Alpha-Dave
Established Member
Hi all,
I have picked up a magnetic drill stand from Gumtree, which I suspect might be 40 years old give the ‘80’ in the serial number. It is a MBS-0 from Walter Schweizer, made in Germany [edit: Switzerland]. I can find no information when searching online other than the gumtree thread I bought it from, so if anyone knows of these then any insight is appreciated.
The magnet works great, I haven’t been in to the electronics yet. The mechanics were stiff where they were supposed to be smooth, and lose where supposed to be solid; however some oil in the joints and tightening up or replacing a couple of screws and it is solid and moves beautifully. Now there are only 3 issues.
![29A74484-5E42-45D0-96E5-E090D8D05304.jpeg 29A74484-5E42-45D0-96E5-E090D8D05304.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75856-1f903db31b2a4c1745a74a54c3c53310.jpg)
![1D72444C-CF8C-4D8A-B64C-360F7088599D.jpeg 1D72444C-CF8C-4D8A-B64C-360F7088599D.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75858-460e27c596bda30a49e67e79b104cf8f.jpg)
![05999672-5897-47FA-BC9B-F57881E1A5CB.jpeg 05999672-5897-47FA-BC9B-F57881E1A5CB.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75857-a2cbefed04798cb35c1168fc35f1c33f.jpg)
The first issue is that the drill I intended to use in it is too small for the collar. My drill is 43 mm diameter, while the collar is 54.5 mm. My options are either: 1) to make up a reducing spacer with 2 different hole saws, or mill some aluminium with my CNC router (slow, but possible). 2) buy a drill (probably 2nd hand) that has a 54 mm collar. I will probably go for option 1 initially, but can anyone tell me what type/brand of drills are likely to fit this, or was it something custom made that has since been lost?
![035A2812-0350-49BE-AD1E-3A6054B04CF1.jpeg 035A2812-0350-49BE-AD1E-3A6054B04CF1.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75859-93929e68df4b65aceb0d370eb8c4e512.jpg)
The second issue is that 2 of the 3 handles are broken off. I removed the remains from the hub with a drilled hole and screw extractor, leaving the m10 holes in good condition. Now I just need some 10mm rod, thread the ends and it will be mostly done. The issue here is that the plastic balls are surprisingly expensive, I’m seeing about £5 each inc postage. Can anyone suggest an alternative? Snooker balls were my first thought, but they are about the same cost (unless I can get for pence from a car boot sale). I’m actually thinking that casting some epoxy and turning them up on my wood lathe is a reasonable option if I have to make some. Any recommendations for low cost, solid balls ~30mm would be appreciated (I can buy steel ones for ~30p each, but they would be too heavy).
![9652ACD7-85ED-4188-A0D0-E87306EA7BFF.jpeg 9652ACD7-85ED-4188-A0D0-E87306EA7BFF.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75860-855ac83c1ef4c473f6d85688847d9535.jpg)
The third issue is the ‘stabilising foot’ at the back is bent so that the locking collar can only move about 5mm. Fortunately this is the useful 5mm, but I would prefer a better solution. The tread is m14. My options are to replace or fix.
1) Replacing with cheap parts would be relatively easy with some m14 rod and a nut (possibly a nut embedded in a larger handle to make adjustment easier.
2) Replacing like-for-like would be nice, but I cannot see a way of making this to a reasonable standard without a metal lathe. Possibly drilling and tapping an m14 hole in some 20 mm rod, and then inserting an m14 rod might be viable, but a bit ugly.
3) Repairing the parts I have. I doubt that this could be straightened cold (although if binning it anyway, it might be worth a try), and I don’t have a way of getting it hot, but any suggestions welcome.
![B207824F-EC54-45C5-82FC-E358F57B95A1.jpeg B207824F-EC54-45C5-82FC-E358F57B95A1.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75861-56306de0f62dd57af65221eb172e7da8.jpg)
I have picked up a magnetic drill stand from Gumtree, which I suspect might be 40 years old give the ‘80’ in the serial number. It is a MBS-0 from Walter Schweizer, made in Germany [edit: Switzerland]. I can find no information when searching online other than the gumtree thread I bought it from, so if anyone knows of these then any insight is appreciated.
The magnet works great, I haven’t been in to the electronics yet. The mechanics were stiff where they were supposed to be smooth, and lose where supposed to be solid; however some oil in the joints and tightening up or replacing a couple of screws and it is solid and moves beautifully. Now there are only 3 issues.
![29A74484-5E42-45D0-96E5-E090D8D05304.jpeg 29A74484-5E42-45D0-96E5-E090D8D05304.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75856-1f903db31b2a4c1745a74a54c3c53310.jpg)
![1D72444C-CF8C-4D8A-B64C-360F7088599D.jpeg 1D72444C-CF8C-4D8A-B64C-360F7088599D.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75858-460e27c596bda30a49e67e79b104cf8f.jpg)
![05999672-5897-47FA-BC9B-F57881E1A5CB.jpeg 05999672-5897-47FA-BC9B-F57881E1A5CB.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75857-a2cbefed04798cb35c1168fc35f1c33f.jpg)
The first issue is that the drill I intended to use in it is too small for the collar. My drill is 43 mm diameter, while the collar is 54.5 mm. My options are either: 1) to make up a reducing spacer with 2 different hole saws, or mill some aluminium with my CNC router (slow, but possible). 2) buy a drill (probably 2nd hand) that has a 54 mm collar. I will probably go for option 1 initially, but can anyone tell me what type/brand of drills are likely to fit this, or was it something custom made that has since been lost?
![035A2812-0350-49BE-AD1E-3A6054B04CF1.jpeg 035A2812-0350-49BE-AD1E-3A6054B04CF1.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75859-93929e68df4b65aceb0d370eb8c4e512.jpg)
The second issue is that 2 of the 3 handles are broken off. I removed the remains from the hub with a drilled hole and screw extractor, leaving the m10 holes in good condition. Now I just need some 10mm rod, thread the ends and it will be mostly done. The issue here is that the plastic balls are surprisingly expensive, I’m seeing about £5 each inc postage. Can anyone suggest an alternative? Snooker balls were my first thought, but they are about the same cost (unless I can get for pence from a car boot sale). I’m actually thinking that casting some epoxy and turning them up on my wood lathe is a reasonable option if I have to make some. Any recommendations for low cost, solid balls ~30mm would be appreciated (I can buy steel ones for ~30p each, but they would be too heavy).
![9652ACD7-85ED-4188-A0D0-E87306EA7BFF.jpeg 9652ACD7-85ED-4188-A0D0-E87306EA7BFF.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75860-855ac83c1ef4c473f6d85688847d9535.jpg)
The third issue is the ‘stabilising foot’ at the back is bent so that the locking collar can only move about 5mm. Fortunately this is the useful 5mm, but I would prefer a better solution. The tread is m14. My options are to replace or fix.
1) Replacing with cheap parts would be relatively easy with some m14 rod and a nut (possibly a nut embedded in a larger handle to make adjustment easier.
2) Replacing like-for-like would be nice, but I cannot see a way of making this to a reasonable standard without a metal lathe. Possibly drilling and tapping an m14 hole in some 20 mm rod, and then inserting an m14 rod might be viable, but a bit ugly.
3) Repairing the parts I have. I doubt that this could be straightened cold (although if binning it anyway, it might be worth a try), and I don’t have a way of getting it hot, but any suggestions welcome.
![B207824F-EC54-45C5-82FC-E358F57B95A1.jpeg B207824F-EC54-45C5-82FC-E358F57B95A1.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/75/75861-56306de0f62dd57af65221eb172e7da8.jpg)
Last edited: