After months of On/Off time working on several of Rodney's castings kits, I've been able to make some progress on the first of the 1878 Sharps Borchardt projects.

Previously I had filed and spotted in the receiver shoulders to 90% coverage. Creating a safe (square) edge on the fresh file really helped here.

GT was a great help in working with me to get a lathe fixture setup. This fixture is really rigid and really helps in getting the initial face aligned with the breech block receiver shoulders. Then set this up on the lathe and spent quite a bit of time trying to get my head wrapped around dialing in the face to flat then the barrel bore to centered, then repeating until X, Y and face were spot on. Today was that day where the receiver was "dialed in" to under .0005" . So I bored it and then threaded it. I had previously made up a barrel thread gauge for testing the threads as I'm cutting it on the lathe... I also have an original Borchardt that currently is apart for rebarreling (to 50-90SS), so that was handy to use for reference.

These picts probably don't look much different than what GT, BobW, Chuckster and others post, but maybe they'll help someone in the future doing an 1878?

Still more to get done - some easy and some not so easy, but to my warped way of thinking - lots of FUN!

Needless to say, I'm quite happy with the journey and the results today.

Cheers!
Jeff P

Thanks Bob!
Yes, for those of you with sharp "old iron" eyes, that's a circa 1900 GA Gray metal planer that I'm slowly working on getting re-motored and belted. Should be fun for some barrel work
JP

how bout a picture of the gray ken

As requested... some GA Gray metal planer picts.
This is a 22x22x60 wrt working envelope and weighs in at 4000 lbs. This model was first catalogued in 1899 and came in several different bed lengths. A previous owner added the motor drive conversion - an early 120 lb Wagner 3hp 3-ph Repulsion-Induction motor. Also came with some planer vises. I'm going to a lighter (87 lb) Baldor for now as that Wagner needs some new bearings and I like the idea of less weight up top for stability. New belts are to be installed as well.

GT - planning for now to just run with the original clapper setup. Maybe later I will play with a milling head - don't own such as yet. I came across some rare Armstrong planer tooling as well. Even had the Armstrong sharpening tool for the tool bits - at least that's what I believe it to be??

Comments welcomed..
JP

Wheels? Sorry about the pictures being a bit dark in that area ... but there are no wheels (for moving it around) on the metal planer base - just 4 solid feet. That big round thing on the side is a large spur gear that's part of the drivetrain if you will. 

I hope this helps... Not too many of these machines still around so I don't expect most folks to be that familiar with them. I can post a link to a YouTube video if that helps? Mesmerizing to watch metal planers and shapers at work.

Cheers!
Jeff P

That planer would be fun!  Wish I was closer.
Bob

Thanks guys!
My friend Rees Acheson has the BIG brother to my GA Gray planer. You can find him on YouTube here:
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) 

He's quite the metal planer master!

I've also got a Smith & Mills 12" metal shaper circa 1915... that's probably going up for sale as I've bought a Hendey 12" circa WWII that I need to go pickup in the spring. I hate to lose the Smith&Mills as it's working nicely now that I've rebuilt it. 

GT - Yes, I've been thinking about that Hartford collar... Got a few other earlier Sharps in the project mix.

Otony - No worries about wheels. When moving this thing I sure wish it had wheels! I made up a dolly to put under one end and use either the forklift or a floor jack to move this around.

I will share more about using the planer hopefully in the near future. Recently (9/29) became semi-retired from HP Inc where I worked for 27 yrs, so now have a bit more time on my hands. The difference in stress in my life is like night and day!

Cheers!
Jeff P

Hey John! 
Good to see you here - someone else who's been down this Borchardt path before me... email reply sent to your gmail yesterday. Is it in the spam folder? 
Jeff P