Breast Drill

[jessesandy]

Since it seems to have worked, I want to show everyone how I made my Millers Fall #120 hand drill usable again.

The axle (?) shaft or the frame (or both) were so worn that the ring gear and pinion gear just wouldn't stay meshed.

So, to remove the slop I built up material to the shaft by fusing (?) nylon to the metal - monofilament fishing line.

First rigged up a lathe fixture so it could mount and spin with the gear teeth running straight and true. (Only turn on the lathe for machining the nylon after it's cooled and hardened.)

Just wrap the shaft with fishing line and melt with a propane torch.
Spin the shaft by hand and use a stick to form the melted nylon around the shaft. (Clean off the grease, first.)

The metal shaft only got hot enough to barely start glowing. Hopefully, I didn't alter the metal.

Then the shaft is machined to be at a 90 and centered in relation to the ring gear.

I've used it over an hour of drilling and can't notice any wear.
The nylon doesn't separate or chip off the metal at all.


Thanks.

 

[crguy]

That's a new one on me. JB weld would have probably been easier.

 

[ssdave]

I"ve done the same by just wrapping it with teflon tape until it fit snugly. Lots of ways to shim a low speed shaft that will work. I built an oak bearing for a low speed shaft once, and soaked it in oil for a few hours prior to install. It lasted several years in continuous use, oiled it occasionally. It was still operational when I sold the equipment.

Nice save of a classic tool!

 

[jessesandy]

Thanks, everyone.
JB Weld - good point.

After using the same process to put bushings on car door striker bolts, I guess I was "on a roll".



Besides, generic replacement bushing are like $3.99 !!!

 

[KRB52]

My second thought on the title was something along the lines of a medical device used to attach breast augmentation (aka: "bolt-ons.")

 

[Ditch]

Drilling breasts is fine but I prefer a clean box or a nice back door