The Denbigh Drill

[Dieselman 63]

So far so good... auto feed box reattached, complete with sprung handle and depth stop! Then some other odd bit of cast metal which has a hole bored in it for an unknown purpose on the other side.

That this machine was a runner in the state I purchased it in must say something for the build quality of these things.

 

[Dieselman 63]

A pic I took today, rolled back into its place again. It’s by no means close to completion but it’s a lot better than what it was!

 

[Dieselman 63]

A few moody shots from tonight. I have cleaned and reinstalled the quill, and stuck a 7/8 reamer in to get an idea of using the taper. Half of the backgear box is done. Overall this project is coming along nicely

 

[Dieselman 63]

Some progress, this is moving along nicely

 

[God mode restorations]

Some progress, this is moving along nicely

Looking great.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Did some more work on this.

I primed and fixed in place the lower half of the skew gear for the main spindle, then slid the gear onto the keyway. This gear has about a six inch shaft through which the spindle runs, its extremely heavy to pull out since you can only get your fingertips in there!

I took apart the lower step pulley assembly and found this spacer - cast iron? Looked it at first before I scraped all that muck off. What an improvement! The pulleys are away at the sandblasters at the moment. It was too dirty in there and too fiddly for me, plus $40 (£20) for the pair. Bargain! I’ll prime and paint the insides dark blue. With the pulley off it gave me a good opportunity to get started cleaning the base of the machine and I got the little section I did do into primer. The carrier for the pulley is half stripped, and requires further cleaning.

Last but not least, I’ve got the motor adjustment thing off the rear casting - this needed soaking in oil and a few blows from my 3lb hammer, it was stuck fast. I did some wire brushing on the inside, which would appear never to have been painted. This will be another dark blue area.

 

[God mode restorations]

Did some more work on this.

I primed and fixed in place the lower half of the skew gear for the main spindle, then slid the gear onto the keyway. This gear has about a six inch shaft through which the spindle runs, its extremely heavy to pull out since you can only get your fingertips in there!

I took apart the lower step pulley assembly and found this spacer - cast iron? Looked it at first before I scraped all that muck off. What an improvement! The pulleys are away at the sandblasters at the moment. It was too dirty in there and too fiddly for me, plus $40 (£20) for the pair. Bargain! I’ll prime and paint the insides dark blue. With the pulley off it gave me a good opportunity to get started cleaning the base of the machine and I got the little section I did do into primer. The carrier for the pulley is half stripped, and requires further cleaning.

Last but not least, I’ve got the motor adjustment thing off the rear casting - this needed soaking in oil and a few blows from my 3lb hammer, it was stuck fast. I did some wire brushing on the inside, which would appear never to have been painted. This will be another dark blue area.

Coming along nicely mate.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Coming along nicely mate.

Cheers pal. There’s only one hiccup on this which is the spoked pulley wheel on the end was cracked and a piece fell out. I am going to get it brazed back together. Need to make a new handle for the back gear too. I’ll also need some new fiat belts - where in the world still makes them?

 

[God mode restorations]

Cheers pal. There’s only one hiccup on this which is the spoked pulley wheel on the end was cracked and a piece fell out. I am going to get it brazed back together. Need to make a new handle for the back gear too. I’ll also need some new fiat belts - where in the world still makes them?

It's a nice subtle blue. It's not in your face blue or a loud blue. It suits the drill . A few of the handles on some of my machinery has cracks and bits missing. Thankfully these can be fixed . Fiat belts ? Do you mean flat belts

 

[Dieselman 63]

It's a nice subtle blue. It's not in your face blue or a loud blue. It suits the drill . A few of the handles on some of my machinery has cracks and bits missing. Thankfully these can be fixed . Fiat belts ? Do you mean flat belts

Yeah I do, this phone has a mind of its own

 

[God mode restorations]

Yeah I do, this phone has a mind of its own

Lathes uk do flat belts. They do a variety of rubber ones and the traditional leather type with the clips. Cant think of the correct term for the clips. They can be expensive. I am still pondering of the same thing for my Harrison belt....traditional leather or the later modern.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Lathes uk do flat belts. They do a variety of rubber ones and the traditional leather type with the clips. Cant think of the correct term for the clips. They can be expensive. I am still pondering of the same thing for my Harrison belt....traditional leather or the later modern.

This one has to be joined since it loops through that carrier. Otherwise I’d just use a vee belt.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The pulleys are back from the blasters. They did a great job and I’m happy as. I’m going to get them to do a few more awkward bits. The insides are now in primer, and I’ll brush the pulley surfaces later. Another job down!

 

[Geoffm]

This one has to be joined since it loops through that carrier. Otherwise I’d just use a vee belt.

This one has to be joined since it loops through that carrier. Otherwise I’d just use a vee belt.

Stedar belting in Auckland can make flat belts, either endless or clipped. They made the belt for my Denbiegh 30 years ago. A conveyor belt place near you may also do them. Mine are synthetic with leather facing.
For the power feed for my horizontal mill, I used a serpentine belt (poly vee) from a car parts place as a flat belt. Works well.

That hole in the casting might be for the power down feed spindle? I can take photos of mine if you want. It is not as pretty as yours. It came from a scrapyard after being in a fire.i wired it up and never got around to tidying it up[/QUOTE]

 

[Dieselman 63]

Stedar belting in Auckland can make flat belts, either endless or clipped. They made the belt for my Denbiegh 30 years ago. A conveyor belt place near you may also do them. Mine are synthetic with leather facing.
For the power feed for my horizontal mill, I used a serpentine belt (poly vee) from a car parts place as a flat belt. Works well.

That hole in the casting might be for the power down feed spindle? I can take photos of mine if you want. It is not as pretty as yours. It came from a scrapyard after being in a fire.i wired it up and never got around to tidying it up

[/QUOTE]

Photos would be cool!

 

[Dieselman 63]

More work - first coat inside the pulley and the carrier is all primed too. I put it back on to assist me with cleaning the pulley.

The next thing I’ll get sandblasted will be the pulley wheel for the end of this - it’s cracked and needs brazing, and cleaning too.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I have a new motor for the drill, the other one was ok but made a funny clicking sound which even a full clean couldn’t eliminate... so it’s going for sale! I bought this one for $20 from the scrapyard, it’s a newer English Electric type, still made in a England though. It takes a lot longer to slow down and there’s no vibration from it, nice to save something that well built from being scrapped.

 

[Geoffm]

Here is my Denbiegh, which I rescued from a scrap yard 30 years ago.
The power feed belt needs to be crossed over to get it to feed in the right direction. Mine is not very good, as the belt is in fact a leather belt, as in Belt, mens, dress, for holding up pants, brown, and it has stretched and slips. I have never used the power feed enough to bother fixing it.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Here is my Denbiegh, which I rescued from a scrap yard 30 years ago.
The power feed belt needs to be crossed over to get it to feed in the right direction. Mine is not very good, as the belt is in fact a leather belt, as in Belt, mens, dress, for holding up pants, brown, and it has stretched and slips. I have never used the power feed enough to bother fixing it.
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Wow! That’s proper fetid

Always nice to see a tidy workshop similar to mine!

You’re missing the front guard, it really makes quite a difference to the appearance of the drill. I wonder how much it would be to get one cast?

I’m getting a bit tired of the restoration, I just want it done... I reckon I’m about 60% of the way through. Depending on whether I go to work this week we may see a spike in progress as we move into lockdown...

 

[Dieselman 63]

Cleaning the cone pulley and painting the back gear housing. I’m happy to be doing this as it means I can rebuild part of the drill completely up top... once I get the back gear handle sorted.