- Joined
- May 3, 2020
- Messages
- 188
Some of you may have seen my thread ages ago about a Herter knee mill for sale that I purchased. After owning the machine for some time I finally was able to carve out some time today to do some cleaning and tinkering with it. Unfortunately information about these units is pretty much completely unavailable. I have yet to make contact with anyone else who owns one. I did come across an old catalog page when these were initially for sale, but that's been it.
Anyway, I made this thread to dump a load of pictures I've taken of the machine and maybe pick brains on some things I've found along the way.
Here is a full view of the machine, with a 6" Kurt vise resting on the table:
Some detail shots of various parts of the machine:
Here's a fun previous owner modification that I appreciate as a Ford enthusiast:
Now for a few of the mysteries I've encountered!
Firstly, this was clearly once some kind of belt tensioning mechanism that is located on the head underneath the pulleys, but is sadly now broken. I am having some trouble picturing what the idea behind it was, any suggestions?
And perhaps the biggest aggravation so far, the fine downfeed for the quill is completely nonfunctional because some barbaric luddite ground all the gear teeth off for it:
I think my only option to repair this would be to machine a new part, as the gears and shaft are one machined part rather than pressed gears into a shaft.
A follow on question is what the purpose of this knob on the quill gearbox? I can't make heads or tails of it. Playing around with it doesn't seem to do anything.
Side of head with quill gearbox removed:
I hope this is helpful to some others out there, I would be very curious to know how many of these machines are still surviving out there. The MFG No. Field looks like it would only have enough room to go to 999. Definitely a rare bird, but a fantastic sized machine for the home shop.
Anyway, I made this thread to dump a load of pictures I've taken of the machine and maybe pick brains on some things I've found along the way.
Here is a full view of the machine, with a 6" Kurt vise resting on the table:
Some detail shots of various parts of the machine:
Here's a fun previous owner modification that I appreciate as a Ford enthusiast:
Now for a few of the mysteries I've encountered!
Firstly, this was clearly once some kind of belt tensioning mechanism that is located on the head underneath the pulleys, but is sadly now broken. I am having some trouble picturing what the idea behind it was, any suggestions?
And perhaps the biggest aggravation so far, the fine downfeed for the quill is completely nonfunctional because some barbaric luddite ground all the gear teeth off for it:
I think my only option to repair this would be to machine a new part, as the gears and shaft are one machined part rather than pressed gears into a shaft.
A follow on question is what the purpose of this knob on the quill gearbox? I can't make heads or tails of it. Playing around with it doesn't seem to do anything.
Side of head with quill gearbox removed:
I hope this is helpful to some others out there, I would be very curious to know how many of these machines are still surviving out there. The MFG No. Field looks like it would only have enough room to go to 999. Definitely a rare bird, but a fantastic sized machine for the home shop.