Pillar drills - what to buy?

[brightspark]

Hopefully it will be fine. Everything I have read on the Fobco’s is that they are built to last so unless it’s been abused or heavily used it should hopefully be fine.

I had been looking at bench grinders and a decent vice as well so it’s a billy bargain as far as I am concerned. Happy!

Lets face it even if its not 100% operation its probably going to be better than a new Clarke etc pillar drills you get in machine mart.

Can anyone tell me if I can do basic milling with this drill, like elongate holes etc?

by the time u get the milling cutter in the chuck theres a lot of over hang .so lots of chatter and not much cutting .the quill and bearings arent substantial enough to take sideways forces

 

[N2ae86]

Great thanks for the advice - I will probably get one of those milling vices anyway as they seem pretty smart for getting the work lined up so I can put neat holes in things.

Now I just need to build a work bench that will take the weight of the drill! Weekend project!

 

[N2ae86]

Just to update -

I collected the Fobco on the weekend. Very pleased. It’s in great condition for its age, complete with vintage patina and everything works and moves seamlessly. It’s been converted from 3 phase but seems to have been done properly. Being a sad git I took it for a test drive! And can confirm it drills nice and straight as well.

£60 notes well spent!

Just need to build a workbench for the garage now.

 

[shenion]

Great to hear. I hope I can find something as good. I hat using my Chinese junk one although adding a treadmill motor made it nicer.

Will probably outlast you.

MY 70-year old lathe outlasted its original owner. I'm the 3rd owner.

 

[mangocrazy]

Just resurrecting this thread - what are people's opinions on Boxford pillar drills (I'd expect them to be good, as they also make lathes) and also Nu-Tool and Naerok pillar drills?

Cheers...

 

[astro_al]

One of my drills is a floor standing Boxford. Has a partially geared head to split the normal ratios, so rev range is 89 to 2900 rpm. Nicely built - even the drive belt covers are half inch thick castings - a lot heavier than my smallish Meddings. I have 4 drills and this one gets used for a lot of the general metal-munching, despite not being the biggest / most powerful by a fair bit. Its a solid usable drill, I'd recommend it - set up with a keyless chuck it is real quick to set up / set ratios which is why it sees a lot of action. Only gripe would be that the table isn't a geared rise / fall - so faster to move with nothing on, but a milling vice or heavy job makes table adjustment a physical exercise. Main column could be thicker (diameter), but you won't notice this under general use.

I think comparing drills by makers name is a dangerous business. Ok, some makes are always good, and some makes are always crap, but a lot of brands used to make good stuff and now make crap, so just be careful.

Got a pic?

Al.

 

[mangocrazy]

Hi Al,

It's eBay item 270797963529 - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270797963529&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It looks in reasonably good nick from the photos, but it's always hard to tell.