New mill Wells-Index 745

[dmittz]

Thanks NorseDave, I'm enjoying working on the Mill but it sure does take a fair bit of time.

In regards to the Miller 211. So far I've just been using small (2lbs) spools of .030 wire. I have quite a few small spools left over from my old welder I want to use up first. I haven't had any issues with them. I'll keep in mind that I may need to modify the 'axle' if I want to run the 10lbs spool at some point. Thanks for the tip.

 

[dmittz]

Hey Guys, While the 745 is all apart I have been contemplating if I should retrofit a 1 shot oiler system for it. I found a kit online for series 1 bridgeport... Would it be almost the same as the my index 745 or are they a totally different number of ports etc?

Trying to decide if the expense and effort is worth while...

 

[T. J.]

I think those systems are fairly easily adapted to different mills - just count up the ports and make sure you get enough parts. I've never installed one though, so hopefully someone who has will chime in.

I had originally thought about installing one on my 645. I have since discarded that idea since finding the little oil gun I referenced earlier. It takes maybe 15 or 20 seconds to oil all the zerks and leaves zero mess.

 

[dmittz]

Thanks for the info T.J

It looks like my 745 has more oiling points than a comparable bridgeport, so adapting a one shot oiler kit (for a bridgeport) may be not as strait forward as I had hoped. Since you say it is very quick to just use an oil gun I think for now I'll just get the mill up an running as is and I can take on adding a one shot oiler down the road sometime.

 

[dmittz]

Hi Guys, I did a little more work on the Mill.

I figured it was time to get started dealing with the turret and over ram.

I flipped it upside...


The chain on the underside of the turret can be disconnected at both ends which allows the over ram to be removed from the turret.





Next I removed the worm gear head nod mechanism.




Next I removed the gear mechanism on the turret...The gear is retained with a set screw and a pin which both have to be removed.




Now the Turret, over ram and head knob mechanism were all separated.

More updates to come...

 

[dmittz]

Just a small update:

I decided the next thing I would do was restore one of the bags of small parts. I decided on the over ram slide mechanism.

It was a bit grungy and the 'bolt head' part of the handle that you put a socket on to move the over ram forward and back has some surface rust on it.

I polished up the gear and shaft, than I sand blasted and re-did the black oxide part of the handle. I think it came out nice...





The chain part of the slide mechanism had a lot of dried out grease, caked on dust and metal chips. So i scrubbed it clean in the parts washer and then lubricated it with some mobile Valcera.


The mechanism is now all ready to go when I start putting everything back together.

More updates to come.

 

[T. J.]

That looks like one place where they made improvements over the Model 645. That shaft on a 645 isn't near as beefy. There must have been more 200 pound gorillas like me who broke theirs trying to get it unstuck with the big wrench!

 

[dmittz]

That looks like one place where they made improvements over the Model 645. That shaft on a 645 isn't near as beefy. There must have been more 200 pound gorillas like me who broke theirs trying to get it unstuck with the big wrench!

Interesting, yes I believe the model 745 is a bit different from the turret upwards but everything below that is more or less the same as the model 645. That shaft actually requires a 1 inch socket or wrench to fit the head on it. It moved pretty easy on my mill but as you say it might be a place they did a redesign on the 745. Sorry to hear yours broke, hope you were able to get it unstuck...

 

[dmittz]

Next I started working on cleaning up and stripping the paint on the turret, over ram and head knod assemablly. It took quite a few hours but eventually I got them all down to bare metal.

I first cleaned them with purple power and scrubbed off all the hardened old grease, next I used aircraft paint stripper to remove as much paint and filler as possible. What was left was then removed with a wire wheel on a 7in angle grinder.

After paint stripping...


Finally down to bare metal....



It probably goes without saying but I was very careful around the precision machined surfaces....

Also, just a note about safety, since the original coat of paint might have lead in it, I used a supplied air system and did the whole process out doors.

Next up will be start painting and filling, more updates to come...

 

[dmittz]

I got a little more work done on the Mill recently.

I spent a bit of time painstakingly taping off the turret and over ram parts in peparation for paint.



After the taping was done I applied 2 coats of epoxy primer, followed by 2 coats of 2k high build primer.



I'm going to let the paint cure for a bit, then it will be time to start the process of filling. sanding and applying more high build primer until the surface in acceptably smooth.