bit reluctant to ask questions on forums. You tend to get zillions of opinions but most can be confusing. At the end of the day, I was persuaded by the guy who sold me the RPC. I always hate feeling like you are being "upsold" but I liked the idea that I could just plug it in and it would work. Regards, Mark
I did well getting my bridgeport got it for free I worked for a engineering company and they were moving premises my boss told me I could take one home FOC hope you enjoy your as much as I do mine
Matthew, good idea. One of the hardest things about making UA-cam videos is that the bloody camera is always in the way of what you are trying to do. Regards, Mark
Mark congratulations on the Bridgeport! They are really universal and wonderful machines. We thought we would also note that another sister city to Boring, Oregon USA is Bland, New South Wales, Australia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boring,_Oregon Keep up the wonderful content! We loved the finishing, and marking series you did. Thank you for the mention!
I had heard about Bland! 😁 There is a place in Tasmania called Dismal Swamp. Place names are such wonderful things. We've got some doozies, Muckadilla, Diddilibah, Oodnadatta, Wooloomoloo, the list goes on... Regards, Mark
I already have the butterfly impact wrench and I purchased some linear bearing and some hardened chrome shafting. I have designed the whole thing on my CAD programme and it'll be done with two castings. However, it's all on the back burner while I get the mill back together! Regards, Mark
Ahh, well that's a sad story. We had our single phase supply put in underground and we live on acreage so our house is a long way from the property boundary. At the time we had very little money and I told the electrician to use the lightest cable he thought we could get away with. Consequently we could never pull a new cable through the conduit and the only option would be to go overhead. We have some very large eucalypt trees which regularly drop branches that would snap a cable and the trees are all protected anyway..... So, I don't think it's going to happen in my lifetime. Maybe when we all get our own personal fusion reactors it will be viable! Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 fair enough mate. If you're anything less than 60mm on the conduit you'll struggle to pull a new cable through, and for acreage it gets expensive fast at around $1200 per 100m for the cable alone.
Were British Beaver mills shipped to Australia? I have one of the best models they made. ( 56" by 10" bed, NT40 spindle, 10" riser block, 3hp motor) The only problem new parts are not available. It was built to be a climb mill.
David, I just looked up Beaver mills on the lathes.co.uk website and it appears that they exported a lot of machines to the USA but I have never seen one in Australia but then again as a high school teacher, we tended to only deal with smaller mills, usually Hercus or Sheraton. It seems that the Beaver has a lot in common with the Bridgeport and there are so many variants of that pattern. Some, like the Adcock and Shipley, which I have are built under licence and some are clones by other manufacturers. One of the reasons I went with the Bridgeport was the availability of spare parts. Regards, Mark
Mark, Have you put any thought into putting the converter in the corner of the workshop and routing wiring to your machines as and when you acquire them? Cheers Eric
Eric, sadly, I don't really have any unused corners in my workshop. The RPC is on wheels so it can be moved around. It's early days yet though. I may refine the layout later. Regards, Mark
Craig, I have gone down the rabbit hole of dismantling and refurbishing even though I tried to resist. My brain kept saying "leave it alone and just clean it" Three days later and it's bottom end is all in pieces. Regards, Mark
Mark I am just about to bring home my Bridgeport, I had it in storeage for 2 years and looking forward to your videos on fixing your machine. Can you give me info where you brought the repair book from as my machine is the same as yours. I live in Mackay
Peter, Sorry I didn't answer this earlier. I just found your post in my "held for review" folder because of a troll that has been leaving inane comments on this video. I got my book on Amazon (Australia) the link is here www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/1482367912/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It is a useful reference but it has a white cover which is a bit of a strange choice for a workshop environment. Mine got quite grubby quite quickly. Regards, Mark Presling
They are a nice machine and have changed very little since the very first Bridgeport was manufactured. They must have got it right first time. Regards, Mark
Hi Mark, thanks for taking us through this process. It's certainly given me some things to help with planning. This UA-cam channel has a series of Bridgport videos that may help you. I don't know if it's the same model. "H&W Machine Repair and Rebuilding" Have fun with your new toy... err Tool. Stay safe and well :)
Anthony, I have already seen all the H&W videos. In fact I binge watched them all before my mill was even delivered. They are a wonderful resource for anyone with a Bridgeport or any clone. Regards, Mark
I went with a 15hp rotary phase converter also! I just switched to cnc and that’s why I bought it cause it supply’s clean voltage! I haven’t had any issues with the cnc with it. I need to look at my Bridgeport and see if it has a coolant pump? How does your coolant pump work? Does it supply oil while cutting , as cutting fluid?
The little three phase coolant pumps are not all that expensive and mine just sits on a steel plate inside the column of the machine and it's held in place by a couple of small screws. My pump only runs when the main (mill) motor is energised. It has a separate switch and contactor But I haven't added any coolant to the sump yet. I looked into all the options when I got the Bridgeport and the RPC seemed to be the least invasive way of getting the mill running, plus, if I ever get any more three phase machines I can run them too. Getting three phase power to my workshop was never going to happen for lots of logistical and thus, cost reasons so apart from the noise issue I don't have any complaints. Regards, Mark
Jeeze with that type of money I think a brand new clone imported to Australia would’ve might be an option to go for providing better accuracy and rigidity. I never knew BP have right angle attachment, super useful for tool and machine makers.
I had looked at the Taiwanese clones and you can indeed get a new one for about the same as what I paid but the quality just isn't there. Many of the scales are just the flimsy riveted on type and the iron used for the castings is thinner and more brittle. I also liked the idea of owning one of the iconic machine tools. Regards, Mark
@@Preso58 Interesting good to know. I was skeptical to get a Taiwanese clone but read many machinists on forums said the same as to what you have said and that the original Bridgeport and alike are better build quality. What’s weird is that I know that many skilled high precision machinists all uses Taiwanese clones like Acer. Not sure if you know Tom Lipton, he uses an Acer. I’m very fortunate that I live in the US, I can easily obtain a used bridgeport for $500-$800 and rebuild it for another/less $1,000-$2,000 depending how much repair is needed. BPs are the type of machines which is always repairable so long the cast iron base and housing are not damaged. Maybe you could’ve gotten one from Craigslist for $500-$800 in US and have it shipped to you by cargo freight to Australia, would’ve cost you so much less than what you have paid but required rebuilding and will still cost less. Or maybe buy from a trusted distributor in US who rebuilds/refurbish BPs/mills and have it cargo shipped to you, I’m sure they have done this for many customers all over the world requiring American made mills. Anyways your video was helpful, I’m planning to buy a used BP. Thanks. Hope you make nice precision parts with your BP. 😀
@@sto2779 I have looked with envy at what people pay for used machinery in the USA and the choice is far greater than what we can get here. When I ordered the Bridgeport I couldn't look at it in person because of Covid travel restrictions but the photos looked OK and the vendor was good enough to take some additional photos for me. What I was really happy about was that this particular machine had all metric dials and screws on it. I hadn't expected that given it's age. We changed to metric here in Australia back in the mid 70's. Also, the motor was set up for local voltage and frequency. One of the perils of buying offshore is always to do with incompatible electrical systems given that we use 240V single phase and 50Hz frequency. I did buy a powder coat gun from the USA and had to buy a 110V to 240V transformer to make it work. I have noticed that Joe Pie has a Bridgeport clone so there must be good ones available. Regards, Mark
I've been keeping my eyes open for a deal on a Bridgeport. When I bought my chinese hobby mill a decade ago every one I looked at compared itself to a Bridgeport. Good thing you got the rotary convertor because when you use the static convertors your machine loses 1/3 of the rated power. Rotary convertor gives full power capability. As for your costs, they are only beginning. I paid about $6500US to get a new cnc mill to my door. After one year of ownership I made the mistake of adding up all the receipts for tooling and accessories and came up with just over $27k US. Ouch.
