Thread: Bridgeport rookie help

Hello out there, new to PM and also to machining....so be gentle and patient please. Just bought a used Bridegeport, 1 hp 3 phase. smaller table 32". Have some questions I was hoping to get some help with. Been watching these forums for a while, always seem helpful. (moved posting after PM posters pointed me to here)

In process of cleaning BP, table is pretty dirty. Once it is clean should I coat it with anything to keep from rusting up?

Actually, machine is pretty dirty and some paint peeling, anyone have a recommendation on paint once it is clean? Not looking for a resto, just make it look presentable. Paint that might work over old non peeling paint.

My machine has grease fittings, read somewhere where people are changing out to use oil instead of grease. Is this a good idea and if so what should I replace fittings with? What oil do you recommend? (Heard from PM poster that they are not grease fittings but actually oil fittings. What should I use for oil and with what tool that uses these fittings? Have not seen grease gun that hosts oil.)

My Bp works well except for a few things:
- The X axis lock does not lock table. What should I do to make it work? Unscrewed lock handle and looks good thread wise on handle. Threads all the way in but once it stops still does not lock table.

-My Y axis has a bit more backlash then my x. Is there any reference material on how to adjust backlash? Or does anyone recommend how?

-Also was given a static converter for single phase service to up to the 3 phase machine. Will this work well or should I look into a rotary unit? Converter is a Cedarberg series 1B model 1300B.

Thanks for help, appreciate any and all positive help. J

Originally Posted by flyboys

Hello out there, new to PM and also to machining....so be gentle and patient please. Just bought a used Bridegeport, 1 hp 3 phase. smaller table 32". Have some questions I was hoping to get some help with. Been watching these forums for a while, always seem helpful. (moved posting after PM posters pointed me to here)

In process of cleaning BP, table is pretty dirty. Once it is clean should I coat it with anything to keep from rusting up?

I have used paste wax on my table saw in the past; it didn't require daily lubrication or cutting with lubricant, however. I have found that it is more of a struggle to keep the table clean than it is to keep it rust-free. Use it awhile...

In terms of un-sticking stuck stuff on my mill, I have had good success with PB Blaster.

Originally Posted by flyboys

Actually, machine is pretty dirty and some paint peeling, anyone have a recommendation on paint once it is clean? Not looking for a resto, just make it look presentable. Paint that might work over old non peeling paint.

My old BP round ram's paint is peeling, too. Come to think of it, my beard's pretty grey. We're both old. I worry more about the functionality of my knees and less about the color of my whiskers. But there are threads here and elsewhere discussing paint; Google'm, why don't you?

Originally Posted by flyboys

My machine has grease fittings, read somewhere where people are changing out to use oil instead of grease. Is this a good idea and if so what should I replace fittings with? What oil do you recommend? (Heard from PM poster that they are not grease fittings but actually oil fittings. What should I use for oil and with what tool that uses these fittings? Have not seen grease gun that hosts oil.)

Your machine has zerks, perhaps, but they definitely are oil zerks. There're threads for that, too. After thinking about it, I decided to use bar & chain oil. Any's better than grease, which is effectively 'nothing'. I am using a modified grease gun (plugged up the end after removing the spring & rod thingie) to oil my ways.

Originally Posted by flyboys

My Bp works well except for a few things:
- The X axis lock does not lock table. What should I do to make it work? Unscrewed lock handle and looks good thread wise on handle. Threads all the way in but once it stops still does not lock table.

-My Y axis has a bit more backlash then my x. Is there any reference material on how to adjust backlash? Or does anyone recommend how?

There should be a little piece of metal that the lock handle screws up against that in turn pushes against the gib. You might poke around in the hole with a magnetic retriever gizmo to see if one comes out. I'm guessing one won't.

The backlash is adjustable by means of a feed-nut adjusting screw. But there are other possible issues. See for example, this thread.

Originally Posted by flyboys

-Also was given a static converter for single phase service to up to the 3 phase machine. Will this work well or should I look into a rotary unit? Converter is a Cedarberg series 1B model 1300B.

Thanks for help, appreciate any and all positive help. J

I was fortunate to have purchased a BP with a 110 volt motor. If I hadn't, I would probably have gotten a VFD for it, so as not to have to monk' w' the step pulleys.

In summary, I found that searching the web for phrases such as "adjusting backlash Bridgeport" yielded a cornucopia of information.

Keep on it!

Originally Posted by Mark W. Ingalls

I decided to use bar & chain oil.

Oh Boy! Here we go again!

ISO-68 medium way oil - Mobil Vactra #2 for all the ways on a BP
ISO-32 AW hydraulic oil - Mobil DTE 24 for oil cups on the head.
Lubriplate 105 or B-105 for set screw "A"

Don't forget to remove the set screw in the middle of the table to lubricate the feed nuts. PM me if you want a lube chart.
JR

Can someone provide instructions on how to modify a grease gun to use oil for my South Bend mill? Thanks in advance for your help.