Buying used metal bandsaw & pillar drill

[edward]

hi
I'm after a good old solid pillar drill (Meddings, Fobco, Kerry, Klliott, Pollard)
and have been keeping an eye on these sites (along with ebay) - any other sites people know off??

http://www.lathes.co.uk/
http://www.gandmtools.co.uk/
http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/
http://www.bedetools.com/

Im also trying to find a decent bandsaw, been looking at this Axminster one:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-mcb100a-compact-bandsaw-prod781243/

but would prefer a second hand older beast as the reviews of these market low end models don't tend to be glowing in praise - might be ok for my workshop (need to accurately cut 45 & 90 degrees in 5mm thick flat bar & 20mm box section).
What are decent older brands of metal bandsaw (flatbed models rather than vertical machines)?

Any thoughts links greatly appreciated
Thanks!
best
Ed

 

[FranV8]

The low end ones can be made to do quite good cuts with a little fettling, which may be more than you want to do, but they are cheap. I got mine from Paul G on here, he'd done a great job with some good mods before I bought it. There are user groups for this type, I think it's under Harbor Freight something x something if you can be bothered.

 

[edward]

Hi Fran
Whats kind of mods had Paul done?
And is that a forum?
Thanks
E

 

[Dev]

I have a cheapo on one and I replaced the stand, spent some time getting the blade aligned and used pins to mark 30,45 and 90 degrees on the vice. I had a suds pump as well but the tray is currently being repursed as a citric acid dip

I use the material you're talking about and it does that fine.

Theyre collectively called 6x4 bandsaws, google that and you'll find loads of info.

Can't help with pillar drills, would love one myself at the right price.

 

[inchpincher]

^ same as dev, replaced the stand, messed around with the blade tracking and tension, joined the yahoo 6x4 bandsaw group. Google will throw up lots of pics of mods. Best tip I gleaned when testing for a perpendicular cut is to use some 2" scrap wood, saves an awful lot of time and money!

I bought a lovely old Warco pillar drill on eBay for around £100, patience is key and if possible go and view it. Patina is nice but can mean its had a hard life (but also beware 'restored' or repainted machinery), check the quill stem bearings for play, pulleys and belts for wear, rack and pinion for broken teeth, tired motor, dodgy switches, cracks or holes in the drill bed etc. take a few bits with you and do a few test holes.

 

[rtbcomp]

And if you haven't got 3 phase make sure it's got a single phase motor on it.

Elliot-Progress is another good make of drill, the 1GS is probably a better bet than the 2GS as it is simpler in that it doesn't have a gearbox.

 

[ford34/2]

suppliers.

Bede tools is local to me, well long established seller, and I`ll be dissapointed if you have any problems with Barry or Andrew.(Father and son)
Stan

 

[edward]

thanks for the responses
I''ve been looking at an Elliot Progress No. 1 and thinking about switiching to 240v if negotiations break down with my landlord to install 3phase, hopefully he will as I don't want to loose that extra torque.

Will check out that 6x4 bandsaw group, think I might be able to get away with the axminster model providing I make a nice sturdy bench for it....

Any other second sites anyone know of??

thanks again
best
Ed

 

[blenkie1]

What are you drilling and what size drills are you using to need 3 phase? I take it its more than 5mm flat and 20mm box? I have a Sealey pillar drill 240v and its more than capable of drilling 30mm holes in 15mm thick steel. Would be nice to have self feed and a proper gearbox instead of belts but I don't have any problems with it

 

[edward]

yeah nothing more than 15mm mild steel - whats the model number?

 

[Pete.]

Where in Kent are you Edward?

 

[edward]

in ramsgate - why, know something local?......

 

[Pete.]

Might be getting a Meddings drill sometime soon. I think it's 3 phase and I don't know the condition but I'll let you know when it comes.

 

[KemppiFrog]

I have a Meddings from 1960. Great bit of kit, but, the quill is very slightly out of true. I checked with Meddings (who had a note of the sale to my father!) but they could not supply a spare.
KF

 

[Alx]

I have a Fobco drill and can't fault it. In the past I had a Progress - very similar to ebay item 300863176957 - and liked it much better. It was bigger, heavier and a whole lot sturdier. You can't go wrong with either of these - they are a different world to imported drills.

Re Bandsaws. If you don't need a huge throat, Inca saws are great and actually Swiss made.

 

[edward]

Hi
Thanks for the responses.

Is anyone familiar with the axminster MCB1155HD?
Its doesn't come up in the forum search, and I think that might be because its a new modle, the old one being the CMB115.
It seems, to achieve accurate cuts, quite a bit of testing and adjusting is required on set up and I was wondering if anyone had purchased this new model and had first hand experience of it?

Its 50 quid more expensive than the MCB100A, which doesn't have a base, or swivel mount and the engine is 190w smaller!

thoughts??....

Thanks
E

 

[hareng]

Axminster dont make them they have them made in same factories other sellers do with their colours and name.
So its the same as other sellers such as Sealey, Chester, Warco, Machine Mart to name a few.
Change of model number is probably addition of the hydraulic strut and base.

Three years ago these could be had for £170 without the strut.

 

[edward]

what a shame it isn't three years ago. Any thoughts on a smart buy in 2013??