I am feeling a little better about the $4500 I just coughed up for my Hafco mill. Despite that I would much prefer the Bridgeport. It is worth it my only hurdle is the wife as much as I love Bridgeport mills I love her company more. In other words she would kill me!
@@MrFastFarmer new mills are great but the classic Bridgeport is a treasure especially if you find one that's not worn out. I couldn't touch one in the US in that condition for the amount he paid.
I'm not exactly in love with my Tai built Bpt clone, nor would I be if it said Bridgeport on the castings Mark. They are quite a versatile machine and that's why so many commercial shops have and still buy them. Imo a far better machine with even more versatility would be a Deckel FP1 or FP2. Those unfortunately don't generally sell for a used Bpt price and the X axis travel is a bit less. But overall there still a far more rigid machine. The real Bpts and there clones can also accept a vast range of accessory heads that were designed around that 3 3/8"ths spindle diameter and off the shelf power feeds are easy to find that directly bolt up to the machine. That new 415V capability you now have will probably allow you to find really cheap equipment that few will bid on because of the industrial voltage. A Bridgeport slotting or cherrying head as just a couple of examples. Mine is a step pulley machine and it runs quieter than the cooling fan on the VFD at anything under 2500 rpm. From the videos I've watched all the variable speed heads do tend to run a bit louder than the same with the step pulleys. Those variable speed heads do have a slight built in flaw as the bushings the Revees drive run in are plastic and tend to wear out after a few years (or many in a home shop) use. A tell tale sign they need replacing is a constant rattle from the head that just gets louder the longer you delay replacing them.So if you do get into that head I'd automatically replace those bushings to save doing it later. There cheap to buy and it's all the work to tear the top of the head down to replace them that's the main issue. The machine and freight prices you mentioned aren't really out of line if the ways are as good as you've said. I'm in Canaduh so our dollar isn't very far ahead of yours. Yes everyone loves a great deal if you can find one, but I screwed around for almost 20 years looking for a good condition and less than 4 hr drive South bend shaper. I finally said to hell with it and paid maybe $300 too much and had to drive 10 hrs each way for mine. What really counts is if your happy with the machine then the basic price is almost incidental. I have maybe twice as much into tooling as you've spent so far, but that includes a Newall dro and there micro syn scales on all 4 axises and two brand new vices that are comparable to the Kurts. A tip for you if you haven't already figured it out, unless your moving the knee then keep the knee handle reversed on the pin that protrudes out from handle engagement slots. Walking into that knee handle only needs to be done once and you'll remember to do that every single time since it hurts like hell. :-)
Well, there's no chance of walking into the knee handle since the whole lower end of the mill is now in pieces. I take your point though and I will be doing that with the handle when it goes back together again. I have decided to do the bottom end first so I could sort out the lubrication first. There is a lot less wear than I was expecting and the hardest thing about this purchase was buying it blind. The Covid lockdowns have closed our state borders and I guess I made the decision to upgrade to a BP due to us having to cancel any travel this year. I think I will tear down the head but to me it seems a lot more difficult than the bigger bits on the table, saddle and knee. The knee actually came off quite easily and I must thank H&W Machine Repairs for the excellent videos they have put on YT which show the whole process. I am guessing that you have the same issues with distance in Canada. It is very rare to find any decent machinery close to where I live and when our car manufacturing industry went belly up most of the suppliers also went to the wall. The trade training colleges also suffered so all of a sudden there was a lot of gear available in Melbourne and Adelaide where most of the car manufacturing was done. Thanks for taking the time to send such an interesting reply. I do like reading about how others run up against the same problems and how they solve them. Regards, Mark
The complete budget for a machine purchase is seldom seen on UA-cam. Thanks for giving such a detailed reference!
Scary, isn't it? I have found that two rules are almost constant in life. Any job will take three times more time than what you estimate and any purchase will be nearly double by the time you actually get around to buying it.
Regards,
Mark
Very happy for you Mr P. That's a lot out of my price range. I am so poor I can barely pay attention. Thanks for sharing.
I get a kick of your sense of humor. It's always lurking around, then suddenly it's there. Great video, thank you.
Thanks for another interesting and informative video. I appreciate the frank, unvarnished facts, none of the "Gee I stole this for just $$$" BS that you often hear. Given that the supply in your area is poor I think that you got a fair price. It is a fact that used machines in decent condition aren't cheap and there are plenty of people looking for them which drives the price up. Congratulations on your new mill, enjoy!!
Mark - I have always been told that if you are going to do it right, allow for as much money for tooling as you will pay for the mill or lathe. From personal experience, I fully believe this.
Yeah he bought a Bridgeport because it's not Chinese crap, and yet all the tooling is Chinese. lol
Mark, love the comment on 'not minding spending the kids inheritance'. Every parent should have no issues with this. remember it is still your money while your alive, so use as you wish. Great investment that you will get many happy hours out of. Thanks for sharing.
Gary, my son will inherit my entire workshop so I don't think he's too bothered. He actually encouraged me to buy quality tools at one point. When I enquired why he would want that he told me "I'll get it all when your dead!" He's not exactly the sentimental type. 😁
Regards,
Mark
I've just moved, leveled and trammed my bridgeport, I love it!
BTW I simply wired it into a 15A VFD, (240v supply (UK) on a 13 amp plug) everthing works but it doesn't seem to have the initial power to bring the contactors in firmly. They work with a bit of a manual push.
