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great, cheers Deema, I'll give the wedges a go...

phil.p - the nipples aren't conventional hydraulic ones, so they don't work with a modern grease gun coupler. They look like this: I either need to change them all (tricky as they are BSF threaded) or buy some form of old style grease gun that is compatible with them. Deema - yes you are...

Thanks memzey, I'll give it another go. Just to clarify tho, it's the chuck that's stuck, not the ring, which turns freely. I have had some WD40 on the chuck where it mates with the taper (left for 24 hours or so), also to no avail, but I'll try something like plus gas and see how I get on...

Here is a pic of the quill at full extension, showing the knurled ring: It seems to be proper stuck tho: I have tried both a c-spanner and a hammer and punch, but to no avail, so any suggestions as to a way forward would be gratefully received. I've been wary of using too much force...

I did open up the chuck but I didn't see any evidence for a screw/bolt holding the chuck onto the taper. Will get some pics later on, when i'm next up the workshop, but it does have the knurled ring, which is exposed when the depth stop is moved up the quill. thanks again, all of you!

Thanks Wallace, yes on the whole I think it is pretty well maintained, though I had the plate over the switch off today and there is a tonne of excess grease inside the casting! I'm coming round to the 'less is more' approach to this machine and currently am concentrating on replacing the grease...

Thanks all, and sorry for the delay replying - work gets in the way sometimes. AES - there is a lot to say for the 'if it ain't broke' approach and so far I've limited myself to fairly harmless tinkerings - previous experience tells me I probably should not rush into something like a full strip...

Thanks AJB, just the sort of encouragement I needed! I'm probably ignorant enough to prevail! Did you replace the bearings or just refit the old ones? And did you have any problems getting the right end-loading on them on reassembly?

Thanks Colin - was beginning to lose hope that anyone would reply! Do you have any advice on correct lubricants to use in old drills like this, or will a standard lithium based grease do the trick?

Hi all, Hope I'm posting in the right section... Have just bought an old fobco star, which seems generally to be in very good used condition, if rather grubby. Certainly no play in the spindle/quill and the table is in good nick, with virtually no damage. I'm tempted, however, to do a basic...

Thanks t8hants, this is all really useful and gives me something to look more carefully at tomorrow.

Thanks t8hants, will check lubrication tomorrow, though i don't recall noticing that anything was obviously dry. The chap who's selling it wondered whether the quill spindle may be slightly bent or out of true, hence only binding when the quill is retracted, but i'm not sure how likely that...

Ahh, hadn't thought of looking at that! Thanks, that's very useful, I'll check that as well tomorrow when I go back. I did want to fiddle about with the belt tension anyway, as per my previous post. Any other suggestions as to what to try/look for?

Hi T8hants, Sorry I should have said, it also makes the same noise with the belt guard removed, so it's not that. I do wonder whether the belt is simply over-tensioned, but that's probably wishful thinking! I hope to return tomorrow for another look, so will check that...

Hi all, I’m looking at buying a Meddings 9373/LT/III pillar drill. It’s in fairly good nick overall, with only a trace of play in the quill at full extension. However, when its running its sounds like something is binding slightly, once every revolution, but only when the spindle/quill is...

Many thanks for all the advice everyone and apologies for not replying sooner. Work kinda got in the way last week! Much to ponder tho. The consensus is vintage it seems. There is (or was) an old Boxford Union pillar drill for sale locally recently but it definitely needed work and I'm not...

MikeJhn - yes i did do a quick search; the only mention of chester drills i could find (which-drill-press-again-t22671.html) was what put me on to them Fitzroy - yes I keep a weather eye out for secondhand stuff. Would certainly consider the old Startrites, Fobcos or Meddings, which is what...

Hello all, I am looking at buying a floor standing pillar drill for woodworking. I am on a fairly limited budget, so looking at the best money can buy for say less than £300. I realise this isn't going to get me top quality but I hope I can get something reasonably good for hobby use. Have...