Fobco Star Restoration

[Co1]

I’ve gone with a vfd. I couldn’t find a motor that looked period, so with the vfd I can keep the existing one and hide the vfd on the bench the drill will be mounted on.

Have done no work on the drill this week, but today I need to degrease the table and weld up the pock marks today as a friend is taking it tomorrow to run through his surface grinder.

 

[Co1]

A bit of progress today. Motor ran up on the VFD, very smooth and quiet indeed. The rest of the drill is now in its component parts, ready for degreasing and cleaning. Tried to convince the wife to clean it while I’m away this week, but apparently she’s got better things to do.

 

[Sideways]

I need to degrease the table and weld up the pock marks today as a friend is taking it tomorrow to run through his surface grinder.

Nice !

 

[Co1]

Belt cover undercoated and brush painted with Paragon enamel. I’m not looking for perfection so haven’t taken back to bare metal. The cast parts have been prepped with rust encapsulator from Buzzweld.

 

[Co1]

Got a date for moving house, which forced a somewhat rushed rebuild, and the motor refurb will have to wait.

 

[Hugh M.]

That looks cracking! I searched for a while looking for a suitable old drill rather than get a new but cheap one. I couldn’t find anything as good (or heavy) as this. Instead, I got an on the brink Continental International from the 80s I think? More of a budget model back then but still going strong.

 

[duke]

Got a date for moving house, which forced a somewhat rushed rebuild, and the motor refurb will have to wait.

View attachment 192649

Nice , I have machines that need painting but can't find the time to do it.

 

[Co1]

Thanks. I’m really pleased with it. To say I only paid £90 for it, it’s probably cost another £90 in paint, a quill spring, new drive belt and degreaser. Mechanically it is superb, so at £180 all in I would imagine it will out live me!!

 

[bilspe]

Nice to see another classic being restored and used.
It's a great drill, love mine, better than the new Chinese junk.
Like others have said, I just left it all original but was lucky to get a 240v one. Don't think I've ever felt the need to change belt position but everyone's mileage is different.

During the restoration, while dismantling, it rolled off the workbench onto a concrete floor and the cast table snapped like a biscuit ! Fortunately managed to move my feet away quick enough, and fortunately found someone selling parts on Ebad and got another table, (with no pockmarks either).

A common gripe with these Fobcos is the very short pinch-bolt lever which clamps the table. Not enough leverage to tighten or undo

 

[Co1]

Very nice! Where did you get the cork gaskets on the pillar from? Need to get me some!!