Oh and .......Just to sicken you slightly....... I got the deal of the decade on mine. It's a MK1 but everything is in working order, Its been fully reworked by bridgeport at some time and I paid
£150.00 for it. (About $175). Just to put that in context, the vice that came withe it is a 6" Kurt on a swivel base is worth £450.00.
Sorry
Ditto! I have the step pulley head with the longer table though. I did pull the thing apart to repaint everything.
Yes, I do feel sick now! For what it's worth, I did investigate running a VFD or a VSD but my understanding is that you cannot really make 415V from a 240V VFD. The best you can do is supply the motor with 240V three phase but the motor power will be derated. It will work but it won't generate the rated horsepower or KWH of the motor.
Regards,
Mark
Great videos and it is so nice to hear an Aussie accent. You are fast becoming an Aussie "This Old Tony". Well done!
Thanks! 😃
Regards,
Mark
Great acquisition and I know it'll end up being the smoothest running and smoothest looking Bridgeport in Oz.
I had a 500kg thicknesser/jointer delivered in peak hr about half hr drive one way, using a crane flat bed truck. He charged me 500 here in melbourne. As for the phase converter, I scored a good deal on an Italian made 7KVA Sincro 3 phase alternator hoocked to 7.5hp 3 phase motor. Sold the VFD that came with it which basically means i got the alternator for free. I just have to buy 7.5hp single phase motor for 400 and install 32 amp supply to my house for 200.
Its better to have phase converter instead of converting a specific machine, becuase you can score cheap used 3 phase equipment.
Its nice to follow someone who lives in Australia esp. when you mention price in same currency and where you get things from. Nothing too fancy with filming just perfect and great content. Binged through your videos without skipping. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the nice feedback. I realised that the RPC was going to be the most expensive option but I like that it is on wheels and I can just move it around from one machine to another, if I ever get another machine that is.
Regards,
Mark
Thank you. I appreciate your candor to describe the financial aspects. It helps as all, current and future hobbyists.
In the US we have a saying, "You get what you pay for". When I lived in Oz you blokes switched it around a bit and came up with, "You pay for what you get"! Thanks again for your videos!
Don't get me started on the fiscal policy of our federal government. They keep our dollar low so we can dig up more resources and sell it overseas. Great for them because they get the mining royalties. Bad for mugs like me because we import just about EVERYTHING!
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 And I wouldn't hold the US to a high standard either. We borrow money to give people "welfare" in the form of "tax breaks." Kind of like borrowing money to pay your credit card bill.
Love your channel Preso! That makes me feel lucky to live in the midwest USA. Glad to see real mill on the channel ; )
If I were going the route of a rotary phase converter I probably would had built one myself with an antique low-speed motor like one for a cotton gin. They're big and heavy but they're quiet and the inertia from the rotor will help start a large load.
My you enjoy your new to you machine Mark. Thanks for sharing. I hate to say it, but for me; the best part of the video was the added sound effect's at the end. I watched the ending twice. So that makes me a certified nut case. LOL. Can't wait to see you put the machine through it's pace's. Good luck with it.
Love the inheritance comment. My parents are busy spending my inheritance each day and I'm ok with that, they earned it!
Have fun with the machine.
It's always a joy to watch your videos.
Congratulations, it is a marvelous investment'.
I bought the same mill about 4 years ago from of all things a machinery consignment shop in New Jersey with at least 100lbs of tooling For $1700.00 US.
Had it delivered to Pennsylvania, about 70 miles on a rollback for $350. I was lucky to find it at such a low price. It did require a lot of parts & labor, which I like to do.
You did well on that deal. Sadly, those sorts of deals are rare here. You usually have to know someone who knows someone.
Regards,
Mark
This is the dream of every hobby shop. Congrats on diving in. You'll be the envy of your neighbors :)
Great series of videos.. I'm putting together a bridgeport I saved from scrap that I will have videos on shortly.
Thanks for the video Mark. Happy new toy. Enjoy. Keep safe and stay well.
Hi Mark. Nice to see the mill powered, well tooled and, of course, disassembled!!! LOL Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations on your new mill. May you have many blissful hours of machining on the Bridgeport.
Chris from the US here, great mill! I own a Bridgeport (Textron) 2J (1979 I think) with original BP powerfeed and a Mitutoyo DRO. Really good mill BUT notoriously noisy (it's normal). A good source for parts and info is H&W machine repair. I don't know about the shipping but they are a good resource. They also offer a repair/rebuild manual that is top notch. Good luck with your new addition!
Cheers!
Chris, I have been watching all the H&W videos on YT, and I have been stalking their website. As you say, loads of good resources. It's good to get some feedback from other users with 2J heads. I fully expected mine to be noisier than it is so that's a win.
Regards,
Mark
Nice video. Ending was funny. The maker community is so awesome! Mahalo for sharing! : )
R8 tooling is the stinger! A mill running ISO 40 spindle opens up a world of cheaper tooling and a much better selection to choose from. ISO 40 also allows fitting of a powered drawbar as it can eject tooling without needing a hammer like you need on R8 tooling.
Best thing ever was biting the bullet and having three phase run to the workshop.
Andrew, my view is that even R8 tooling is better than morse taper which is what I was stuck with on the old mill. I am going to build a power drawbar and I actually tried it using a butterfly impact wrench. The hammer action does eject the tool but whoever owned the mill before me hammered on and mushroomed over the hex end of the drawbar so much that a spanner wouldn't fit on it.
Regards,
Mark
Another awesome video. Thanks Mark. Glad you are happy with your new mill
Well Done. Maybe some company will press You into making custom parts and make it all back. Meanwhile You do what You Love to do and that is good for your heart and mind.
just refinished top end rebuild on my bridgeport easy to work on
I wish I had the same experience. I must say I got a bit frustrated trying to take the quill drive shaft out. I tried every pair of snap ring pliers I had and even bought another pair trying to get the outer snap ring off without destroying it. I watched the H&W Machine Repair video and even they said they usually broke the snap ring getting it off. However, I did eventually get it done. I am glad I did the job though. It gives you an opportunity to see how everything works.
Regards,
Mark
Congratulations on your new mill and reaching 10k subs. Always enjoy videos since the beginning.
Great video, thanks for sharing
i saw this in melb over last Xmas and thought about buying it. couldn't work for me at the time. Glad you got it. Well done!!
Thanks! I must say I now feel quite lucky that I got the one that I did. I have been hard at work dismantling the bottom end of it and it seems to have a lot less wear than I was expecting.
