The Denbigh Drill

[Dieselman 63]

More paint, a first coat on the table bracket here. The last repaint had a section of that centre band missing, meaning the bracket probably hasn’t been able to swivel on the column for years. It took considerable effort to work it free, but now it glides no trouble.

 

[Dieselman 63]

This collar seemed pointless to me as I was disassembling the drill as it was loose on the spindle - it’s not actually meant to be like that, and it’s rather important too. The arm off the side is to hold an adjustable screw which triggers cutoff of the power feed lever. Unfortunately years of hanging free have cut a rather deep eccentric groove in the metal, though it’s still useable.

More parts go for paint, in this case it is the housing for the table rise/fall mechanism.

 

[Geoffm]

Been a lack of action here. With Christmas I expect you to be hard at it and ignoring the ham, pudding and rellies in the house. Some of us are living vicariously here and are relying on you. Dont let us down!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Ok, so here we go.

Power feed gearbox - primed and in one coat of gloss red. This should make it easier to see what’s happening in future and also seals up any porous castings. To say this drill has rough castings is a little bit of an understatement!

All lettering is going to be navy blue and any raised lips will be navy too. The insides of the pulley cones will be navy which will make a nice change from the current ‘accumulated grease and grime’.

I’ve started buffing up the cones, which takes a huge amount of work - they’re very dirty and quite rusted too. The results are however very pleasing. In fact, everything on the drill is looking good once it has had a bit of love.

Next up I want to sand and paint the upper camelback castings.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Sadly though it has not gone unnoticed that I have a wealth of free time. I am restoring furniture and building a shed, partially against my will! These activities hinder drill progress!

 

[gaz1]

thats revenge for getting help with the drill

always happens and theres no escaping it

 

[Dieselman 63]

thats revenge for getting help with the drill

always happens and theres no escaping it

At least I’m not painting the doors... yet. Why did I agree that it was a good idea to repaint ten doors in the house?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Why did I agree that it was a good idea

Beer?

 

[Turbo]

Sadly though it has not gone unnoticed that I have a wealth of free time. I am restoring furniture and building a shed, partially against my will! These activities hinder drill progress!

I was volunteered to restore a nest of 3 pine tables last year. 2 were finished, the other ... I see it sometimes buried under boxes of wood lathe bits, also under restoration.

I was reminded about it last night when they were looking for small tables to set their drinks on!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Another proper fetid part of the drill made clean - the backgear on the main shaft, another box full of grease and rust too, all washed out and ready to be primed. Got the lid from the front skew gear into primer and the lid from this box in primer too.

It seems the drill may have been given a good overhaul when it was painted blue, possibly partially rebuilt. It looks like it has had a new gear made as the cut is much rougher. Would have been an expensive job to do!

There aren’t any oilers on this box which leads me to think it may be intended to hold a reservoir of gear oil which the large gear splashes around, and the arched top cover allows to flow over the rest of the mechanism. I’ll Teflon tape the bottom bolt which secures it in, and see if I can fill it up!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Just a wee mock-up, still got to strip the exterior and do another coat inside, but so far it looks very nice! Looks how I’d like to find it if I opened it up for the first time.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The little oilers on this drill are marked as being made by Partridges. I liked their advertisements - don’t toil, use oil! Despite the age of the adverts I think my drill is post war, as it has plastic ball handles and lots of hex grub screws.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Quite difficult to take decent pics in this light as the drill is right by the door, however I have started to strip the camelback iron casting on the drill. I did a bit and there was loads of dust so I stopped to wipe it down and add a coat of primer on the exposed virgin cast metal! Probably hasn’t seen the light of day for the best part of a century - back into paint you go!

It’ll be patchwork like this until the whole casting is done, then I’ll have a look at what needs filling.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Better angle from the other side (now cleaned). Looking good!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Three of six gearbox halves are now in their second internal topcoat. Here are four sections drying on my window ledge.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Progress!

 

[Dieselman 63]

More work on the power feed box - I’d forgotten that the top part of this has its own little worm box. After degreasing it (and how!) I put it into primer. Eventually it’ll be painted red like all the other internal spaces.

Also, here’s a little reminder not to grease oil holes - I found another one hidden by dried grease, quite a lot of it too. Some of the oilers are missing their flaps so I’ll be replacing them with some of my very nice nickel plated ones I got from @Seadog

 

[Turbo]

Progress!

I thought it was a Denbigh, not a progress!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Finally got the frame all into primer. There are two bits which need painting dark blue so they’re in paint now, I’ve reinstalled the roller pulley wheel at the top where the chain feeds through too.

The plan is to move the drill back into the centre of the garage and feed a weighted piece of string down the hole into the column. I’ll then lower the drill and tie the string to the chain, pulling the weight up the column too. Once that’s done I can raise the drill again, then put something through the chain (long nail maybe) to stop it feeding back down the column. Then I’ll repaint the frame and prepare the spindle, which will need to be the first thing I rebuild.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Had a good bit of unexpected free time so I seized the moment and decided to put the frame into undercoat, and it looks pretty good I must say.