RF 31 BENCH MILL DRILL

[ray jones 1Participant @rayjones1]

HI Thank you everyone for the replies and kind advice offered.

The photo I listed is a generic photo

I am hoping to have my mill home in a few days

I will post an actual photo at the first opportunity.

My quill handle is missing.

I have email the manufacturer direct , but as yet not received a reply

Thank you again

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Here's the quill lock on my mill.

Martin C

[JonParticipant @jon]

Ray

Quill handle, take it you mean the quill locking lever.
Just check the two threaded clamps are in place in Martins reply next above.

You will be able to get the parts from Chester in Brownhills, Warco or any Rong Fu rebadged name over the last 30 odd years.

Do recall Graham Eng West Brom and Wolvo advertising metric or imperial along with option of MT3 or R8.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Martin, Thanks!

You have illustrated exactly what I was attempting to describe.

Ray Jones 1

Now you can see just how easy it would be to make a clamp assembly for the Quill, if you cannot source one from one of the UK Importers, such as Warco, Chester, or possibly Axminster.

One is a simple bit of turning and drill and tap, the other one is simple turning and drilling; Both needing (Catch 22) a bit of milling; or filing. And the Handle would be merely a simple turning and Die job, followed by a bit of brutality to bend the Handle. (Sod's law says it will end up at the wrong angle for you! )

Likely to be quicker and cheaper to make than buy? (About three hours in the shop, vs possibly 6 weeks to obtain from China?) When I mangled my lathe the quote was "Ex stock but with carriage and VAT" nearly £70. A gear cutter £22 and a length of Silver Steel £14. What took the time was finding that whilst I could count, the Division chart was inaccurate. And the resulting shaft was stronger than the original )

Do let us know how you get on.

Howard

[VicParticipant @vic]

Rong Fu are a Taiwanese company. I suspect Chester and Warco buy Chinese copies as they are likely cheaper.

I wouldn’t count on any of the components being interchangeable but you may get lucky, depends on how close the copies are?

I don’t know why but some folks seem to regard Taiwanese machines as being superior to Chinese. Can’t say I can see any difference but the last machine I bought came from Taiwan and seems pretty well made.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

FWIW, 20 years on, my Warco Economy is a RF25, so Warco were buying from Rong Fu then.

You may be lucky and still be able to obtain spares, possibly after a delay for shipping to UK.

If not then the parts are easy to make.

Howard

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