Restoring a 60 Year old Bridgeport milling machine 

Having rebuilt many Bridgeport’s through the decades, a couple of tips might be in order. Bridgeport is now owned by Hardinge in New York. They have every part for this machine in stock. The wipers are NOT leather. They are felt. Leather will trap chips behind them while felt collects them to keep anything from entering the ways. The use of grease isn’t that bad. Just think what it would be like without any lube. I didn’t catch what type of oil you were using, but “way oil “ should be used . I.prefer Vactra 2 or 4 . Extreme care should be used when dealing with any scraped surface. These are any surface on a Bridgeport that has been flaked. Any bruise should be dealt with using a stone . Remember these surfaces determine the precision of the machine.The head is another ball of wax with a lot of little tricks to do is easily and right. Hardinge has parts lists and assembly drawings on line. Good luck with your “new”Bridgeport. By the way all of the debris in the saddle is normal. It makes its way there at the small space by the knee axis

I worked a Bridgeport for many years and it was nice to see you give it new life. The strips you cut for the cross slide should be a one piece unit to clean the whole cross slides front a nod back,hope this helps.👍👍👍

There was nothing wrong with your DRO after your clean-up! Get the manual and read about the Memofix feature which enables the 0,0 datum point to be fixed even after a power off. It 'remembers' where the datum point is so when you resume working you can start at the correct place again. You had the Memofix switch on and the red light in the display was on. In the Bridgeport manual there is a section on how to use the Heidenhain DRO properly.

I don't think I have ever seen a complete machine rebuild in a single video before. Just a side note: that power feed bar that runs down the front of the table can get in the way as well as mounting the DRO scale on the front rather than the back of the table. It might not let you consider hanging a part down on the front side of the table - a feature I have used several times before. Overall - well paced, fast when it needed to be a slow when explaining. Really enjoyable.

That is the equivalent of cleaning a whole house so good job

Safety tip, please remove your hoodie when using the mill, getting the strings caught in the cutter will be the last thing you do.

Great clean-up tutorial! I used a Bridgeport about 20 years ago when I worked as an Engineering Technician. I learned on-the-job and it was kind of scary at first, but once I gained a comfort level with the machine I really enjoyed using it. It expanded my knowledge of how to make things and I was blown away at the skill of some of my older co-workers. They freely shared their knowledge of how to properly do things with me. Since that time I have had the desire to get one for my home garage, but that's still a fantasy at this point. I have two cars in my garage and there is no room for this type of equipment. However, my hope springs eternal that I will create my own home workshop at some point. Thanks for the video!

excellent video. Altough the use of the selfstick did make me dizzy at time. I've got a lathe and a similar mill at home that could use a treatment like that. No DRO's though :-)

Great seeing an older machine being brought back to life, great work!

Alex nice job , with just hand tools and patience and elbow grease, you brought that mill back to life . The important thing to remember is to start with a good machine ..

16:23 I'm fascinated by builds/rebuilds like this but I must say the squeegee find was simply brilliant on your part! bravo! I used to work for a tool and die maker and we'd sharpen endmills all day ling for the machinists in the area. I remember walking into large machine shops and seeing 30-40 Bridgeports all lined up on the floor cutting parts assembly-line style. This video brought back a few memories. Well, it was only one in your shop but....

This warms the heart of a Toolmaker, have 1000 of hours in a bridgeport, wonderfull machines !

It will be interesting to see the accuracy of the ways and table

Actually, that machine is actually in really great shape, and not very dirty at all. I would kill to find a machine in that condition for a good price that i could "restore" by wiping down with some degreaser and shoveling out a little pile of chips. Seriously bro, you won the lottery on this one, you have no idea.

For what its worth, Heidenhain scales need a very specific gap set. If you do not set gap properly, they will cause that jumping and glitching.

I have the exact same machine from 1964 at home. I mechanic on machine tools every day, believe me, it's not that dirty!!!!!!

