Hi,
A bit of background: I like all kinds of mechanical-type trades. I'm retired and started farming 4 years ago, and have a farm shop with tools to work on my tractor and other farm equipment, cars, and trucks.
--I have been getting any metalwork I needed done by a neighbor machinist, but I want to try it myself. I remember (long ago!) I got to run a metal lathe a little in high school shop and it amazed me. Other than this, I don't know anything about machining (unless you count reloading precision ammo for long range shooting).
Anyways, I just bought a Van Norman #16 mill. It's missing the motorized table translation parts, and also the seller is keeping the Kurt vise, but otherwise seems "tight", no rust, and I can run it manually for now.
I just moved the mill to my shop last week and haven't even wired it up yet.
Question: should I be taking the mill apart to clean the ways, surfaces etc. or should I just lube it well, adjust out backlash (I think this is possible with this mill) and start "making chips"?
A bit of background: I like all kinds of mechanical-type trades. I'm retired and started farming 4 years ago, and have a farm shop with tools to work on my tractor and other farm equipment, cars, and trucks.
--I have been getting any metalwork I needed done by a neighbor machinist, but I want to try it myself. I remember (long ago!) I got to run a metal lathe a little in high school shop and it amazed me. Other than this, I don't know anything about machining (unless you count reloading precision ammo for long range shooting).
Anyways, I just bought a Van Norman #16 mill. It's missing the motorized table translation parts, and also the seller is keeping the Kurt vise, but otherwise seems "tight", no rust, and I can run it manually for now.
I just moved the mill to my shop last week and haven't even wired it up yet.
Question: should I be taking the mill apart to clean the ways, surfaces etc. or should I just lube it well, adjust out backlash (I think this is possible with this mill) and start "making chips"?