Regards,
Mark
Hey Preso, that's a nice collection of tooling you've got there. I can see a few items I'll have to save up for! Thank you for the shout out too, I notice there are a few new subscribers since this video aired! :-) Your sticker collection will grow quickly I am quite sure!
Craig, John Creasey and I are doing a sticker swap. I'm glad you got some mileage out of it. I feel like we should all be promoting each other's channels. Especially the Aussie makers.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 that's great. John's become a great repository of a variety of stickers from makers and machinists all over. Promoting each others channels is exactly the idea. I built one sticker board, and filled it very quickly. I need to add a second sticker board this weekend, and yours will be the first one to go on that board. I remembered to show off your sticker in the last video I made. I expect most of my viewers are already subscribed to your channel, but we'll see - you might get a few new ones.
So, how's that paintwork coming along? :)
Cheers,
Craig
The Bridgeport is very versatile. I am sure you will be happy using it.
I don't know how you have under 10K subscribers. Your channel really is fantastic with exceptional content. Thanks for sharing this- while I don't live in Australia, this was super interesting to see!
Thanks for that. For a long time I was happy to have a couple of hundred subscribers. My main motivation was to archive the projects I do on something other than my home PC. I didn't feel under any pressure to produce a lot of content and I felt like I could back out at any time and not hurt too many people's feelings. Now it has grown somewhat but I promise I won't be monetising my content or selling out to sponsors.
Regards,
Mark
You can pick up a used variable speed Bridgeport any day of the week in Ohio, USA for around $1200 USD. A “J” head Bridgeport is a little higher. You can get a clone or offshoot Bridgeport for under $900. I picked up a clone variable speed head Bridgeport for $750 USA and it cost me another $700 just to get it shipped 16 miles to my garage. I’ve had it almost 10 years and use it at least once a week. I love it. It runs on 3 phase. I feed 220 single phase (split in to two legs, L1 and L2) into a5 hp 3 phase motor. I got the motor for free. After rope starting, I switch it on and L3 generates the 3rd leg of the 3 phase. Works perfect. I do not have power feed or a coolant pump. The variable speed head Bridgeport’s are notorious for being noisy. It’s the cone pulleys. I prefer the step pulley head, but they are hard to find.
You are lucky to have so much choice in the USA. Plus of course, Bridgeport is a native brand and there are very few Australian machine tool manufacturers so nearly all machine tools are imported.
Regards,
Mark
Cant wait to see what you make next with the new to you mill!
Don't you just love it. Trevor from New Zealand.
(grinning from ear to ear, is Trev) But, yes Mark, there are some great blokes around, Hey!
Good for you Mark! this new machine will help you continue your excellent and enjoyable, for you and us, work. Of course we all like a new toy to play with from time to time. Being responsible is overrated 😄 regards vic
Good Show Mate...as always. I am really happy for you. I am not surprised your viewers want a Bridgeport. The type of folks your channel is going to appeal to are into machines and cutting metal. Even if they have never done it before. Having looked for B'ports before, I think you did well with the machine and tooling. Being in Tennessee it's a little hard for me to come and help but that would be a hoot for me. Probably would drive you nuts. I am OCD with a lazy streak. I'll have to stay on this side of the pond and teach my grand daughters archery and other fancy stuff. I am really looking forward to your refurb of this machine. Be careful. There is almost no light stuff on a B'port. Like you don't know that already.
Yes, I manhandled the saddle and knee off solo but I did use a chain hoist for the knee. The table is balanced precariously on my tool cart for the time being. I am truly impressed by how easy it is to dismantle this machine. Most of the work can be done with one sized spanner and a handful of allen keys.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 I'm figuring that table is in the 200 pound category if not more. You be having fun, I'm sure. Good luck.
Great to watch as usual mate, all I can say is that your wife must be really understanding. She is a keeper.
Dale, yes, my wife is great about my hobbies. When I proposed to her I hadn't purchased an engagement ring. I told her that since she had agreed I would go right out and get one. She said "Oh don't worry about it. I don't want one." How good is that?
Regards,
Mark
Good for you! Enjoy it!!!
Nice looking mill .You may find you throw that tramming tool in the bin because they are a pain in the ass to use ! , You may have watched RR's video on it ! A set of R8 collets you will find useful as well , All industrial in the US have a good set that goes to 1'' . I have to do a couple of lube lines on my one as well . Cheers .
Max, I did watch Randy's video but I actually found it quite easy to use. I calibrated it on a 123 block first and it only took a few minutes to get it in tram in both directions. I used to sweep an indicator on my old mill and it was a pain having to look around the back or use a mirror. The collets are on the "list of nice things to have"
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark, if you haven't seen them already, Keith Fenner, Turnwright , has some videos of rebuilding a bridgeport head.
Hope this helps. Thanks for all the videos
Richard, I've seen just about all the videos I could find. I enjoyed the "Buffy" story.
Regards,
Mark
Congrats on your new machine!
Stick a fan blade on that idler motor.It would help keep the control box cool and also circulate air around your shop.
Great video. I have just purchased basically the same mill and now amassing tooling so I can play with my new toy. I looked at phase converters and decided that I would build my own. A company named WNY supply sells a kit to build a phase converter for $145, all you need to do is Supply a three phase motor. Locally there is an electric motor rebuilding company and I was able to purchase a rebuilt three phase 5 hp motor for $100, now it’s got to be wired up and I’ll be up and running. Any how, I’m looking forward to more of your video’s and best of luck with your new toy. 😬👍
I am not sure why the phase converter that I purchased was so expensive but I guess I was paying for my lack of confidence with regard to electrical installation. Your option sounds like really good value.
Regards,
Mark
I have the same machine that I just added a centroid Cnc control to!
When I bought it it had ballscrews x,y I added a quill ball screw
I think a rotary phase converter is the way to go. If you do decide to run more 3-phase equipment that should have no problem running it.
Indeed I've only just started building up my shop and trying to stay under budget is.... well may as well double it 🤣.
Thanks for sharing, Mark. Waiting in anticipation to see you and your mill in action, cheers! 👍😁👍
Hi Mark. I recently got a Bridgeport clone and I found the UA-cam channel of H&W Machine Repair and Rebuild very informative and helpful. They have a whole series of videos on how to strip and rebuild a Bridgeport and they sell spares as well.
Willem, thanks for the tip but I've already binge watched all the H&W videos. Beats Netflix any day!
Regards,
Mark
Great video Mark I really appreciate these tips. Love your channel and long time subscriber.
Cheers
Thanks John. I'm glad you've stuck around.
