Thread: Broken gib Alfred Herbert Drill

Hi

i have just purchased an Alfred Herbert drill. The gib for the table is cast and has broken as per the pics. The table is raised and lowered on dovetail ways just like a mill. I am contemplating best repair and seek your advice.

I am thinking of brazing and then stiffening the gib with steel flat screwed to gib. The drill table is massive thing (perhaps 200kg) and clearly caused the gib to flex as it went up and down. This suggests that the table and gib are not quite mated. The gib does rock slightly when in place.

So several challenges for me. Brazing it and keeping it flat, is one. Another is mating the gib to the table (probably a scraping job) so that it does not rock. And the third is mating the steel reinforcing flat to the gib so I don't stress the gib again when I screw it together.

I would appreciate any advice. I am not sure I have necessary skills to make a new gib.

Cant you just make a new one from steel or bronze/brass.

Originally Posted by YarrD

. The drill table is massive thing (perhaps 200kg) and clearly caused the gib to flex as it went up and down. This suggests that the table and gib are not quite mated. The gib does rock slightly when in place.

My guess it it was broken by being over tightened. (though really that doesn't matter) How else would that tiny end piece be broken off?

Originally Posted by YarrD

I am not sure I have necessary skills to make a new gib.

Along the same lines as PC, I think if you have the skills to repair the above then making a new one would be far easier.

Do you have some pictures of the part it fits into? Looks like there are some grinding marks on the top, maybe from a previous adjustment attempt? (or are there adjust screws pushing on the back of the gib?)

Stuart

YarrD, I too am restoring a Herbert drill press. Mine doesn't have the original base and a few things have been broken off too. I would love to see some pictures of yours. Damien

I can make a new one I guess, have a hunk of cast steel (wear edge off a grader blade) so I will play with a set up for shaper. If grader blade too tough, will think about brass as suggested by Pipeclay.

See photos of disassembled machine in my carport where I unloaded from my trailer. Pinion is also pretty mashed but rack seems not too bad. Years if debris getting caught in pinion. I have ordered a gear cutter to make pinion (you can see pinion shaft behind pic of broken gib). Gear cutter (16dp, 14 teeth - no7 cutter, 20 degree pressure angle, 1" internal bore) cost me a heap from a company in Brisbane.

Despite size of motor, is rated at 0.9hp.

YarrD, your drill is in much better shape than mine. I also noticed that your drill has the automatic feed aswell. As mentioned before my base is non original and has no dedicated table. mine has a 3/4" plate of steel that has been machined flat and still awaiting attachment to the base. I will upload some picsin the next couple of weeks.
I forgot to mention that I paid $25 for my drill.

Damien.

Damien

Not sure what I paid for mine as was part of a job lot for $1000 for Herbert drill, Warner and swasey no2 turret lathe, and a table saw. Lathe is very solid beast 1946 I think. Table saw of unknown origin.

david