Meddings M4 Pillar drill

[julianthegypsy]

I just won one of these on evilbay, cracking piece of kit as it has a backgear so speed goes all the way down to 80 rpm and all the way up to 4000! It's the low speeds I wanted for drilling big holes, which I do a lot, and it takes a morse taper, perfect for my bigger drills.
I have two problems however. It says to use Tellus 23 oil, which I believe is now tellus 22, and it says to drain it and refill with 1/3 to 2/3 pint every three months. Fine. Except I can't see a drain plug anywhere! It says that it has one, but I see no sign of it. It also says not to top it up unless I know how much is already in there, which of course I don't! Does anyone here have any advice, and also does anyone know anywhere close to Rugby that would have tellus 22, assuming that is the right equivalent! Many thanks, Julian.

 

[Paul99]

Same drill as I have and you're right it's a brilliant bit of kit and a joy to use. I can't help with oil as that's another job on the list of things to do but as for drain plug location...

You can actually see a small drop of oil formed on the plug - it hasn't dripped off in months so have left it be until I change the oil.

As for oil change intervals well I'm working on the idea that it is quoted when the drill is in full time industrial use (which it was designed for) for us home users I would think the interval is probably a bit OTT.

 

[julianthegypsy]

That's brilliant thanks. Mine must have been modded because that isn't visible on mine. Now I know where I'm looking it'll be obvious. My big concern is that I can't refill it until I've emptied it so not finding the drain is a bit of a ******! I doubt I'll be religious about the three months, but it will get a lot more use than a home workshop would, I'm currently building a dozen stoves of various shapes, and each of them has a dozen 16mm holes to drill!

 

[brewdexta]

Shell Tellus 22 is ISO 22 so if you look at this chart you can work out equivalent viscosities. Its not quite as simple as that so you should get a similar hydraulic/gear oil however I would avoid any AP5 oils as they dissolve brass/bronze and possibly also AP4 so if you stick to old fashioned oils like you can get from Steam engine places or vintage car stockists then you will be safe. Caldo oils at St Helens will blend whatever you want in small quantities, I've got Tellus 15 and 33 equivalents from them for may lathe headstock and gearbox.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Paul99]

That's brilliant thanks. Mine must have been modded because that isn't visible on mine. Now I know where I'm looking it'll be obvious. My big concern is that I can't refill it until I've emptied it so not finding the drain is a bit of a ******! I doubt I'll be religious about the three months, but it will get a lot more use than a home workshop would, I'm currently building a dozen stoves of various shapes, and each of them has a dozen 16mm holes to drill!

There's nothing to say mine is original mind - it was owned by an engineer before I bought it so he may well have added that extension to make it easier to get at...

It'll laugh at 16mm I've done several 25mm / 1" holes in 12mm plate with a plain twist drill and it flew through - I used to have to use a mates sealey pillar drill for holes that big but no going back for me the meddings makes that sealey drill look like the pathetic toy that it was. I've also done a few 30mm in the same plate but used a starret hole saw for them as I didn't have a bit sharpened for that at the time - again so simple going really slow and cool.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Found it! It must be the foul cold I've had all week, but looked at it this morning and the drain plug is exactly as yours Paul. New oil in and off we went. Holy hell it's powerful! Powerful in the sense of "I'd better do this right because it is NOT going to stop for anything" 17mm holes just punched through like butter, bloody marvellous! That was on 130 rpm, I need to make up some clamps for holding big stuff down then can't wait for an excuse to drill some 1" holes on 80 rpm! I'm such a child! :-)

 

[Paul99]

Found it! It must be the foul cold I've had all week, but looked at it this morning and the drain plug is exactly as yours Paul. New oil in and off we went. Holy hell it's powerful! Powerful in the sense of "I'd better do this right because it is NOT going to stop for anything" 17mm holes just punched through like butter, bloody marvellous! That was on 130 rpm, I need to make up some clamps for holding big stuff down then can't wait for an excuse to drill some 1" holes on 80 rpm! I'm such a child! :-)

I had the same reaction, I knew you wouldn't be disappointed . I did initially come to the conclusion that I need an estop in kicking range fitted asap - that was months ago now and has largely been forgotten - just got to use common sense and forgot about holding things with your hands not that anyone does that of course Did yours have the fancy cam operated hold down? not sure if it was standard but damn it's useful - so much so I've kept putting off getting a decent drill vice for it as between that and a record number 3 there's not a lot I've struggled to hold down.