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark, great video and helpful info....Regards Kevin
G’day Mark. Hey it’s the kids inheritance, they can afford it, I told mine they can have the house but don’t be surprised if the bank account is empty. Good luck with your new toy.
Cheers
Peter
I'm sure you will be very happy with the machine! Price doesn't actually sound too terrible
I'd love one for the 'jack of all trades' capability of these mills
Hi Mark
There is a company in the USA called H & W machine repair, they have a lot of videos on UA-cam about tear down and rebuilding Bridge Port machines, and discretion of replacement parts.
Might be a good place for info.
Looking good
Randy
Randy, I have already binge watched all the H&W videos. Better than Netflix!
Regards,
Mark
This is great information. Thanks
Oooh, you live in Tinny. Great part of the country. Have climbed and run abseiling sessions on Mt. Tinbeerwah and one of my very good friends used to live at Tinny as well.
Phil, yes it's a nice area and we are lucky to have the national park just across the road from us.
Regards,
Mark
Mine cost 3200USD, including a VFD. It runs on 230V single phase. My power feed is 115V single phase and I don't use a cooling pump. One of the big advantages of the VFD is the ability to do power tapping with torque limiting control, and instant reversing. Private sale, no tax.
I must say that I agonised over the VFD/VSD/Phase converter conundrum for some time. I couldn't find a VFD that would supply the 415V that the motor needed from a 240V supply and the information that I got from various forums was that using a 240V VFD would run the motor although it would also de-rate the motor power. Probably this wouldn't be an issue unless you were doing really heavy cuts on a regular basis. I am guessing most hobbyists would only run their mills at a fraction of their capacity so it would most likely never be apparent that there was some loss of power at the motor.
Regards,
Mark
Great Video Mark, yes sometimes you need to fork out a little more to get what you want, these are a well built and sort after machine that are extremely versatile in the shop. I wouldn't be without mine.
PS, E-mail sent with some Bridgeport Manuals.
Cam, thanks for the documentation. I am really looking forward to using the quill on this machine. It's something that I had to do without on the old Denbigh. I might also be able to finish a job without smashing an expensive end mill too.
Regards,
Mark
That's a good price for that phase converter, i was quoted $4,500 down here in Melbourne, so i got three phase put into my shop for $4,000. Pulling apart that mill will be easy. I pulled apart my rambaudi mill to repaint and repair no problem at all.
Phase converters aren't all the same. It pays to drop $ on them and only get a rotary. Years ago we put a phase converter (not rotary) on a 3hp lathe. With a heavy cut, you could stall the spindle... totally useless.
Yes that's true, sorry i meant to say rotary phase converter, the company who i got the price from also said i will need to have a 30 amp outlet for the rotary phase converter to work, i only have 10 amp outlet. I can't remember if i needed to get the line upgraded to 30 amp. So maybe $500 or more for the upgrade on top of the $4,500 I think i got got a very good deal with getting the three phase put into the shop.
Thank you, for a long overdue cost break down video on a popular machine tool. I know of no other on this important topic. As a guy once responsible for a machine shop of a larger manufacturing operation for years I budgeted new equipment and tooling. Not once in 10 years did the value of the machines themselves exceed the value of the tooling. Add to the tooling the shop supplies and metrology tools and for a typical CNC shop in the US the machines themselves are roughly ½ the total value. Home shops are quite different but the point is the tooling is very expensive. You were lucky you already had a vise and didn’t count that in the total. But lets face it you need two new ones. .. and OMG you have already taken it apart! This is going to be interesting to watch Mark paint with a brush?
No! No brushes! Such a travesty when I see that happening. Spray guns aren't that expensive and even a cheap compressor still makes the same compressed air as a $10000 screw compressor. Well, maybe not as dry but near enough. I am part way through the process now and I have decided not to film it. There are already a couple of good restoration videos out there and at the end of the day it's like watching paint dry - literally. You are correct about the tooling cost to machine ratio. There's no escaping it.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 Awwwwww we don’t get to see Mark use a brush. Probably doesn’t even use one painting a house. Nice thing about tooling in the home shop is that you can buy it as you need it. Not like you have to load up 60 stations on a Mazak.
Nice video Mark. I think it highlights to Americans and Australians that there is hidden costs here. Shipping around aus gets expensive when you don’t live in the 2 main states. The American companies I’ve try charging $200 for a $50 item
Just came across your page , i and am not far from you , if you need to get any other machines up from Victoria, I used Morgan’s Freight at Yandina , they picked a old Dawewoo 4tonne CNC lathe from a farm in Vic to my door for $800 , great video’s 👍just started going thru them
Thanks for the tip. I must say, the whole saga of getting the mill to my door was something of an ordeal. After shelling out a lot of money for something that you've bought sight unseen you really have to trust the people who are transporting it for you. I half expected to take delivery of a pile of scrap or a broken machine. Luckily it all went well though.
Regards,
Mark
Very informative,, well done . Seems you should get in touch with keith fenner and bruce . 👌, Stay healthy and may good bless you and yours
I have watched most of Keith Fenner's series on "Buffy". I don't know how he had the patience to polish all that aluminium!
Regards,
Mark
Thankx Mark for your amazing insight i had been considering get one for around year or 2 and this really has helped on my future dicision making and cost evaluation on whats needed. Cant wait to see what your first project with it will be. - Lexi down in Coffs
Lexi, I guess the whole budget thing is often swept under the carpet or you just pay as you go. I had to make a guess at what I thought I was going to spend since I was withdrawing money from my super. I hope it does inspire some people to give these machines a good life. I was truly horrified one time I went to a TAFE college in Ipswich to pick out some of their surplus machines to take back to our secondary school engineering workshop. They had a warehouse full of lathes, mills and shapers and the guy showing me around said that it was all destined to go to the tip to be buried! It had all been written off as unserviceable but everything I took is still being used except for one Russian Stanko lathe that developed some terminal electrical issues. I got quite angry with the guy, but it wasn't really his fault. It was just "policy".
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 yeah i hate alot of tafe policys. i handle a lot of computer recycling which i give to family in need. i have tried to get stuff off tafe but it all goes to tip. i makes me sick tthe amount of wastage.
@ Lexi, are you truely interested in machining, learning?
Carl from Coffs.
Heh... Greetings from Portland, Oregon. Anyone from here who has driven to Mt. Hood to go skiing or hiking has driven past Boring, so it's quite well known. There's also a city in Oregon with the inspired name of "Oregon City" and it's on the same road as Boring. So, as you're driving past you see the sign for the exit labelled "Boring Oregon City."
Nicholas, I thought that was a hoot! There is a place in Tasmania called Dismal Swamp! I am glad Boring has embraced the name!
