Meddings pillar drill missing some parts - looking for advice.

[pc18]

I have been looking to pickup my first pillar drill. Ive been after one for a while as i have a few projects i would like to use it for.

Anyway i have been offered one but it is missing a few parts

It'll need the drive pulleys
There's a new quill return spring but no cover for the holder and there's no belt guard.
It's missing one arm and two knobs from the thing you turn to push the drill down.

It has had a single phase motor fitted.
Not knowing much about these, do you guys think i would be able to get the parts together to get this thing useable again? Or is it going to end up costing more than buying a working machine?

heres a few pics.



P4160015 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

P4170022 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

P4170021 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

P4160016 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Smouser]

It is difficult and expensive getting parts.
The pulleys alone is going to be hard to find.

That Meddings is nothing special either (it is the 'baby' version of their drills).

I would not get that drill (unless very cheap and I wanted to use it for parts).

That being said, the drill is definitely not 'unsaveable'.

 

[Tom O]

I would think that it wouldn’t be hard to make a couple pulleys for it.

 

[winchman]

As mentioned above if its really cheap buy it and wait for the bits to come along, in the mean time you still need a drill and will be stuck with a useless project that you may never find the bits for.

 

[frank horton]

dont worry about the belt gaurd....mine is still on the shelf....never used....big cast iron lump....
get a couple of stepped pulleys of the web....make sure theres enough meat in the center to machine out, esp the quill......
if u have a problem with the quill shaft pulley make one from glued up plywood......dont laugh.....
I needed to change the gearing on my Hoffman car lift....reg use for over 10 years.....

if there's no play in the quill and the motor runs it's worth £50 but better if £25.....

 

[Rrobson]

You would likely be able to get another complete machine cheaper… i
Personally wouldn’t entertain something like that unless it had some parts needed to finishing an ongoing restoration. A larger meddings with the back gear can be had for reasonable money so I’d just keep an eye out for one of those.

 

[6ply]

If you look at the data plate the original speeds are more suited to timber than metal.

Making new handles is not a problem.

Making a serviceable belt guard is doable. It won't look original.

I have pulleys and spare handles that may be compatible, but I'd avoid that drill if I were you.

Where are you located? I may be able to sell you a better drill or two, with back gear.

 

[6ply]

Sorry.. just clicked on your name... Cumbria. A bit too far from Dorset.

 

[Agroshield]

A set of five speed pulleys located in the original position will be difficult as the spindle one has to be big externally so it can be big internally to clear the boss on the casting and to sit low enough to line up with the motor.

If you were desperate, you could consider a cheaper pair of two speed pulleys, a three phase motor and a VFD.

Still a lot of work though. As above, at no more than £50, it is worth it but it may be better to keep looking.

 

[pc18]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think i will leave it as it will end up just sitting taking up space but not able to use it i think. I will keep looking im sure something will come up eventually.

 

[pc18]

Well i have continued my search for a drill and after going to see a fobco star bench drill down the road but the guy wanted alot more than i was looking to spend. I found this locally (up the road). I only paid £30 for it and it seems to work well from a quick go with it yesterday. Its got a clarke .75hp motor on it and a Black and Decker 1.5-13mm chuck.
Heres a few pics.

20230509_200147 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

received_614558287264528 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

received_125531020524812 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

20230510_173122 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

20230510_172801 by Bean Beano, on Flickr


Realistically what diameter holes will this be able to drill in mild steel? also i need to figure out how to get a bit bigger than 13mm into it.

I cant seem to find anything on this machine online and there is very little plates on it identifying it. Only the small triangle one in the picture. Considering the size of it there is some weight in it.

 

[Agroshield]

Realistically what diameter holes will this be able to drill in mild steel? also i need to figure out how to get a bit bigger than 13mm into it.

Try to work out the lowest rpm. It may be possible to get a tachometer app. for your phone. If not, look at the motor speed and roughly measure the smallest pulley on the motor and biggest on the spindle (the way it is set up in your photos). Measuring across the outside of the belt will be good enough for now.

If the rpm is low enough, hole saws will work for bigger holes.

If the chuck is held onto the spindle with a standard Jacobs taper, there is not much option for going bigger. Hole saws or blacksmiths (also called Silver and Deming) drills. If you can identify the taper on the spindle, it might be possible to find a 16mm Jacobs chuck that will fit it.

If the chuck is on an arbor and the spindle is Morse taper, you have more options. Extend the quill to its maximum and look at it and take a picture. If there is a slot in it, and you can see something inside the slot, you might be in luck.

