Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

Hi all,
I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I should
start with a chemical method or what.
I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out of the
way before he destroys the building.
So, where do I start?
Mikek
Hmm, Harbor Freight still sells it,
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-...illing+machine

Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

On 10/20/2019 4:51 PM, amdx wrote:
Hi all,
Â*I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
Â*except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Â*Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I should
start with a chemical method or what.
Â*I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out of the
way before he destroys the building.
Â*So, where do I start?
Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* Mikek
Â*Hmm, Harbor Freight still sells it,
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-...illing+machine







Depends on the spindle. Some do a fair job of being a drill positioner.
A few even do ok for very light milling. I had the older RF30
version. The newer ones are RF31s, although it may have an HF number on
it.

I am no expert at rust removal, but I think anything that could remove
rust from sliding surfaces without abrasion would be a good thing.

Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

"amdx" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I should
start with a chemical method or what.
I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out of the
way before he destroys the building.
So, where do I start?

Surface rust is your friend on neglected machine tools, stops more serious
deep pitting of surfaces. Only problem happens when something was piled on
surfaces
that holds water in contact for long periods of time.
Any oil/grime left on the machine will help
I would try a scotchbrite pad and some WD40 or paint thinner as lube
Maybe finer grades of steel wool if it's really thick
usually the rust layer is pretty thin. You can also lightly stone the bed
to brighten it up.
I beleive you can use evaporust soaked rags on surfaces to remove rust
available at HarborFreight around here (Idaho)
Many youtube vids on rust removal

Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

"Larry Fisk" wrote in message
...

"amdx" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I
should start with a chemical method or what.
I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not
because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out
of the way before he destroys the building.
So, where do I start?

Surface rust is your friend on neglected machine tools, stops more
serious
deep pitting of surfaces. Only problem happens when something was
piled on surfaces
that holds water in contact for long periods of time.
Any oil/grime left on the machine will help
I would try a scotchbrite pad and some WD40 or paint thinner as
lube
Maybe finer grades of steel wool if it's really thick
usually the rust layer is pretty thin. You can also lightly stone
the bed to brighten it up.
I beleive you can use evaporust soaked rags on surfaces to remove
rust
available at HarborFreight around here (Idaho)
Many youtube vids on rust removal

Only the quill & spindle, dovetails and lead screws really matter. If
they are OK you can mill the tabletop and its slots. Rust pits on the
table top don't hurt, the vise rests on the flat surface between them.

Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

On 10/21/2019 8:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Larry Fisk" wrote in message
...

"amdx" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I
should start with a chemical method or what.
I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not
because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out
of the way before he destroys the building.
So, where do I start?

Surface rust is your friend on neglected machine tools, stops more
serious
deep pitting of surfaces. Only problem happens when something was
piled on surfaces
that holds water in contact for long periods of time.
Any oil/grime left on the machine will help
I would try a scotchbrite pad and some WD40 or paint thinner as
lube
Maybe finer grades of steel wool if it's really thick
usually the rust layer is pretty thin. You can also lightly stone
the bed to brighten it up.
I beleive you can use evaporust soaked rags on surfaces to remove
rust
available at HarborFreight around here (Idaho)
Many youtube vids on rust removal

Only the quill & spindle, dovetails and lead screws really matter. If
they are OK you can mill the tabletop and its slots. Rust pits on the
table top don't hurt, the vise rests on the flat surface between them.


I started a little work on it today, I'm happy to say that most of
the rust is on just top portion where work get mounted, The is some on the
other flat surfaces, but no much on the actually ways. I used a wire
brush on most of it, after that I oiled it all real well and letting it
soak. My next move is Lowes to get some steel wool and some smaller wire
brushes.
Mikek

Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

On 10/21/2019 8:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Larry Fisk" wrote in message
...

"amdx" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I
should start with a chemical method or what.
I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not
because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out
of the way before he destroys the building.
So, where do I start?

Surface rust is your friend on neglected machine tools, stops more
serious
deep pitting of surfaces. Only problem happens when something was
piled on surfaces
that holds water in contact for long periods of time.
Any oil/grime left on the machine will help
I would try a scotchbrite pad and some WD40 or paint thinner as
lube
Maybe finer grades of steel wool if it's really thick
usually the rust layer is pretty thin. You can also lightly stone
the bed to brighten it up.
I beleive you can use evaporust soaked rags on surfaces to remove
rust
available at HarborFreight around here (Idaho)
Many youtube vids on rust removal

Only the quill & spindle, dovetails and lead screws really matter. If
they are OK you can mill the tabletop and its slots. Rust pits on the
table top don't hurt, the vise rests on the flat surface between them.


Ya, it looks like it's not as bad as I had feared.
Mikek

Reclaiming Harbor Freight milling Machine
 

"amdx" wrote in message
...
On 10/21/2019 8:54 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Larry Fisk" wrote in message
...

"amdx" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
I picked up a Harbor Freight milling machine like this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=KBZQcH-Syjg
except this one was in a building damaged by a hurricane. So it
has some pretty heavy surface rust on a lot of it.
Is there a method to start the rust removal, I don't know if I
should start with a chemical method or what.
I don't expect to go all out on a restoration, I paid $100, not
because
it was worth that to me, but it was a buddy and I just got it out
of the way before he destroys the building.
So, where do I start?

Surface rust is your friend on neglected machine tools, stops more
serious
deep pitting of surfaces. Only problem happens when something was
piled on surfaces
that holds water in contact for long periods of time.
Any oil/grime left on the machine will help
I would try a scotchbrite pad and some WD40 or paint thinner as
lube
Maybe finer grades of steel wool if it's really thick
usually the rust layer is pretty thin. You can also lightly stone
the bed to brighten it up.
I beleive you can use evaporust soaked rags on surfaces to
remove
rust
available at HarborFreight around here (Idaho)
Many youtube vids on rust removal

Only the quill & spindle, dovetails and lead screws really matter.
If
they are OK you can mill the tabletop and its slots. Rust pits on
the
table top don't hurt, the vise rests on the flat surface between
them.


I started a little work on it today, I'm happy to say that most of
the rust is on just top portion where work get mounted, The is some
on the
other flat surfaces, but no much on the actually ways. I used a wire
brush on most of it, after that I oiled it all real well and letting
it soak. My next move is Lowes to get some steel wool and some
smaller wire brushes.
Mikek

Fine steel wool is enough, you don't need to remove rust below the
steel surface to use the machine. You aren't restoring a collectible
antique.

My machines are 50+ year old antiques, whether collectible or not, so
I do remove as much rust as possible. Instead of a '65 Mustang I have
a '65 South Bend.