Regards,
Mark
Bridgeports are great, but after using several versions of them, I'd take a Trak mill, the conversational programming and the better ergonomics of the electronic handwheels really are wonderful.
Not sure "boring research" is a good name. I quite like research and don't find it boring.
After rebuilding the varispeed head on my series 2 BP I was disappointed in the noise I still had from the head turned out to be the motor bearings
Gary,
I will be removing the motor shortly, mainly so I can check the condition of the belt but given how many components there are in the drive it actually sounds pretty good. Certainly a lot quieter than my Colchester lathe.
Regards,
Mark
Great vlog, looking forward to some precision swarf, after the blue printing of the machine 😀.
Being from the UK, I can understand the high costs in transport, and you being so far from away from the manufacturing centres of the continent of Australia, but even looking at a world map, I can't comprehend its size.
I think there is a maximum speed that the quill feed should be disengaged, ref when you showed it running.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards John.
John, thanks for watching. Yes, the distance we have to travel here in Oz can be hard for people to understand. We once had visitors from New Zealand who told us they were thinking of driving from Brisbane to Cairns for the day! It's a 24 hour drive. I am liking the Bridgeport more and more and I love the fact that you can dismantle the entire machine with just a handful of tools.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 Hi Mark,
With regard to machine transport costs, I paid £ 150 to have my second hand Bridgeport collected from a machinery supplier less than 20 miles, and skated into its position in my garage, circa 2012, this was with two guys and a full sized truck with crane, I had no problem with this cost, for three hours work.
Prices for Bridgeports (working condition) here in the UK varies from £ 500 to £ 5000, reconditioned ones can be up to £15000, similar sized CNC milling machines, with conversational controls are about £ 28000 new.
Most of the cutting tools and holders I purchase are Korean, ref Korloy, Taegutec, YG etc, very good quality.
Hope you don't find any nasties on strip down.
Regards John.
Great post Mark, it's rare, interesting and horrifying when we see the total cost of these machines. I'd previously suggested that we may get to see the 'How to zinc plate a Bridgeport' video, but now having seen it in the flesh you should consider 'How to chrome plate a Bridgeport' 😊 Thanks for sharing.
Stephen,
It's funny how you look at a machine when you first get it and think, it's just a bit dirty, I'll clean it with a rag and it'll be fine. A couple of days later it's in pieces and you are finding more reasons to completely repaint it. I think I did the most horrific part of the process today which involved degreasing the worst parts. I can powder coat some of the smaller bits like the way wipers but the green paint has been put on with a brush and it's peeling off because it was painted while it was still assembled. They even went around things like the one shot oiler and the switch console. There are dribbles of paint behind these parts and it drives me mad.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 Would do the same to me Mark. And it means there is hope - we may well get to see the Bridgeport stripped down and properly repainted 🤞
I have a friend with a Bridgeport milling machine with the variable speed drive. His mill runs a lot quieter than yours. Joe Pie. has a video on taking his head apart to replace bearings.
I am eager to see the next video with the table and knee removed. Heavy pieces.
Dave.
Dave, I have seen most of the videos out there on the Bridgeport and the one thing I like is that you can dismantle the entire machine with a couple of spanners and a few allen keys. No special tools needed and I found plenty of resources online to help. Unfortunately, I have decided not to video the restoration as there are already a couple of very good series out there on the process. It's also it's just a lot of cleaning, sanding and painting. I should be able to start etch priming, filling and painting late next week, but I am only doing the bottom part of the machine for now.
Regards,
Mark
One of these days… one of these days, the will be a mill like that, with my name on it ;-) but it might be a few years :-) I think you made a great deal.
God that's a great deal of money mate, but as you're spending your kids inheritance what the hell lol! Good luck getting the oiling system sorted. I really envy you but I don't have that sort of equity available to me, hey ho! I can only dream. I'm a new subscriber and looking forward to some hot chips! Greetings from the home of your new Bridgeport .
Is that Bridgeport, Connecticut?
Regards,
Mark
Mark Presling no mate, England as it was made under licence by Adcock and Shipley
Nice buy, your kids can earn their own money. in the meantime live it up with a new DRO 😊
ok boomer
@@MrFastFarmer my point proven, thanks.
I have the DRO on the shopping list but for the time being I am going to go old school. The dials are very easy to read and they're metric so that's a bonus.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 metric? That stuff is just a fad 😂😂😂😂
That's a pretty reasonable price. Like you said though, there are cheaper options. When I got mine I took a gamble on an Ebay listing that only had 4 pictures and very little description, and was more than 1000 miles away. The price was so low that I just decided to give it a shot. By the time the machine was sitting in my shop I was in it about $2000 US. I got very lucky. The machine needed a few very minor repairs, but was in quite good condition once I cleaned it up. I'm not sure that I would recommend to people that they should gamble on a machine like I did. I was prepared to lose money on it. For people who can't afford to lose money on a bad deal, it's probably better to spend more to get exactly what you want the first time.
You did get a good deal. One of the reasons we tend to pay a lot more is the old supply and demand thing. There are only a handful of mills for sale here in Oz and any one time on Ebay and the machinery dealers might have 20 or so but many are out of the price range for hobbyists or they are way too large for a home shop. So when a suitable candidate comes up the dealers know they can charge what the market will stand!
Regards,
Mark
You'll be able to put the 3 phase motor back in your lathe and get that machine up and running as well. Good onya mate.
Hey Preso, I bought my colchester lathe through Newmac, I was very happy with their service, lucky for me I’m only a couple hours drive away, collected it with a tandem trailer. I also purchased a rotary converter, I fell over when I got the price for it, but well worth it when I bought my Bridgeport clone and simply plugged it in and away it went. I was hoping you would let me know a supplier for the rapid feed button cover as mines perished too, oh well I’ll keep looking. Keep up the great videos mate👍🏻 Glenn
Glenn, I had a UA-cam viewer in New Zealand send me two of those covers and I still have one spare. I can send it to you if you like. There's a guy on Instagram called @sgsengineering who made a cover from one of those little priming bulbs used on brushcutters and chainsaws. They are clear but just about the right size. Yes, the guys at Newmac were very good and they kept me informed about the mill and were very accommodating when I asked them to prep the mill for transport. Let me know if you want the switch cover. mark.presling@gmail.com
Pretty reasonable pricing I'd say. I bought a new chinese bp clone a couple of years ago at work for about 8000 GB pounds (excluding tooling and extras ). We had 3phase in the building, but it cost over 1000 pounds to get a cable run from the cabinet to a socket near the machine, so not much cheaper than your rotary converter really
That's the "hidden cost" rearing it's ugly head. It was a lot easier for me to just extend the single phase, 15 amp circuit to above the mill and then run the cable down the same line as the air hose and a 10 amp lead.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 very much so, you did well, looking forward to you getting it fettled and showing its capabilities (I never approach 10% of what mine can do, you always seem to be operating at 110%)👍👍
I have been waiting to find out which way you would go for 3 phase power since I read your post in a forum.
