Good Milling Guide & Deckel FP1

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

Morning,

I have just agreed to buy a Deckel FP1 that I have had my eye on for a while, at a good price and with a dividing head (most important as I need to do some cog cutting as a priority).

I've watch quite a few introductory videos on Youtube etc and so feel like I have have got a handle on the basic operation, but I tend to find they are no replacement for a few good books (which are of course no replacement for proper training, but that's sadly not possible).

I have ordered the two Workshop Series books, Milling & Milling Complete course. I didn't buy Vertical Milling as the review were pretty mixed. However, does anyone know of a good text on milling, ideally something nice and old, with red card covers and gold writing on the front – I always find these the best!

Also does anyone have a copy of the original Deckel FP1 manual that they might be willing to photocopy/scan in for me? I would of course pay any costs.

It looks to be a late 30s / 40s FP1, which rather surprises me. I am assume there was a big chuck of this period when we were importing such things from Germany! It's imperial, so presumably made for the British/American market.

Many thanks,

James

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Hi James , lovely machines in my opinion, i have an Alexander version from the 1950`s. I have both the Deckel and Alexander manuals . I see if i can find a copy on my hard drive of the deckel version.

I believe Alexander was the agent for Deckel up to wwII but during and after carried on making them under there own name with slight differences, No one took notice of patent law during the war with Germany.

Here mine before and after some restoration, i assume yours will be similar,with mt4 spindles and plain bronze bearings.

Theres a nice brochure here http://www.dialog5.com/fp1brochureapprox1934.htm

Edited By mark smith 20 on 01/11/2017 11:02:43

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

WOW! Apart from the obviously answer of hardwork, how on earth did you get that looking so good? I am guessing the handles are rechromed, the main body shot blast and re stove painted? But what about the machined surfaces – how did you do that without effecting the accuracy? Mine looks like the upper picture at the moment, although luckily with more grease and less rust (I think).

James

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The old Cincinnati book is worth a read, available online here

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

No handle not rechromed just polished. All the rust etc on the ways was removed by simply alot of scrubbing with those green dishwashing pads (which arent very abrasive) and whitespirit , Surprising how clean they come up when all the rust and dirt/grease is removed.

The bottom half was stripped and filled with zinc phosphate high build primer ,also any chipped and areas with paintloss further up as well . All after thoroughly degreasing everything after fully dismantling it. Where existing paint was in good condition i just degreased roughened surface and applied the high build primer .

This was all wet and dry sanded to as smooth a finish as i could get without being obsessive.

Then most was sprayed with a cheap spray gun and compressor using paragon machinery enamel.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hello,

I didn't find the Harold hall book, or indeed the Arnold Throp title to be of much use, unless you are an absolute beginner. Both concentrate on vertical milling, so there is a gap to cover in the Workshop series.

I perhaps sound a little harsh, but already having a fair bit of experience on the mill, both titles didn't give me much illumination into the finer points of milling. Both books are an excellent introduction if you are starting from ground zero.

I don't know what the last title in the workshop series is like. This is titled "The Milling Machine" so maybe I should buy it and find out.

Andrew.

Edited By Andrew Tinsley on 01/11/2017 12:40:20

[James Jenkins 1Participant @jamesjenkins1]

Mark, what HP motor are you using on the mill?

I'll have a look at the Cincinnati book

Thanks for the feedback Andrew – it will be interesting to see them when they arrive.

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi James

We live in interesting times, If you have not visited the following sites you may find them very informative, I selected these sites in no particular order, because they all are skilled metal machinists. You will need to browse through the videos to find milling specific topics covered, There are many others, but these are a good start.

Books are great for learning the technical details of machining, video on the other hand is an ideal medium for learning the hands on skills needed.

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

Regards
John

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Posted by James Jenkins 1 on 01/11/2017 12:49:17:

Mark, what HP motor are you using on the mill?

I'll have a look at the Cincinnati book

Thanks for the feedback Andrew – it will be interesting to see them when they arrive.

james ,its a 2 hp ge washdown motor i got off ebay cheap(,brand new ex MOD) ,powered by a Toshiba inverter drive also off ebay new.

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

james for the manual ive just scanned it in ,in 4 files here . Never used dropbox before so hope it works.

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

[John BaronParticipant @johnbaron31275]

Hello Mark,

Thank you for your upload of the FP1 manual, it's much appreciated.

There is however some pages missing ! I've ignored duplicated ones.

The missing pages are:- in bb, 26 & 27 and in cc, 42, 43, 44, & 45.

Many thanks:

JB.

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

John, i dont unfortunately have the pages 26-27 which are missing from my copy, on comparing with the alexander mill manual i have to assume they are concerning the dividing head attachment

Heres the alexander ones but i dont know if the readings/ settings are the same , they maybe as the OP  he said his machine was also imperial.

Edited By mark smith 20 on 01/11/2017 20:13:16

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Pages 42-45 inclusive are missing from my copy of the deckel manual. I assume they are just further examples of tooling but cant say for sure.

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

James is your deckel the 2 lever type or 4 lever (on the right hand side of the column when your facing the machine)

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

James/Mark, the missing pages from the Deckel manual are indeed tooling, but if either of you would like a copy, PM me.

Chris Gunn

[John BaronParticipant @johnbaron31275]

Hello Mark,

Thank you for those two pages.

I forgot to mention in my other post, your FP1 refurb looks superb. I'm quite envious.

Regards:

JB.

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