Thanks a million! Just got my first BP today - a Series 1; three-phase; original power feeds and vise! Just got it set and leveled; gonna do exactly what you've done here.

Nice video, I hoping to see the side by side comparison at the end but I just went back to the beginning. I learned from the video so it was great for me. Thank you Alexandre

You can never replace that look you get cutting those first chips :) Congrats and nice job

Kudos, I took some machine shop classes when I was younger, and even worked at some jobs running various mills, some CNC and some not. The mills I used in training were immaculate the ones I used on the job less clean but serviceable. I cannot for the life of me, figure out how someone could use grease on the X and Y axis surfaces. The fittings used to put oil on those surfaces are commonly used to press grease in to an area so I guess. Those fittings called a Zerks. I watched you clean and thought of the smell oooh so bad. good job and good luck.

We have a 64 step pulley j head at works with the original saddle and table. Has a lot of hrs on it. I put a variable frequency drive motor with a Hitachi drive box, servo knee feed, x axis power feed and a mitutoyo dro on it. And now it gets used almost every day again. Amazing machine tools

Quality work on a quality machine. Awesome videography to boot. It's good that machine ended up in your hands. No doubt you'll keep it in good working order for years to come.

Hi there, I just had my new to me , 2nd owner, delivered yesterday, as dirty as yours, been racking my brain on how to clean the bed, Scotchbrite red on a sander was a flash of inspiration for me! Thanks for that. Looking to buy a power feed, I have a few leads. If I can get my baby looking as good as yours, mission accomplished! Great video, thanks for the ideas!!!

This milling machine's condition is not bad.Look these hand-scraping marks on the guides,they are pretty shiny.

Man I am impressed. You really put that thing through the full monty, stripping it down. Great job.

I can appreciate the bathing of the old workhorse. Great job.

Bridgeport are a good light toolroom mill and very versatile they are also the most abused machine in most engineering shops nearly always overloaded and pushed past their limits and what they were designed for.

Great job, that mill was in really good shape under the grime. I was shocked that the electronics still worked.

Love the squeegee wiper retrofit 👌

Tip to keep the flakes out from inside the bottom part is to add a pice of rubber on top the slide parts below the table, both on the outside and inside, helps the dovetail leather wipers to get rid of the majority of flakes and grim. Hard to explain in text and you might already done it, but check out Alex Steele as he did something like that on his Bridgeport. Nice to see the mill in good hands though! 👌🏼

Very nice looking mill. Should serve you well for many years to come. Lots of negative comments here about the handheld and X axis scale being on the front instead of the back blah blah blah. Nothing wrong with constructive criticism but some people are just flat out a-holes. Keep doing what you do and enjoy that mill. I just bought a 3 axis CNC knee mill and an Andrychow TUG40 lathe, and have been cleaning the crap out of them for a couple weeks now. Still a lot of work to go but well worth it. Congrats on your mill.

I know nothing about engineering, which if you knew my family you’d think that is pretty remarkable. However I love seeing any old machinery or tools being restored. There’s something wonderful about watching things being given a new life rather than sold as scrap. I have absolutely no idea why think they have to be rude about the hand held camera. Yes you’re entitled to an opinion, and I’m pretty sure most creatives I know like to be critiqued. However, that is totally different than being rudely critical of a video most are watching for nothing. Despite the aforementioned mentioned handholding capabilities the content was really enjoyable. I really like the grease gun/degreaser trick. I’m glad you got the digital thingy working and the milling machine looks the bee's knees. Well done.

White t-shirt ! Great idea 😁😁😁😁

I have a very similar jhead Bridgeport. I don't have the fancy electronics though. Only thing electric is the motor and off and on button. Very handy even for a novice like me.

Well done Alex .

Cool video.... I’ve done this once before years ago, so I know what you went through. It was nice to see the process speeded up....

I appreciate the video, I'm in the midst of the same process with my 1952 Bridgeport

Brilliantly done

Good job guy. You really did bring that machine back to life. I like the music too.

