Fobco star or Axminster Trade pillar drill?

[Dvddvddvd]

Hi trying to make a decision on what to buy?

Looking for a bench pillar drill, I have a few options at the moment..

Option 1 :
To buy a new Axminister trade pillar drill.
There is 15 percent off ar the moment so works out at £425 delivered.
12 speed
3 year warranty
Rack and pinion table
Built in work light
Keyless chuck
All very pretty

Or buy a restoration project say a Fobco star for £150 that needs a VFD or a new single phase motor.
Then repainting etc so may cost £300 at the end plus lots of labour, plus travelling to pick it up?

or a restored Fobco for around £350 and then hope theres no problems with it and no warranty etc.

I was swayed towards the Fobcos but with the black friday discount on the Axminsters I'm leaning towards an easy life?

 

[Maker]

I'd buy an old cast iron one (Fobco/Meddings/Pollard/etc), restore it (Assuming it even needs it) and fit a VFD.

Personally I wouldn't buy a restored one unless I know the person who's done it and know they've done a good job, otherwise you might just be paying twice as much for a machine that needs even more work to undo someone else's bodge.

 

[GraemeVW]

As above

 

[Dvddvddvd]

Thanks I may just buy the Axminster one and then I have one to use now.

Then go on the lookout for one to restore. As a little project.

I know what you mean about buying a restored one, and having some time I think I'd like to do one for myself.

 

[Dvddvddvd]

Just been to have a look at a restored Fobco star.

He wanted £400 for it, might go down a bit he said...

Arrived at a **** tip of a garage and there was the restored Fobco..
Basically he had given it a coat of gloss over all the muck and grime, not taken off and signage or levers. Managed to paint most of depth stop.

Dodgy wiring, chuck was well worn or maybe the key.

Slight grinding noise on a slow speed, he said it was normal


Table had a full monkey smile surprised it dont split in half..

So I decided not to buy and ordered a Axminster trade drill instead in their black friday sale..

Think I need too if I ever buy a Fobco get one that I can "restore" oh well

He said hed take £375

 

[GraemeVW]

And this is the problem with fobcos.
They are fashionable. They are the best known good make but not necessarily the best. Certainly not much better than many others. Their main selling point I believe is they were very nicely finished, but that's irrelevant these days.
Everyone knows they are worth something and the prices keep rising. Anyone that finds a knackered old one in a shed paints it, calls it restored, and wants a fortune.

They are nice drills, but should be £150 Like all the others are.

 

[james butler]

Just been to have a look at a restored Fobco star.

He wanted £400 for it, might go down a bit he said...

Arrived at a **** tip of a garage and there was the restored Fobco..
Basically he had given it a coat of gloss over all the muck and grime, not taken off and signage or levers. Managed to paint most of depth stop.

Dodgy wiring, chuck was well worn or maybe the key.

Slight grinding noise on a slow speed, he said it was normal


Table had a full monkey smile surprised it dont split in half..

So I decided not to buy and ordered a Axminster trade drill instead in their black friday sale..

Think I need too if I ever buy a Fobco get one that I can "restore" oh well

He said hed take £375

sounds like a good one compared to some tat on ebay
ide stick with axminster one
like the others say unless you find a good second hand unit you can trust dont part with the hard earned!

 

[Dvddvddvd]

thanks, I need a drill to use now. But do like the idea of restoring one but maybe later when I get more time and make it a labour of love.

The Axminster trade one has got to be a lot better than the Ferm I've been using. But to be honest the Ferm one drilled holes and that's all I want it to do.. More excited about the Axminster having a work light fitted in it!

 

[merryman]

I have a Fobco, someone had stuck a single phase motor on it which is on it's last legs. As I make stuff to sell on it, I'm a bit worried about it giving up, so am on the look out for a replacement. Probably will get something like your Axminster, rack would be handy, as would a 2 Morse taper, as I have Morse drills for the lathe, but won't be going for new. Axminster, Nu tool, Rexon, Warco, Clarke 12 speeders all seem identical from pics, and make circa £100 second hand, on eBay.

 

[Maker]

Just been to have a look at a restored Fobco star.

He wanted £400 for it, might go down a bit he said...

Arrived at a **** tip of a garage and there was the restored Fobco..
Basically he had given it a coat of gloss over all the muck and grime, not taken off and signage or levers. Managed to paint most of depth stop.

Dodgy wiring, chuck was well worn or maybe the key.

Slight grinding noise on a slow speed, he said it was normal


Table had a full monkey smile surprised it dont split in half..

So I decided not to buy and ordered a Axminster trade drill instead in their black friday sale..

Think I need too if I ever buy a Fobco get one that I can "restore" oh well

He said hed take £375

There's loads of them about, I've seen one painted head to toe; chuck, table, column, the lot, in pure brilliant white.

 

[Rkweld]

I use a fobco at times at work. The heads are heavy to move up and down, there is no rack or screw to raise or lower. I do hiw ever like the units where the head moves instead of the table because there is generally less flex. If anyone has made a rack or screw system to raise and lower it I would be interested in seeing it.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

There's loads of them about, I've seen one painted head to toe; chuck, table, column, the lot, in pure brilliant white.

My lathe been over painted no masking or anything splashes everywhere or a much worse looking green than was original on top of the lathe grease so a lot of it pressure washed off. Then whoever decided to spruce up the micrometers I bought with some fancy shiny silver paint . These vandalds are everywhere

 

[Rkweld]

I mainly use a pair of flotts, they are pretty sturdy, I do not often see them second hand, but then I am not usually specifically looking for them.

 

[GraemeVW]

I use a fobco at times at work. The heads are heavy to move up and down, there is no rack or screw to raise or lower. I do hiw ever like the units where the head moves instead of the table because there is generally less flex. If anyone has made a rack or screw system to raise and lower it I would be interested in seeing it.

I've briefly thought about making something for my kerry. Even the table is heavy enough to move up and down, let alone the head. Head has a safety ring under it, no way I'd ever want to try and move the head without that safety ring!
If you find anything, or if anyone had done this, I'd also be interested.
If I ever get round to doing it, I'll post what I come up with.

 

[Seadog]

I use a fobco at times at work. The heads are heavy to move up and down, there is no rack or screw to raise or lower. I do hiw ever like the units where the head moves instead of the table because there is generally less flex. If anyone has made a rack or screw system to raise and lower it I would be interested in seeing it.

Use the quill to jack or lower the head.

 

[GraemeVW]

Use the quill to jack or lower the head.

Of course!
Would still like a rack for the table though.
Have an old steering rack lent up in the corner...

 

[lotus_esprit_s1]

The previous owner of my unit left a brand new Axminster trade drill in it for a few weeks until he sold the drill on.
It was the £600 one, I had a look at it and wasn’t great to be honest. The casting is crude and the strange cast triangle handle is not long enough So little leverage. The motor adjustment is also crude with two thumbscrews. It did go down to 120rpm which is unusual for a “cheapy” but it does so by employing an idler and two drive belts, not a proper back gear like British drill have.