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thanks @Jelly Dont think the diagram attached unfortunately. I bought some more expensive original Hoffman bearings for the pulleys so I need to get it right ! The pulley bearings were nearly twice as much as the angular contacts but they do look the business though.

Hi @Fitzroy Its just a single page I found on the web when searching for a Fobco manual. I bought the guide from Laithes.co.uk, but it doesn't have any other drawings specific to the star - only the other machines in the Fobco range. I don't know if there was ever a manual as such. How is...

Thank you @Jelly - I really couldn't have asked for more detailed instructions, that's a huge help and I now feel confident tackling it, and that I won't have a ex-Fobco lying in bits for ever !! It might be a few weeks before I have chance to fully disassemble it - but I'll see if I can at...

Thank you ever so much - that is amazing help @Jelly I have found a cross sectional diagram which hopefully will attach here - you will probably be able to make sense of it. I think its a type 1 looking at your diagrams but I haven't had it fully apart yet, and can't be sure. The guide I...

Hi Folks - reviving my own old thread here but Ive been using my Fobco Star for about a year and absolutely loving it. Its help me build 4 guitars this year ( my new retirement hobby) But lately its become a bit noisy and I have narrowed this down to at least one of the bearings. When I...

So for fun I tried out the diy brad point approach using my Dremel and drill press on an old knackered drill. It worked very well on a 10mm bit, with a nice clean entry hole into some mahogany offcuts - so when the jobber bits arrive I'll have a go at making a 11/32" brad bit myself. Thanks...

cheers Folks - I have a few options now. just ordered a few 8.7mm standard bits to have a go at reshaping first . Worst case, I know where to get the Fisch bit Ta Pete

well well well .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeT6HSPaTPc Thanks CheshireChappie ! I will try this using my newly acquired Fobco !! cheers Pete

Thanks, trying to visualise exactly how you mean! I don't have a grinding wheel, but could I do this with hand files do you think? I'll see if I can find a YT video on adapting drill bits in the way you describe. Cheers Pete

Hi Folks, can anyone tell me where I could source a good quality 11/32nd brad point wood bit in the UK? - its a specific size I need to drill tuner holes in a couple of guitars I am building - but this size bit seems like proverbial rocking horse poo! I don't really want to use the easily...

Thanks - was it a reasonable price for a one-off?

Cheers Andy ! Regards Pete

Hi. From what I can make out its a Parkinson Model F No. 8 vice Hard to see as the casting is so worn with use ! You can see the Spring in this picture Hope that helps Thanks Pete

Thanks. Looks like a very different type of Spring to mine - but might work perhaps Mine is a cylindrical Spring about 2" long , rather than a coil if you see what I mean Cheers Pete

Hi Folks and Happy New Year to you I have a lovely old and heavy vise that I use a lot in my workshop The quick release Spring has broken and I just can't find a replacement online Does anyone know where I could source a replacement Spring for it in the UK or EU ? It's a shame I can't use...

Finally a photo of my recently acquired and "refurbished" Fobco star. I stripped and cleaned everything and put it back together - not sure about repainting yet . For now I just want to get using it !! Going to invest in a dial gauge so I can measure the runout and tweak it. Cheers Pete

Thanks for the feedback all. I realised the pulleys are original after all - only one has a copper sleeve inside. The motor pulley. It dawned on me that when someone replaced the motor the spindle was metric and they needed to bodge a fix . Seems to fit very well though in fairness. Pulleys...

Thanks for the tips. Only grease I have on hand is a pot of Castrol LM grease ( which I use on everything in ignorance to be honest ! ) I guess it will do ? I do also need to clean and grease the motor mount sliders - changing the belt is a PITA at the moment. cheers Pete

Came off fine with the gear puller. Cleaned up and derusted all parts today. Could do with some advice on how to deal with the angular contact bearings when I come to rebuild/ grease the quill and spindle. For now I am going to reassemble and get it running for a few tasks I have. Cheers...

A 150mm 3-legged Gear puller worked a treat - the grub screws had been tightened so much that there were dimples in the quill shaft causing burrs and this was what was causing the problem getting the pulley off. Had to sandpaper the shaft slightly to remove the burr caused by the dimples and...