Yesterday I replaced the bearings on my radial arm drill. It is a walker turner model 1600, and I have
wanted one from the day 1.
Replacing the
bearings was a pretty easy task, I ordered 8 6230’s from Mcmaster Carr, and
proceeded to beat them into place with a combination of wood blocks and a hammer.
I also adjusted the locking mechanisms. Now replacing the arm… that was not easy. Luckily there were no pictures to show how I did it, it wasn’t safe, or pretty, or fun. After the arm is in place, the bearings have to be adjusted to provide proper contact to the dovetail. Each bearing is on a cam, and rotating the cam provided about an 1/8th of linear motion for adjustment. I did my best, but I think I will contact the folks at wwm to get a better procedure to do this. I checked how much the arm flexes under load. It was about .010” at full extension, and .003” at the minimum. That may sound like a lot, but I can live with it, the drill only has a ½ hp motor, so I am limiting it to ½” holes. Next to the WT is a drill for bigger holes currently acting like a desk and waiting on a table. I wonder what it's deflection is…
I also adjusted the locking mechanisms. Now replacing the arm… that was not easy. Luckily there were no pictures to show how I did it, it wasn’t safe, or pretty, or fun. After the arm is in place, the bearings have to be adjusted to provide proper contact to the dovetail. Each bearing is on a cam, and rotating the cam provided about an 1/8th of linear motion for adjustment. I did my best, but I think I will contact the folks at wwm to get a better procedure to do this. I checked how much the arm flexes under load. It was about .010” at full extension, and .003” at the minimum. That may sound like a lot, but I can live with it, the drill only has a ½ hp motor, so I am limiting it to ½” holes. Next to the WT is a drill for bigger holes currently acting like a desk and waiting on a table. I wonder what it's deflection is…
Every shop needs at least one drill press. It is the ubiquitous tool of the shop, capable
of precision and just “burning a hole”.
It’s a poor man’s press, and a stable table for other work. I have two now, the Walker turner, and a huge
Rockwell 70-x. The Rockwell needs a
table still… but that’s a project for another day.
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