Wednesday 18th a cold clear start with a dusting of snow on the ground so mostly inside working today.

Greg had been busy painting the drill press so it was time for reassembly and a coating of lanolin on the bare metal parts.

the winding handle is held on with a washer and the shaft peened over to hold it on, obviously the manufacturer was not bothered abut getting the handle to spin centrally so it is back on off set after cleaning and waxing.

partially reassembled

The chuck was heated with oxy acetylene then plunged into old engine oil to turn it black and preserve it.as can be seen in the final photo.

Reassembled and fully working.

Then it was onto a 1946 tree pruner  ex MoD with a crowfoot mark made by Wynn & Timmins of Birmingham..

Greg had already started the work and fitted a new stalk but we need to research the rope, anchor and guides to get it working..

The stalk was painted with linseed oil mixed with a dark stain and the metal parts were de-rusted and coated with lanolin.

the finished item awaiting the rope and guides.

Then it was onto another drill press this time a UNION made in England this is a newer machine than the grey one.

there is a keep roll spring fitted to tension the height winding gear and also a spring loaded pawl to lock it in place.

It was then out to look at a set of platform scales that need a clean and paint touching up but it is far to cold outside to use paint on it.

Then it was out searching for some lengths of 4 X 2 timber to put a floor in the Boxford building however nothing suitable was found.