The Fobco Star drill refurb
Discussion
Figured some of you might appreciate this.
This was my late dads, it's been sat at mine unused & unloved for a good 12 yrs, thought that was a bit criminal & although these go for good £ as are v well regarded, I have no intention of selling, just want to use it for the odd thing.
So 1st off the motor is perhaps 60 yrs old & the wiring is very perished & scary, I wouldn't even risk trying it, so new (used) motor & wiring time.
Hmm mounting plate is too narrow, aha I have a solution, remove old mounting plate & use that
But it will need milling down to make flat, go & see mate with a milling machine & it's a 2 mins jobbie.
Hmm shaft diameter size is very different on the motors, swap to a more appropriate pulley with a mate.
Needs a tiny bit of packing out, Stella can to the rescue.
Motor bolted up
1st start in 12 yrs, hmm I can hear a noisy bearing, pull shaft
It's the 2nd bearing down, not the lower quill bearing, it's not horrific but it is worn, ancient old grease cleaned off, all repacked & that will do for a bit, but I might replace it later, although this drill won't see huge use tbh.
The drive belt is nasty & worn, I have a look about. I have sat around an old Mk2 Golf alternator belt from one of my cars years ago, it's the right size bingo!
New switch isn't the prettiest solution, but it's safe & will do for now.
So it runs fine. Just needs a good clean & paint to stop it looking like it's come off the Titanic.
Paint colour still undecided. I'm thinking perhaps like this?
This was my late dads, it's been sat at mine unused & unloved for a good 12 yrs, thought that was a bit criminal & although these go for good £ as are v well regarded, I have no intention of selling, just want to use it for the odd thing.
So 1st off the motor is perhaps 60 yrs old & the wiring is very perished & scary, I wouldn't even risk trying it, so new (used) motor & wiring time.
Hmm mounting plate is too narrow, aha I have a solution, remove old mounting plate & use that
But it will need milling down to make flat, go & see mate with a milling machine & it's a 2 mins jobbie.
Hmm shaft diameter size is very different on the motors, swap to a more appropriate pulley with a mate.
Needs a tiny bit of packing out, Stella can to the rescue.
Motor bolted up
1st start in 12 yrs, hmm I can hear a noisy bearing, pull shaft
It's the 2nd bearing down, not the lower quill bearing, it's not horrific but it is worn, ancient old grease cleaned off, all repacked & that will do for a bit, but I might replace it later, although this drill won't see huge use tbh.
The drive belt is nasty & worn, I have a look about. I have sat around an old Mk2 Golf alternator belt from one of my cars years ago, it's the right size bingo!
New switch isn't the prettiest solution, but it's safe & will do for now.
So it runs fine. Just needs a good clean & paint to stop it looking like it's come off the Titanic.
Paint colour still undecided. I'm thinking perhaps like this?
Edited by iguana on Sunday 19th January 21:38
Turtle Shed said:
That's lovely - Pure PH
What kind of age are we talking? I remember drills like that in school metalwork class in the mid 1970s.
I don't actually know it's age, I'd assumed '60s they started making this model in 1957 I think & it's not a very high production number. So someone more clued up than me might know, but late 50s or early 60s I assume.What kind of age are we talking? I remember drills like that in school metalwork class in the mid 1970s.
'Paint colour still undecided. I'm thinking perhaps like this?'
It's nice, but I think it should be returned to its original colours which look like cream and yellow.
It reminds me of the Myford ML8 lathe, which was in production for 30+ years, but the colour changed from cream to green and finally silver.
It's nice, but I think it should be returned to its original colours which look like cream and yellow.
It reminds me of the Myford ML8 lathe, which was in production for 30+ years, but the colour changed from cream to green and finally silver.
These guys do good paint, proper colours for machinery - looks like the drill press would be Fobco Cream?
https://www.paragonpaints.co.uk/Fobco-Drill-Press-...
It would be a shame to restore it in the wrong colour?
https://www.paragonpaints.co.uk/Fobco-Drill-Press-...
It would be a shame to restore it in the wrong colour?
megaphone said:
hidetheelephants said:
Put the original motor back on; bet there's nowt wrong with it other than needing new wiring.
This, why didn't you just re-wire the motor? hidetheelephants said:
These drills are just so much more pleasant to use than anything new, I have a similar bench drill that gets lots of use. You don't half notice the extra weight when shifting them though!
Ha well as my back was killing me after shifting it around on Saturday I thought I'd weigh it today & find out how much of a girly I am finding it hard to lift around.Well just shy of 70kg with the new lighter motor on, so yes it's quite a lump to get onto workbenches & in & out my car boot.
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