Denbigh Horizontal milling machine coolant pumps and speeds

[Jonsey the Smith]

Hi all,

I am very close to finishing rebuilding this Denbigh mill. See photos
My main query is about the coolant pump, and how fast these are supposed to run. It would be driven directly from the machines countershaft.
Also, if anyone else is running these mills, id be interested to hear tips, tricks and what speeds you are running at. My current thought is to run the counter shaft at 400, giving me a range between around 800-25 rpm.
Id be interested to hear other thoughts.

Many thanks, Alec

 

[john.k]

Those kind of pumps are PITA unless in new condition...they take ages to prime,if at all,and the cutting is already under way .........replace it with an electric one .

 

[JST]

That looks like a positive pressure type, with sliding vanes. It ought to prime OK, and hold prime, if it has a "foot valve" to prevent flowing back into the tank.

I did not see springs for the vanes when I expanded the pic, so it may not be complete. It might depend on running fast enough to "sling" the vanes outward, but usually they have springs.

 

[Jonsey the Smith]

Interesting about the springs. It just has pins to keep the vanes the correct distance apart.
I rigged it up on a lathe and it primes and works well at surprisingly slow speeds.

 

[snapatap]

that seems pretty fast, I have one of the later model ones and the max speed is only 400 RPM

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I worked for a while on a “ Denbigh “ as an apprentice. I hated every minute of it. I came off a “ Cincinnati “ miller to go on the “ Denbigh “. It was like getting out of a car to ride a off on a horse.

Regards Tyrone.