die filer

[lathe dog]

I ran across a millwaukee die filer with about 10 files and stand that i am thinking of buying. any body out there have any opinions on this die filer. THANKS in advance, Russ.

[hms50]

Lathe Dog, Yup! I've got one, and like it! I've never tried sawing, but it sure handles filing well. It is a well made unit and has given no trouble. Old timers have told me that these things never wore out unless run with no lube in the scotch yoke case. Mine was $125, had the motor and one file, no over-arm support, I'll probably make one when it is needed. It looked like hell, (psych-ward green), but was mechanicaly in good shape. Gone through, ( cleaned up, new gaskets and belt) and repainted it looks brand-new. The nameplate had lost most of it's paint but an art student at our local high school repainted it and did a super job. The files can still be had from Oliver of Adrian or Federal file but are expensive. It is easiy to modify some types of regular files to work. Most of the time it is used for "filing to the line" type jobs on small models and engine parts. I sure don't use it every day but would hate to be without it. For me, It's changed the way I plan jobs and has made a lot of work much more fun. If the price is right, I think you will like it.
Good luck
hms50

[lathe dog]

hms50,
Thanks for the info! The die filer that i am looking at is in very good condition and i also build model gas engines and thought this machine would be a nice addition to my shop.
Russ

[Georgeo]

I have an old (maybe prewar) Craftsman 24" scroll saw. Cast iron, weighs about a ton, has a nice Scotch Yoke drive. Does anyone have any ideas about converting it into a light duty die filer? Think it might work, for small model parts? Just a thought

[Oso]

I have a milwaukee, and it is well built. I have the backup roller overarm also, and the saw attachment.

Reccommended. Almost anything will fit in the nice two-jaw chuck they have.

BTW, I have a problem with mine that I don't know quite how to fix.

The plunger is scored badly and worn at the top. The bearing is not bad at all, as it is pretty tight if turned so unworn areas contact.
It looks like a lot of filings got on top of the bearing and just chewed up the plunger.

I found this after buying the machine (for a low price). The bearing has slots that will allow material to bypass the bearing and fall in the sump, but it must have been overloaded. How filings got up there I don't know, but the previous owner managed it somehow.

Problem is that there is a shield attached to plunger and chuck that obscures the area. I cannot figure out how to get it off without damage (it is thin metal), nor how to get it back on if I did get it off the hard way.

After I get it off, I may see about getting plunger built up and ground true again.

[lathe dog]

HELLO OSO,

Thanks for the info. I did not know that millwaukee made a saw attachment for the die filer ,is it a usefull attachment?

thanks,
Russ

[Oso]

I have no clue if it is useful, never used it.

It is illustrated in the patent drawing. If yours has the patent number cast into the base, as mine does, look it up in "design patents" on the USPTO site for a pic.

Apparently the guy that made the thing first designed it as a saw, and the filing business came later. At least that is what is suggested by the design patent drawing.

[hms50]

Oso,
I never took the plunger out of mine so I can't help with that. Mine has a sheet metal box attached to the plunger under the table that collects filings. Every year or so, I just vacum it out. Bye the way, when I first got mine and was searching for files, I came across a co. called Oliver of Adrian.
Oliver Instrument Co.
831 Division St.,P.O.box 189
Adrian,Michigan 49221 tel. 517-263-2132
Fax:517-265-8698
They still make filers, sell files and presumibly parts. Now it's hard to tell from a catalog, but it looks like their filer is the same as the Millwaukee except for the table which is round. Maybe you could get a new plunger or find out how to get yours out from them? Oh, in 1998, they charged $2,160 for their machine with a 1/4 hp. motor, overarm and a dozen files.
hms50

[Oso]

Thanks for the lead.

A box? Attached to the plunger? Sounds almost like the shield, but upside down.

Does yours have the 2-jaw chuck with triangular groove in one side?

Mine has a thin bearing tube up from the cast housing of the "works", and the shield fits outside of that. How a bunch of filings got up there I don't know, but when I cleaned it up before using, there they were!

If I figure it out, I will post the info for reference.

[hms50]

Lathe Dog,
In looking at my filer,after removing the table, I think mine must be a defferent model than yours. The chuck is indeed two pieces, one with a v-groove the other is "checkered" like the jaw on a vice. But,the plunger is completely inclosed in a tube that travels with it and telescopes over the tube that comes up from the cast box that incloses the scotch yoke. The sheetmetal box clamps on to this larger, moving tube with a screw and nut like an old fashioned radiator clamp. The way it is made, it would be difficult if not impossible for filings to get to any moving parts, even without the sheetmetal box. The name plate says:Rice Millwaukee Die Filer, model FS, Type 204, Rice pump & machine Co.
hms50

[Oso]

HMS50....That is exactly how my Milwaukee is made. Chuck sounds the same too.

The tube that your collector box clamps to is the part I need to remove to fix the plunger. The filings were up top on the top of the bearing tube, and I could not see how the previous owner got them there either. Looked just as impossible to me. But there they were, with oil holding them.

It is a Milwaukee Die Filer, made by Milwaukee Chaplet and Manufacturing Co. I think yours is just a bit newer than mine.

[lathe dog]

HELLO,

Just brought the die filer home to the shop today. have not had time to play with it yet, but hope to this weekend some time.

THANKS FOR ALL THE INFORMATION,
LATHE DOG

[Marty Escarcega]

Has anyone made or adapted files to fit in a die filer? I have an Oliver Die Filer complete with Overarm Support. Just need to get roundtuit to clean it up and get use out of it but finding affordable files seems to be a problem.

[Paul Gauthier]

Yes I have adapted ordinary files for use on a die filer. Plain flat files work best if they are not tapered. I made a holder to fit the machine that would hold a file once it was cut off to suitable length. One must of course use it with the cutting stroke down. With a properly made holder or holders one can use most any type of file in these machines. Used to work making aluminum templates and formers for diesinking machinery. Never had a problem use ordinary files and they are cheaper.


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Paul G.

[Sprocket]

Metal Lathe Accessories lists a kit for a filing machine, and with it are instructions for making your own "type A" files from commercial files. Might give you some ideas.
www.sc-c.com/metallathe