What to do with a clapped out bridgeport?

[will gilmore]

I already have a bridgeport in fair condition. I just picked up a second one that is pretty worn. Scoring on the saddle ways. Havent looked too much deeper than that.

Any ideas?

I think this is pretty slick:

and I wouldn't worry about the abrasive dust because this thing is pretty worn already but I'm also thinking about trying to trade for a horizontal.

 

[ganymede]

If the cost getting it back up to service is too much then get what parts you might need from it and sell the rest.

 

[iajonesy]

GIVE IT TO ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

 

[zkling]

Depends on how you define clapped out. Just the x y table? Knee as well? Quill? Head?

It would make an OK drill press for ~5/8" max. Rouging mill with a fly cutter or the like.

 

[77Mini]

I already have a bridgeport in fair condition. I just picked up a second one that is pretty worn. Scoring on the saddle ways. Havent looked too much deeper than that.

Any ideas?

I think this is pretty slick:

and I wouldn't worry about the abrasive dust because this thing is pretty worn already but I'm also thinking about trying to trade for a horizontal.

The tubing notcher idea in the video seems like a bit of a waste. You can do the same thing with a large milling cutter in your other mill. Likely work better and less heat too.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

I'd scape and re fit the ways, fit new bearings in the head. If the screws are trashed see if you can find some ball screws. You can build a very accurate Bridgeport.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

There is a GJF member from Wisconsin who has rebuilt a number of machine tools. He might be able to give you some ideas of hard it would be to "fix it" and some pointers as well.

 

[404]

Re scrape it to new condition. Shame to trash it.

 

[Strouty]

It is obviously junk, the head is so worn that it is pointing sideways.

I would try and sell it, one man's clapped out is another man's bridgeport.

 

[JonnyMac]

Ship it to australia and sell it for $5k!!

 

[will gilmore]

If the cost getting it back up to service is too much then get what parts you might need from it and sell the rest.

I already robbed the handle that moves the ram forward and back which was broken on mine.

GIVE IT TO ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

I think shipping would be expensive!

Depends on how you define clapped out. Just the x y table? Knee as well? Quill? Head?

It would make an OK drill press for ~5/8" max. Rouging mill with a fly cutter or the like.

I haven't powered it up yet. Power feed is noisy (see video). It would be an awesome drill press (that is pretty much what I use mine for). Rigid plus xy table, easy to clamp to etc

The tubing notcher idea in the video seems like a bit of a waste. You can do the same thing with a large milling cutter in your other mill. Likely work better and less heat too.

The abrasives are good on thin wall tube and composites which a endmill/saw/milling cutter can tear up. You can also make any size notch by making a new drum vs buying a cutter.

I'd scape and re fit the ways, fit new bearings in the head. If the screws are trashed see if you can find some ball screws. You can build a very accurate Bridgeport.

Re scrape it to new condition. Shame to trash it.

I don't really desire a really accurate bridgeport plus the scoring is fairly deep. It would take a lot of scraping!







This is a video. I can't seem to embed it but you can click to watch it over on flickr

 

[gte718p]

scoring is an indication that someone didn't take care of it, but it is possible to be true and tight even with scoring.

If it really is dead, and you don't want to fix it the little pieces and parts can add up to a good bit of money on eBay.

 

[rsanter]

Sell it if you don't need it or want it....

Bob

 

[Kevin54]

I wouldn't scrap it out for sure, but I'd sell it for anywhere between $1000-$1500. I've seen worse go for more than that, and that was without power feed or a variable speed head. For a clapped out mill, that will make someone a darn good starter mill. The power feed sounds like it may have a bad tooth on one of the gears. Parts are probably still available for it, or if it's just one tooth, one could probably weld it up and recut the tooth or file it in. As far as the handle for the ram, you can still buy BP parts, or you could even make a handle. Lots of possibilities for that mill, and some life left in it.