- Thread starter Screwdriver
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T0rnado69
DIY nut !!
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IF ?? who's this screwdriver posting...
this isn't the screwdriver we all know
he restore's everything...
Screwdriver
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That's a very good idea. Only ever lifted one engine with this hoist, and that was years ago. Shifted a fair few lathes and fly presses with it tho.
Still got a nice tan from the migging. The outriggers were to stabilise it and stop it tipping over and falling through the neighbours wall. Some fly pressing to create it. Will cut and paste from another forum....
IF ?? who's this screwdriver posting...
this isn't the screwdriver we all know
he restore's everything...
It is a fair bit worse than I had hoped. The table condition might even write it off
Screwdriver
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I plan on using this:
An old Wi*ks trolley which came with a secondhand oven. I welded on a couple of eyelets and deicided to make a solid handle to pull it with.
Simple T shape, knocked up by eye, hence the slight err, asymmetry!
A few minutes on the amazing flypress and I have a locking solution.
Again, no measurements, just needed to knock it out quickly. Bent some tent pegs into R clips so I can take the handle off when not required (and so that it won't fall off when it is).
I'm happy with it.
The only slight issue is that it looks decidedly narrow for such a top heavy item. That and the fact it probably won't even budge once you plonk a ton of cast iron on it!
Hey ho. These things are sent to try us...
An old Wi*ks trolley which came with a secondhand oven. I welded on a couple of eyelets and deicided to make a solid handle to pull it with.
Simple T shape, knocked up by eye, hence the slight err, asymmetry!
A few minutes on the amazing flypress and I have a locking solution.
Again, no measurements, just needed to knock it out quickly. Bent some tent pegs into R clips so I can take the handle off when not required (and so that it won't fall off when it is).
I'm happy with it.
The only slight issue is that it looks decidedly narrow for such a top heavy item. That and the fact it probably won't even budge once you plonk a ton of cast iron on it!
Hey ho. These things are sent to try us...
lchris21
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Always great fun and terrifying at the same time moving heavy machinery into and around domestic premises. Things we do eh? when we have secured a piece of equipment at a bargain price and have little method of getting it to its new home.............we've all been there!!!...Good luck 
Few years back I cleared out a school workshop, 3 lathes, mill, grinders, drills, linisher, various other bits..........Dawned on me after I paid up, I had no means of collecting it and no means of storing it
Check out Ave with his mill...........Great stuff
Few years back I cleared out a school workshop, 3 lathes, mill, grinders, drills, linisher, various other bits..........Dawned on me after I paid up, I had no means of collecting it and no means of storing it
Check out Ave with his mill...........Great stuff
MattH
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Indeed. BP is 1 Ton, no more.
Screwdriver
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I did find my old Colchester lifting eye which is frighteningly close to fitting the thread in the Bridgeport but "close" isn't good enough!
Just got off the phone with Birmingham Machine Tool Services and to have the top of the table cleaned up, starts from £140! That's a result so far as I am concerned. I was expecting minimum £400-£500. Having said that, these tables can often bend over time due to hardening (?) and if they have to do the bottom as well, that's a whole other kettle of fish because they have to grind all the other parts too; just to regrind the table gib is two hundred odd quid...
Just got off the phone with Birmingham Machine Tool Services and to have the top of the table cleaned up, starts from £140! That's a result so far as I am concerned. I was expecting minimum £400-£500. Having said that, these tables can often bend over time due to hardening (?) and if they have to do the bottom as well, that's a whole other kettle of fish because they have to grind all the other parts too; just to regrind the table gib is two hundred odd quid...
The 42" Bridgeport tables tend to 'droop' over time, with the outer ends usually being left as cantilevers most of the time that's just how it goes!
If you have just the surface of the table tidied up you may well end up with a table that no longer is parallel to the dovetail ways. Both sides need doing to avoid issues as the droop will be present in both.
Bear in mind that for short work the droop is not material, as the tool stays a constant distance from the (large) arc that the table is following when moving in the X (long) direction.
OK it's a new toy and you want to make it pretty, but my advice would be to use it as it is, and see what issues you have before parting with your dosh.
If you have just the surface of the table tidied up you may well end up with a table that no longer is parallel to the dovetail ways. Both sides need doing to avoid issues as the droop will be present in both.
Bear in mind that for short work the droop is not material, as the tool stays a constant distance from the (large) arc that the table is following when moving in the X (long) direction.
OK it's a new toy and you want to make it pretty, but my advice would be to use it as it is, and see what issues you have before parting with your dosh.
ronan
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There is a company in the usa called H&W that does Bridgeport rebuilds. Have a look at their website if you want to see eyewatering prices.
http://www.machinerypartsdepot.com/
http://www.machinerypartsdepot.com/
MattH
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The table on mine is chewed up. What affect does this have on any parts I make? None.
Knock the high spots off with a stone and put a vice on it and you wont notice the tables imperfections as the vice will be sat on whats left of the table datum.
Grinding it back is only for cosmetics sake and if you start chasing that you might as well have spend £4K on a decent one with all the surfaces intact.
Screwdriver
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The problem with this table is not just that it is covered in machine marks and drill holes but that someone has used a milling cutter to resurface it. Well, most of it. When people do this they leave a step at the ends of the table and the milled surface will be a mile out. I am told that the tables can bend UP due to work hardening of the surface from clamping pressure etc. so the middle can be lower than the ends...
Anyhow, I will pull it off and I might even be able to measure it on my welding table/T slot surface plate. I am willing to bet the massive CNC table will be flat end to end better than a thou, possibly a few tenths!
Fingers crossed the Bridgeport table is within a few thou for bend and if it is I will have it "cleaned up" for £140 and use it as is. Once you start taking out the bend from underneath, the whole machine has to be re ground and that's more like £1200, plus I would have to shift it down that alley. Again. I haven't recovered from yesterday, though it only really hurts when I move.
S.
Anyhow, I will pull it off and I might even be able to measure it on my welding table/T slot surface plate. I am willing to bet the massive CNC table will be flat end to end better than a thou, possibly a few tenths!
Fingers crossed the Bridgeport table is within a few thou for bend and if it is I will have it "cleaned up" for £140 and use it as is. Once you start taking out the bend from underneath, the whole machine has to be re ground and that's more like £1200, plus I would have to shift it down that alley. Again. I haven't recovered from yesterday, though it only really hurts when I move.
S.
Screwdriver
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Pete.
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Nothing to do with work hardening, the repetitive clamping of the tee nuts in the tee slots is what does it, according to what I learned in my rebuilding class. You don't fix it by machining the top - you fix it by using a tee slot cutter to re-cut the underside of the tee slots ever a little. It relieves all the stresses built up over years of clamping.
