M.B. Naegle
Diamond
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2011
- Location
- Conroe, TX USA
Newly rebuilt Delta Milwaukee Toolmaster 6" by 12" Surface Grinder. Includes new import 4" by 7" fine pole magnetic chuck and basic tools. One wheel hub and a few extra good used wheels. It's not a high production machine IMO, but 110v power and simple compact build make it perfect for a home shop or space starved machine shop. The original cast iron legs are gone, but can be replaced by welded steel, OR throw it on a sturdy bench and save floor space. One unique feature on these grinders is that the round vertical column can pivot the head around so that you can set the grinding wheel at an angle to your feed. It's also designed with a course down-feed moving the whole head assembly close to your work first, then a separate fine feed adjusts the spindle alone.
The rebuild included re-scraping the ways (see pictures) and surface grinding the gibs. All electrical was replaced with new or good used original Delta/Rockwell components. Everything is snug and moves well. The motor is missing it's original 2 step pulley and is instead setup with a single speed pulley, but they come up on online auctions occasionally. Some minor parts still have cosmetic or superficial wear, but nothing effecting the accuracy or utility of the machine. The motor and it's pulley have not been dynamically balanced as would be the case with the OEM set, but this doesn't seem to be effecting the surface finish of the grind.
Prior to scraping, all the sliding surfaces had .03-.04 grooves worn into them. The saddle and table were scraped flat using a grade A inspection plate to an average of 20 PPI and the top and bottom surfaces are parallel within .0005". The base casting I scraped to be flat using a 24" straight edge. The top of the table was ground on the machine itself and came in evenly without one corner hitting first or needing a lot of material removed. I also cut some additional oil lines into the gibs to help keep oil in between the surfaces. Like other grinders, it's set up so that you oil the table and the run-off from that drips through the saddle and oils the other ways under it.
I believe the Rex Machinery tag is the company that sold it new back in 1966, so it's a native Houston machine. After getting into this it, I found some places full of water and think it was a Hurricane Harvey victim, but rest assured I was very thorough in drying, cleaning, and oiling every individual part. Some parts had some heavy pitting but none on the critical moving surfaces. All electrical was replaced, new rear spindle bearing, cleaned and adjusted front tapered spindle bearing. It's ready to make parts for plenty more decades.
I took this project on for the experience and know I'll never get all my time out of it, but I'd like to get $3500. I'll gladly consider other offers too. At this point I just need it out the shop for a fair price.
The rebuild included re-scraping the ways (see pictures) and surface grinding the gibs. All electrical was replaced with new or good used original Delta/Rockwell components. Everything is snug and moves well. The motor is missing it's original 2 step pulley and is instead setup with a single speed pulley, but they come up on online auctions occasionally. Some minor parts still have cosmetic or superficial wear, but nothing effecting the accuracy or utility of the machine. The motor and it's pulley have not been dynamically balanced as would be the case with the OEM set, but this doesn't seem to be effecting the surface finish of the grind.
Prior to scraping, all the sliding surfaces had .03-.04 grooves worn into them. The saddle and table were scraped flat using a grade A inspection plate to an average of 20 PPI and the top and bottom surfaces are parallel within .0005". The base casting I scraped to be flat using a 24" straight edge. The top of the table was ground on the machine itself and came in evenly without one corner hitting first or needing a lot of material removed. I also cut some additional oil lines into the gibs to help keep oil in between the surfaces. Like other grinders, it's set up so that you oil the table and the run-off from that drips through the saddle and oils the other ways under it.
I believe the Rex Machinery tag is the company that sold it new back in 1966, so it's a native Houston machine. After getting into this it, I found some places full of water and think it was a Hurricane Harvey victim, but rest assured I was very thorough in drying, cleaning, and oiling every individual part. Some parts had some heavy pitting but none on the critical moving surfaces. All electrical was replaced, new rear spindle bearing, cleaned and adjusted front tapered spindle bearing. It's ready to make parts for plenty more decades.
I took this project on for the experience and know I'll never get all my time out of it, but I'd like to get $3500. I'll gladly consider other offers too. At this point I just need it out the shop for a fair price.