Churchill Pillar Drill

[Manchecd]

Hi guys

I have been looking for a good old British bench/pillar drill for some time and have been reading various helpful comments on the Forum about what types to buy.

I have recently bought locally off eBay a Churchill Pillar Drill (although it was not advertised as such). I went to look at it before the auction ended, which was when I discovered it was a Churchill, did a bit of research on the internet and found Brightspark’s posts about his Churchill Pillar Drill. I hope I am still using my drill 30 years after its purchase like Brightspark (not least since I will then be in my 90s ...).

I have been giving the drill some tlc and a repaint and have attached some photos – one as bought with the drill standing in my trailer, about to be lifted out with a block and tackle, and three after its repaint/refurbishment.

I have a few matters on which I would appreciate some assistance. First, there is no indication anywhere of the different drill speeds. There are four pulleys inside the belt cover (see photo) and the belt is currently on the bottom pulleys, which I am guessing is the slowest speed. Does anyone know what the (four) different speeds are?

Secondly, a brass plate at the front of the belt cover says “Fill oil cup daily”, which I assume is needed if it is being used daily but otherwise only as and when it is used. What sort of oil should I use? Light general purpose oil? Mineral car engine oil? I assume the oil cup is at the top of the thin tube behind the front pulleys (see photo) – it can accessed with the cover in place - but am not sure how much to put in. Should it be topped up till it is full at the top of the tube or is it better to put a few drops/a squirt in whenever I use the drill?

Thirdly, at the front of the drill, between the chuck and the brass plate indicating it is a Churchill, there is a knurled chrome knob. What is this for? I have loosened this and then retightened it but nothing seems to happen when it is loosened.

Many thanks in anticipation of your help.

Those of you who kindly helped me with my Atlas Copco compressor problem in Mar/Apr of last year will see the compressor in the background in the photo with the drill in the trailer. I am pleased to say it has been running fine since its new NRV valve.

Thanks again.

Colin

 

[rtbcomp]

Drill Speed = (Motor RPM ) x (Motor Pulley dia) / (Spindle Pulley dia)

 

[GrahamGKD]

Does the knurled knob you mention lock the quill in place when tightened - e.g. if you wind the drill head down and then tighten the knob does it stay put rather than returning?

 

[500e]

Armstrong Sidley ?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Armstrong Sidley ?

I reckon so.

 

[Manchecd]

Hi guys

Thanks for the responses.

Re calculation of the drill speed, can I ask if you measure the pulley diameters from the outside edges of the pulley or from the inside edges where the pulley belt sits?

I think the knurled knob probably is meant to lock the quill, although it does not do this at present. Having unscrewed the knob completely, it looks as though there should be a cylindrical peg that slots in a hole at the end of the knob. When the knob is then tightened, the peg will press into a vertical keyway/slot cut into the quill and should then lock it. I will make up a peg and give this a try.

Yes, it is an Armstrong Siddeley - a 1955 Sapphire 346. It is fully up and running and the plastic cover is only there to keep the dust off. You do not really notice dust on the fawn without the cover but you do on the upper body which is black!!

Cheers

Colin

 

[brightspark]

churchill drill

if u pull the quill down u will see a vertical slot milled in to it the knurled knob locates in to it to stop the quill rotating additional just checked the speeds with a revcounter slowest is 600rpm second is 1000 .3d is 1600 fourth is 2500 the oil cup just needs a few drops of engine oil now and then to feed the bearings and quill

 

[Manchecd]

Thanks, Brightspark.

Is there some type of peg in the knurled knob on your drill which locates into the vertical slot?

Without any peg in the knob, there is nothing to project into the vertical slot to stop it moving. As it is, if I tighten the knob fully, it has no effect.

Thanks.

 

[brightspark]

heres the picture of the knurled knob . the knurled knob is drilled out and a loose round brass pin is fitted with 2 flats milled to fit the keyway on the quill theres nothing to stop u just filing the flats on to the brass rod

 

[Manchecd]

That is very helpful and thanks for the picture.

I will make up a brass rod similar to the one that you have.

Can you advise please on what I need to do in respect of filling up the oil cup? What type of oil do you use and how much do you put in?

Many thanks,

Colin

 

[brightspark]

That is very helpful and thanks for the picture.

I will make up a brass rod similar to the one that you have.

Can you advise please on what I need to do in respect of filling up the oil cup? What type of oil do you use and how much do you put in?

Many thanks,

Colin

just a few squirts of engine oil now and then

 

[Manchecd]

OK, thanks!!

If this has worked fine for you and your drill over the years, that is good enough for me.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Gritineye]

Hi Colin, I have an Atlas PD of about the same size as yours, it has a quill lock fitted, the book says it is used when doing light milling.

There would be no need for the knurled Knob on yours just to hold a guide pin, so maybe the pin acts as a guide but also a lock when screwed in.

Bernard

 

[rtbcomp]

To be honest it's not going to make that much difference and you're stuck with stepped ratios anyway, just be consistent.

 

[Manchecd]

Thanks, Bernard.

I think I will make up a pin, so that I can lock the quill if I need to do, although I do not envisage doing this very often.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Manchecd]

Thanks, rtbcomp, I will do some measurements to give me a rough idea of what the different speeds are.

I expect to be using it most of the time on the slowest speed, which I think it is set up for at the moment.

Cheers

Colin

 

[julianthegypsy]

I have a olate on the dise of my ten speed drill to tell me the speeds, but to be honest I never use it. I set the speed so it feels right, not too fast and not to slow. Probably not the most efficient but seems to work ok lol.

 

[brightspark]

Thanks, rtbcomp, I will do some measurements to give me a rough idea of what the different speeds are.

I expect to be using it most of the time on the slowest speed, which I think it is set up for at the moment.

Cheers

Colin

as in earlier post the speeds are 600 rpm slowest 1000 rpm second 1600 third and 2500 fastest as for the speeds the normal rule of thumb on steel is fast speed for drilling small holes slow speed for drilling larger holes and fast speed for drilling alloy or aluminium

 

[Manchecd]

Thanks for the info on drill speeds - very helpful, and will save me doing the measurements.