Like you I have no access to 3phase.
Anyway good job
And thanks for sharing
Hoops
I am always a bit reluctant to ask questions on forums. You tend to get zillions of opinions but most can be confusing. At the end of the day, I was persuaded by the guy who sold me the RPC. I always hate feeling like you are being "upsold" but I liked the idea that I could just plug it in and it would work.
Regards,
Mark
I did well getting my bridgeport got it for free
I worked for a engineering company and they were moving premises my boss told me I could take one home FOC hope you enjoy your as much as I do mine
As a interesting project I decided to make a shell mill holder for the bridgeport some lathe work but some mill work so its producing it's own tooling
I would get yourself some common size R8 collets to hold endmills etc much more riged
Alan, that's one of the things on my "nice to have" list, along with the DRO.
Regards,
Mark
If you spray the surface with soapy water you can move it around for a little while.
Matthew, good idea. One of the hardest things about making UA-cam videos is that the bloody camera is always in the way of what you are trying to do.
Regards,
Mark
Mark congratulations on the Bridgeport! They are really universal and wonderful machines. We thought we would also note that another sister city to Boring, Oregon USA is Bland, New South Wales, Australia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boring,_Oregon Keep up the wonderful content! We loved the finishing, and marking series you did. Thank you for the mention!
I had heard about Bland! 😁 There is a place in Tasmania called Dismal Swamp. Place names are such wonderful things. We've got some doozies, Muckadilla, Diddilibah, Oodnadatta, Wooloomoloo, the list goes on...
Regards,
Mark
Install a pneumatic drawbar unit on top,you’ll love the ease and speed when it comes to tool changes.
I already have the butterfly impact wrench and I purchased some linear bearing and some hardened chrome shafting. I have designed the whole thing on my CAD programme and it'll be done with two castings. However, it's all on the back burner while I get the mill back together!
Regards,
Mark
Did you investigate the cost of getting 3 phase put in? Usually a fairly cost effective solution compared to phase converters.
Ahh, well that's a sad story. We had our single phase supply put in underground and we live on acreage so our house is a long way from the property boundary. At the time we had very little money and I told the electrician to use the lightest cable he thought we could get away with. Consequently we could never pull a new cable through the conduit and the only option would be to go overhead. We have some very large eucalypt trees which regularly drop branches that would snap a cable and the trees are all protected anyway..... So, I don't think it's going to happen in my lifetime. Maybe when we all get our own personal fusion reactors it will be viable!
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 fair enough mate. If you're anything less than 60mm on the conduit you'll struggle to pull a new cable through, and for acreage it gets expensive fast at around $1200 per 100m for the cable alone.
Congratulations, great machine, which I had one ... by the way I live not to far from Boring, Or
Kilometers are about .62 of a mile too, so the financial calculations work out perfect.
Were British Beaver mills shipped to Australia? I have one of the best models they made. ( 56" by 10" bed, NT40 spindle, 10" riser block, 3hp motor) The only problem new parts are not available. It was built to be a climb mill.
David, I just looked up Beaver mills on the lathes.co.uk website and it appears that they exported a lot of machines to the USA but I have never seen one in Australia but then again as a high school teacher, we tended to only deal with smaller mills, usually Hercus or Sheraton. It seems that the Beaver has a lot in common with the Bridgeport and there are so many variants of that pattern. Some, like the Adcock and Shipley, which I have are built under licence and some are clones by other manufacturers. One of the reasons I went with the Bridgeport was the availability of spare parts.
Regards,
Mark
Mark,
Have you put any thought into putting the converter in the corner of the workshop and routing wiring to your machines as and when you acquire them?
Cheers Eric
Eric, sadly, I don't really have any unused corners in my workshop. The RPC is on wheels so it can be moved around. It's early days yet though. I may refine the layout later.
Regards,
Mark
Can't wait to see all the cool things you will be doing on this machine. Will you try making parts instead of casting them?
Craig, I have gone down the rabbit hole of dismantling and refurbishing even though I tried to resist. My brain kept saying "leave it alone and just clean it" Three days later and it's bottom end is all in pieces.
Regards,
Mark
Mark I am just about to bring home my Bridgeport, I had it in storeage for 2 years and looking forward to your videos on fixing your machine.
Can you give me info where you brought the repair book from as my machine is the same as yours. I live in Mackay
I suggest sell it now before anyone who wants this old crap dies...
Peter,
Sorry I didn't answer this earlier. I just found your post in my "held for review" folder because of a troll that has been leaving inane comments on this video.
I got my book on Amazon (Australia) the link is here www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/1482367912/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It is a useful reference but it has a white cover which is a bit of a strange choice for a workshop environment. Mine got quite grubby quite quickly.
Regards,
Mark Presling
I just bought a bridgeport. Western sydney
They are a nice machine and have changed very little since the very first Bridgeport was manufactured. They must have got it right first time.
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark, thanks for taking us through this process. It's certainly given me some things to help with planning. This UA-cam channel has a series of Bridgport videos that may help you. I don't know if it's the same model. "H&W Machine Repair and Rebuilding" Have fun with your new toy... err Tool. Stay safe and well :)
Anthony, I have already seen all the H&W videos. In fact I binge watched them all before my mill was even delivered. They are a wonderful resource for anyone with a Bridgeport or any clone.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 lol - I should have guessed. I like seeing / knowing how things are built and function. Cheers :)
I went with a 15hp rotary phase converter also! I just switched to cnc and that’s why I bought it cause it supply’s clean voltage! I haven’t had any issues with the cnc with it. I need to look at my Bridgeport and see if it has a coolant pump? How does your coolant pump work? Does it supply oil while cutting , as cutting fluid?
Yeah no access to a coolant pump
The little three phase coolant pumps are not all that expensive and mine just sits on a steel plate inside the column of the machine and it's held in place by a couple of small screws.
My pump only runs when the main (mill) motor is energised. It has a separate switch and contactor But I haven't added any coolant to the sump yet. I looked into all the options when I got the Bridgeport and the RPC seemed to be the least invasive way of getting the mill running, plus, if I ever get any more three phase machines I can run them too. Getting three phase power to my workshop was never going to happen for lots of logistical and thus, cost reasons so apart from the noise issue I don't have any complaints.