If you need instruction in how to use it, Tubalcain has a series of videos that will go over all the different functions as well as techniques, etc. I had a Norwegian friend in college, and he used to pronounce 'together' the same way you do. Brings back memories. Keep up the great work!

Ditch the hand held process, you put the camera on a stand of some sort when you are working on the machine, why not do the same when you talk to us. Getting sea sick here.. Not good.

Nice and good old project Alexandre, congratulations for your new milling machine

I have to admit, having worked with Millicron and Bridgeport lathes for most of my professional career, I cringed when you took it apart (without a manual or familiarity with the machine), combined with not fully grasping the basis of 'accuracy' which this type of machine is capable of. Bridgeports are easily capable (in 'like-new shape') of recreating 0.0001" accuracy in replicated components...so just tearing it apart, scrubbing it, little 'sanding' here and there' can make them a total PIECE OF JUNK, quickly! When rebuilding a Bridgeport, the standard is to dimension critical parts (table, ways, etc.) by producing a 'baseline part' (make something to dimension first), so that when you rebuild the 'cleaned machine', you can make a duplicate part and see if you retained the machine's accuracy (if not, the replicated part can more-easily show you where your inaccuracy can be found...maybe a now-warped table, slack in the gears, worn out bushings that now can be seen as years of residue is cleaned away, making slack at various points, etc.). As you did not baseline the original machine, other than making it aesthetically 'prettier', you have no way of knowing if your actions were detrimental to its actual purpose, had no effect on its accuracy, etc. This was not impressive, as viewed from an experienced machinist's viewpoint...you blindly tore it apart, cleaned it, and reassembled it...did I mention, I cringed when you took the Scotchbrite to the table? OUCH!

I worked over 15 Years for a Retrofit/Restoration Company. This is just a Cleanup and Repaint! Nothing about a "Restoration"... The usage of a vibrating Grinder at slideways... autsch... Der Fachmann staunt und der Laie wundert sich....

I bought A Bridgeport 20 years ago that was older than yours. Yours is not that bad of shape now that you have cleaned it up. Any future restoration projects I think making use of laser cleaning will significantly speed up the process. You can use the laser to degrease it and remove any rust or build up.

believe the wipers for the ways are supposed to made out of felt to help oil the ways

Very good explanation !

Haha time to clean that vise too!

On my second Bridgeport, I had the pallet unloaded out onto a large tarp in the back yard. Did some disassembly, spread out the parts and pressure washed the thing with liberal use of degreaser. It just takes WAY too long to get it clean with spray bottles and rags.

I like to see old bidgeports get new life but sometimes the ways need work because of lack of care and lubrication on the machine for many years. Its easy to take things apart but sometimes people are not able to put them back together. Having manuals helps.

Nice machines, worked with them for many years

Absolutely superb rebuild, patience and skill get results. Bravo!

Agree with Dudley Toolright... The glass scale should be mounted on the back of the table. That way... It's less prone to damage and... you can use the t-slot to mount an auto-stop for the power feed.

A true labor of love. Great work sir.

Awesome job man! Really cool video. Don't listen to the haters criticizing your camera work or whether or not it's "a real rebuild."

Good to know I can buy my Bridgeport in almost any condition and revive it.... someday

Much respect brother, I'm the same way as far as taking care of my equipment and other things, if everyone took care of their property like this the economy would tank due to the huge drop in sales, since every thing would last longer, of coarse this would force the mfg. departments to start making things even cheaper than they do now which would not be good for the consumers, but since when have they ever cared about anything other than profits...

Once cleaned, the paint looks like it just came out of the factory ! If you are using soapy washer for cleaning, spray with a light coat of Fluid Film when you are done to prevent flash rusting.

Bridgeports never go bad

Super! I never realized that the axis received oil and not grease.

I'll bet that you're a better machinist than a videographer.

Snap on makes a tool. It is called an air solvent gun. