Thread: Macson Bench Surface Grinder Rebuild

Originally Posted by j.ashburn

Never considered the grease.Is it readily available?
Also noting your X ways are supported on tapered wheels with the flat spring for dampening.Mine has 2 broken ones as i suspected that having not a nice feel to a manual table slide.

John,

I purchased a 50 gram tube of Kluber Isoflex NBU15 grease from Allwest Engineering supplies in WA (Tel 089 9277 6888). At the time, the Australian Kluber importer told me that Allwest had stock of the product and package size I was after.

Re the "tapered wheels and flat spring" I think (on the Macson bench SG) that is simply a way of oiling the slideways (the roller sits in a pocket holding the oil), so the spring just needs to be strong enough to hold up the roller to touch the sliding part.

Cheers,
Bill

John, i'd agree with what Bill said about the wheel it only there to lubricate the ways.

Bill, I'm not sure on the age of your SG. I've seen pictures of one other Macson with the "manufactured by Filtration and water softening pty ltd." The 4-arm capstan is in the 1955 Macpherson's catalogue. I've tried to chase up more information about the Macson SGs but its pretty much come to a dead-end. I found someone who was an apprentice with Macphersons when they were making these but they didn't remember much about them.

With regards to the adjustable stops mine SG does have then. They're more of a micrometer type rather than a spring buffer. I'll measure them and draw them up when I have time. GZBMW's one did have spring type buffers which I think would be better.

Christian

Christian,

Thanks for offering to draw up the stops - much appreciated and I look forward to seeing the detail, but there's no rush.
The Macson is in slow stream rehab, along with the Chipmaster, Douglas ...etc.

Regards,
Bill

I have an old surface grinder made by Modern tools and when I enquired from an oil supplier what oil I should use in the spindle they told me motorcycle fork oil? incidently I have just acquired a Macson surface grinder which doesn't have a motor or mounting bracket so if you decide to sell yours please let me know - I have just submitted a post enquiring what H.P the motor should be please let me know what the original is
Cheers

Hello Alf,
Welcome to the select ranks of Macson bench SG owners.
I am not sure if your question was directed to me, but my Macson is not on the market. Sadly it did not come with the original motor (or bracket), but a 1hp single phase motor that vibrates dreadfully and will have to be replaced, maybe with a 3 phase motor to minimise vibration, but unfortunately that would need a VFD to run on single phase mains. If I do go with a single phase motor it will be a permanent capacitor type such as a converted bench grinder; these seem to run more smoothly than the split phase or cap start single phase motors.
Cheers,
Bill