---

See this page for details of Soag:

Chekko Lathes

See also:

Used Other Machinery Soag Paper Drill - single head paper drilling machine with round corner cutting

www.gabsupplies.co.uk

And especially photo 7 of 12 here:

Soag T 4060 Automatic Heavy Duty | pressXchange

We are pleased to offer: Soag Automatic Heavy Duty Paper Drill. Automatic heavy duty paper drill. Will drill up to 22 positions. Soag Auto drill Motor stop start Size of workable table 18” deep x 26” wide Largest sheet size 16” deep x 26” wide Max distance of holes apart 22” Max distance from...

www.pressxchange.com

 

[pc18]

Try to work out the lowest rpm. It may be possible to get a tachometer app. for your phone. If not, look at the motor speed and roughly measure the smallest pulley on the motor and biggest on the spindle (the way it is set up in your photos). Measuring across the outside of the belt will be good enough for now.

If the rpm is low enough, hole saws will work for bigger holes.

If the chuck is held onto the spindle with a standard Jacobs taper, there is not much option for going bigger. Hole saws or blacksmiths (also called Silver and Deming) drills. If you can identify the taper on the spindle, it might be possible to find a 16mm Jacobs chuck that will fit it.

If the chuck is on an arbor and the spindle is Morse taper, you have more options. Extend the quill to its maximum and look at it and take a picture. If there is a slot in it, and you can see something inside the slot, you might be in luck.

---

See this page for details of Soag:

Chekko Lathes

See also:

Used Other Machinery Soag Paper Drill - single head paper drilling machine with round corner cutting

www.gabsupplies.co.uk

And especially photo 7 of 12 here:

Soag T 4060 Automatic Heavy Duty | pressXchange

We are pleased to offer: Soag Automatic Heavy Duty Paper Drill. Automatic heavy duty paper drill. Will drill up to 22 positions. Soag Auto drill Motor stop start Size of workable table 18” deep x 26” wide Largest sheet size 16” deep x 26” wide Max distance of holes apart 22” Max distance from...

www.pressxchange.com

Awesome thanks for the help.

I will check the speeds after tea and see what i can figure out. It has had these speeds stuck on it at some point.
20230510_183556 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

and a couple more pics

20230510_183726 by Bean Beano, on Flickr
20230510_183750 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

 

[Smouser]

Nice drill.

Obviously, the Clarke motor is not original. What does the data plate on the motor say the RPM is? I can't quite make it out.

Those speeds that have been printed out roughly correspond with a Meddings drill with a ~1350 rpm motor.

You could always look out for a cheap 3-phase motor and then couple it with a VFD to get a little bit lower speeds (you will lose some power on lower speeds).

You can also install a cheap RPM meter if you want. Here is an example of one I have done on my milling machine.

 

[pc18]

Nice drill.

Obviously, the Clarke motor is not original. What does the data plate on the motor say the RPM is? I can't quite make it out.

Those speeds that have been printed out roughly correspond with a Meddings drill with a ~1350 rpm motor.

You could always look out for a cheap 3-phase motor and then couple it with a VFD to get a little bit lower speeds (you will lose some power on lower speeds).

You can also install a cheap RPM meter if you want. Here is an example of one I have done on my milling machine.

Cheers Smouser, The motor plate says 1330rpm.
I will have a better look through your milling machine thread as in the future it is something else i would like to pick up when i get some more space.

 

[6ply]

That SOAG looks decent enough for the price you paid. I suspect it is a male Jacobs taper on the spindle in which case your choice of chucks is somewhat reduced, but not too worry as that chuck is probably fine to get you started. Depending on what you want to drill (sheet metal?) Stepped drills like those often sold in Lidl often work very well. If you fancy a little project you could add a third stepped pulley between the two existing pulleys and that would slow things right down. Have a look on YouTube as this is a common and easy modification.

 

[6ply]

Like this

 

[6ply]

If you don't have a pulley I can post you one for the cost of the postage.

 

[pc18]

If you don't have a pulley I can post you one for the cost of the postage.

That SOAG looks decent enough for the price you paid. I suspect it is a male Jacobs taper on the spindle in which case your choice of chucks is somewhat reduced, but not too worry as that chuck is probably fine to get you started. Depending on what you want to drill (sheet metal?) Stepped drills like those often sold in Lidl often work very well. If you fancy a little project you could add a third stepped pulley between the two existing pulleys and that would slow things right down. Have a look on YouTube as this is a common and easy modification.

I am going to be making a 20 press. i have cut the steel channel to size already for the frame and bed. so i will be drilling through that for the bolt holes and the different heights for the table. not quiet sure of the exact hole sizes i need yet but i am hoping to have it finished in the next week or two. I have a 20 ton air assisted bottle jack which will be powering it. I will be pretty much using these plans as a base for it but using a bit heavier material as thats what i had available to me.

Press plans

I have a few sets of those step drills already so im sure they will be coming in handy. I will look into the 3rd pulley that sounds interesting, cheers.