How to grow a pillar drill

[cheb]

First, prepare the ground:

[cheb]

First plant the seed:



It soon sprouts:



Then the stalk appears:




That stalk is a piece of solid steel bar 3" in diameter.

[cheb]

A branch spurs off:



And flowers:



And there's words for people who do this:

[demographic]

I have that same Facom hacksaw, I've overtightened the blade adjustment knob and it slips slightly.

It still works and I could likely sort it but it's slightly irritating all the same.

[iansoady]

3" diameter solid steel is overkill and VERY heavy - not to mention how long it would take to saw through it.... Thick wall tube would have been fine. But it looks good.

[chillitt]

3" diameter solid steel is overkill and VERY heavy - not to mention how long it would take to saw through it.... Thick wall tube would have been fine. But it looks good.

He probably knows its heavy, now he's put it in the base... I suspect its solid rather than tube because he had solid and it would take to long to drill it out into a tube...

[cheb]

The Facom is good, but not an easy fix if the thread strips. My other hacksaw just uses a nut, can't remember the brand, might be a Sandvic.

The newer drills use thick wall tube.

The drill head is now apart and stripped, I've got to degrease, clean and paint it.

[cheb]

The powerhead is on. It needs the correct sized belt, this one is an OK length but too thick a section, a longer cable from the motor to the inverter so it can be wall mounted, a new return spring, and the belt cover needs prepping and painting. Then I can sort the table.

[cheb]

If you are wondering where the chuck is, it's a morse taper and the chuck is easily removed, and big drills can be fitted directly into the quill.

[Lutin]

Looking good.

Not sure about the colour though.......

[Druid]

Looking good.

Not sure about the colour though.......

The colour is fine if you happen to have a tin of pale blue paint spare

[cheb]

It was the nearest I could get to Gulf racing colours. It's peevingly tedious trying to get aerosol paint delivered out here. Those that do the paint I want won't deliver, those who do deliver don't do the paint I want. I'll buy a load once the lockdown ends and I'm on the big island again. It won't take much to mask and respray it.

[cheb]

That's the top cover done, and a piece of wood for mounting the inverter.

[demographic]

Forgot about it in amongst all my photos but I saw this and thought of you.


There's also a plumber with a Transit in the Gulf colours round the town but his has the orange stripe down the centre. He reckons Ford did it like that before the one slightly off centre like yours.

[cheb]

And I'm back to this. Improving the table with a steel plate.

First make the centre point:



Mark it out. I used Kennedy metal marking paint as I found some when doing a workshop clearance. Slower than engineer's blue but potentially less messy. There's a centre drill ready to go.



Drilled and countersunk:



Tapping. The brown froth is cutting fluid, Screwfix's own from years ago.

[cheb]

Two screws in place. That'll keep it together while I do all the other holes:



Outer holes, 12 in number. M5 seemed a reasonable size, no calculations were harmed in coming to this decision.



Inner holes, 6 in number:



I'm now waiting for a set of taps, I used a thread repair tap to the two holes above, and the machine screws for the rest of the holes.

The countersinking is slightly deeper than the screw head as I plan to fill them with epoxy for a smooth surface.

[demographic]

Needs another 200 holes at random positions and in different diameters before it looks pukka.

[cheb]

It's a tough act to follow:

[MingtheMerciless]

Is that Swiss steel?

[cheb]

Chortle. I like that description.