Regards,
Mark
Nice machine
Jeeze with that type of money I think a brand new clone imported to Australia would’ve might be an option to go for providing better accuracy and rigidity. I never knew BP have right angle attachment, super useful for tool and machine makers.
I had looked at the Taiwanese clones and you can indeed get a new one for about the same as what I paid but the quality just isn't there. Many of the scales are just the flimsy riveted on type and the iron used for the castings is thinner and more brittle. I also liked the idea of owning one of the iconic machine tools.
Regards,
Mark
@@Preso58 Interesting good to know. I was skeptical to get a Taiwanese clone but read many machinists on forums said the same as to what you have said and that the original Bridgeport and alike are better build quality.
What’s weird is that I know that many skilled high precision machinists all uses Taiwanese clones like Acer. Not sure if you know Tom Lipton, he uses an Acer.
I’m very fortunate that I live in the US, I can easily obtain a used bridgeport for $500-$800 and rebuild it for another/less $1,000-$2,000 depending how much repair is needed. BPs are the type of machines which is always repairable so long the cast iron base and housing are not damaged.
Maybe you could’ve gotten one from Craigslist for $500-$800 in US and have it shipped to you by cargo freight to Australia, would’ve cost you so much less than what you have paid but required rebuilding and will still cost less.
Or maybe buy from a trusted distributor in US who rebuilds/refurbish BPs/mills and have it cargo shipped to you, I’m sure they have done this for many customers all over the world requiring American made mills.
Anyways your video was helpful, I’m planning to buy a used BP. Thanks. Hope you make nice precision parts with your BP. 😀
@@sto2779 I have looked with envy at what people pay for used machinery in the USA and the choice is far greater than what we can get here. When I ordered the Bridgeport I couldn't look at it in person because of Covid travel restrictions but the photos looked OK and the vendor was good enough to take some additional photos for me. What I was really happy about was that this particular machine had all metric dials and screws on it. I hadn't expected that given it's age. We changed to metric here in Australia back in the mid 70's. Also, the motor was set up for local voltage and frequency. One of the perils of buying offshore is always to do with incompatible electrical systems given that we use 240V single phase and 50Hz frequency. I did buy a powder coat gun from the USA and had to buy a 110V to 240V transformer to make it work. I have noticed that Joe Pie has a Bridgeport clone so there must be good ones available.
Regards,
Mark
I've been keeping my eyes open for a deal on a Bridgeport. When I bought my chinese hobby mill a decade ago every one I looked at compared itself to a Bridgeport. Good thing you got the rotary convertor because when you use the static convertors your machine loses 1/3 of the rated power. Rotary convertor gives full power capability. As for your costs, they are only beginning. I paid about $6500US to get a new cnc mill to my door. After one year of ownership I made the mistake of adding up all the receipts for tooling and accessories and came up with just over $27k US. Ouch.
Ouch indeed! Sometimes it's best to strategically "lose" all your receipts.
Regards,
Mark
I am feeling a little better about the $4500 I just coughed up for my Hafco mill. Despite that I would much prefer the Bridgeport. It is worth it my only hurdle is the wife as much as I love Bridgeport mills I love her company more. In other words she would kill me!
9K will buy you a decent Hafco Turret Mill.. single phase... dro... delivered... and new.
@@MrFastFarmer new mills are great but the classic Bridgeport is a treasure especially if you find one that's not worn out. I couldn't touch one in the US in that condition for the amount he paid.
I'm not exactly in love with my Tai built Bpt clone, nor would I be if it said Bridgeport on the castings Mark. They are quite a versatile machine and that's why so many commercial shops have and still buy them. Imo a far better machine with even more versatility would be a Deckel FP1 or FP2. Those unfortunately don't generally sell for a used Bpt price and the X axis travel is a bit less. But overall there still a far more rigid machine. The real Bpts and there clones can also accept a vast range of accessory heads that were designed around that 3 3/8"ths spindle diameter and off the shelf power feeds are easy to find that directly bolt up to the machine. That new 415V capability you now have will probably allow you to find really cheap equipment that few will bid on because of the industrial voltage. A Bridgeport slotting or cherrying head as just a couple of examples.
Mine is a step pulley machine and it runs quieter than the cooling fan on the VFD at anything under 2500 rpm. From the videos I've watched all the variable speed heads do tend to run a bit louder than the same with the step pulleys. Those variable speed heads do have a slight built in flaw as the bushings the Revees drive run in are plastic and tend to wear out after a few years (or many in a home shop) use. A tell tale sign they need replacing is a constant rattle from the head that just gets louder the longer you delay replacing them.So if you do get into that head I'd automatically replace those bushings to save doing it later. There cheap to buy and it's all the work to tear the top of the head down to replace them that's the main issue. The machine and freight prices you mentioned aren't really out of line if the ways are as good as you've said. I'm in Canaduh so our dollar isn't very far ahead of yours. Yes everyone loves a great deal if you can find one, but I screwed around for almost 20 years looking for a good condition and less than 4 hr drive South bend shaper. I finally said to hell with it and paid maybe $300 too much and had to drive 10 hrs each way for mine. What really counts is if your happy with the machine then the basic price is almost incidental. I have maybe twice as much into tooling as you've spent so far, but that includes a Newall dro and there micro syn scales on all 4 axises and two brand new vices that are comparable to the Kurts. A tip for you if you haven't already figured it out, unless your moving the knee then keep the knee handle reversed on the pin that protrudes out from handle engagement slots. Walking into that knee handle only needs to be done once and you'll remember to do that every single time since it hurts like hell. :-)
Well, there's no chance of walking into the knee handle since the whole lower end of the mill is now in pieces. I take your point though and I will be doing that with the handle when it goes back together again. I have decided to do the bottom end first so I could sort out the lubrication first. There is a lot less wear than I was expecting and the hardest thing about this purchase was buying it blind. The Covid lockdowns have closed our state borders and I guess I made the decision to upgrade to a BP due to us having to cancel any travel this year. I think I will tear down the head but to me it seems a lot more difficult than the bigger bits on the table, saddle and knee. The knee actually came off quite easily and I must thank H&W Machine Repairs for the excellent videos they have put on YT which show the whole process. I am guessing that you have the same issues with distance in Canada. It is very rare to find any decent machinery close to where I live and when our car manufacturing industry went belly up most of the suppliers also went to the wall. The trade training colleges also suffered so all of a sudden there was a lot of gear available in Melbourne and Adelaide where most of the car manufacturing was done. Thanks for taking the time to send such an interesting reply. I do like reading about how others run up against the same problems and how they solve them.
Regards,
Mark