Colchester Bantam Mk1 1600

[Dieselman 63]

I'm not going to be scraping my mill either. I don't have a big surface table and I wouldn't have the first idea where to begin.

It’s an ex polytech machine made in 1975, and has sat idle since 2009 and prior to them was only used to turn plastics since 1999, so twenty years of no/little use seems good. There’s no noticeable wear on the bed and little backlash. There are a few dings on the bed where students have changed the chuck and gone ‘oops it’s a bit heavier than I thought!’ but nothing terrible.

 

[Carl Wilson]

I don't really know the history of my mill. It was built around 1968 if I surmise correctly. Where it went then is a mystery.

It spent some time in an adult education centre in Staffordshire over the last twenty years or so. I know that from a sticker on the side of the machine.

I think it's fairly likely that it has spent all its life in educational establishments. The ways seem to be in good condition and the table has no significant dents or damage. Over the years someone has assiduously greased all the oil nipples though, which has kept corrosion at bay. I just hope it hasn't had a grinding paste effect.

 

[Pete.]

Scraping a mill as a first project would be a bad idea anyway. On a lathe the moving ways move the tool, on a mill they move the part. There's a lot more latitude for error on a lathe, on a mill ANY mis-alignment will be translated directly into the workpiece.

 

[Carl Wilson]

Thanks for that confirmation. As I've said, I'm just not tooled or skilled for it. I have neither the equipment nor the experience. Best to leave well alone I think.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Dismantling the taper turner is easy. The sliding piece which allows you to select the degree of cut is the toughest part.

Upturn the main body and use a brass drift to knock the two apart. The top piece can be set aside. The bottom piece should them be turned over to reveal two holes - I used a nail and pushed out the retaining ring which holds the adjustment screw in. The screw easily winds out after this, and the plug can be knocked out with the drift again.

More parts to clean, though for the moment they’ll be stored. I need to finish the carriage before I fully concentrate on this attachment

 

[Carl Wilson]

I'm glad you got it apart. I fully understand the need to leave that unit on the back burner whilst you concentrate on other more pressing parts of your restoration project.

 

[Dieselman 63]

More dirt being cleaned off the lathe. Interestingly (well, interesting if you’re sad like me) this stuff has never been cleaned before, and it was quite satisfying to scrape the coolant residue off with a knife! It buffed up well with the scotchbrite.

I got some TTA bits into paint too. The way for the cross slide screw was painted red from yellow. You can see this from the back, despite it almost being hidden! The carriage is being painted too, and another two holes are ready to accept some of @Seadog ‘s excellent plated nipples

 

[Dieselman 63]

Managed to squeeze a bit more progress in. Used some expanded foam packing to make a pair of plugs for the headstock, then gave it some spray filler primer. Loads to do but so much on atm.

 

[Carl Wilson]

I know what you mean. It sometimes feels like an up hill struggle.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I know what you mean. It sometimes feels like an up hill struggle.

Low on time, money and energy... oh well. I’m also building a shed which is sapping a lot of love from the lathe!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Went for it today as it was sunny, filler primer on and lovely and smooth! Then I took the masking tape off, what a treat, looks so good.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Then a very heavy lift from the bench onto a stool which I walked across the room to another stool waiting, with some planks on. I lifted the headstock into here, then rocked it to slide more planks under until the height was right for a 180 flip onto the bed. It was risky but it worked perfectly!

 

[Dieselman 63]

And now some shots just for fun, a few things posed on, a morale boost for this seemingly endless project!

The aluminium belt guard needs filler attention after paint stripping, as does the apron, carriage and tailstock, still a fair old queue there...

Next purchase will be backlit oil sight glasses, and the next micro project will be getting the gearbox finished and installed to the bed.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Dizzy isn’t the word... I found a clip ages ago which I thought was from the gearbox innards, so I had been putting off opening the lid again, seeming as it had only recently been sealed.

Well today I popped the lid and to my annoyance the clip was already there... what an idiot! At least I could put it on the lathe again. It looks good, too!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Tasty

 

[Carl Wilson]

It looks really good. The time investment you have made is paying off.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Plaque in full gloss and riveted back onto the machine. During curing, the clear coat started clouding for reasons unknown. I put it on the radiator full blast for ten minutes and the clouding disappeared. I’m using expanding foam plugs until the sight glasses arrive.

 

[Carl Wilson]

It is looking superb. Will be better than new.

 

[Dieselman 63]

It is looking superb. Will be better than new.

The stick shifter for the gears 1-6 works flawlessly now, it was extremely heavy and needed soft-faced hammer work to move it originally!

 

[Carl Wilson]

My goodness. You have worked wonders with it. Your work inspires me to progress my own restoration efforts.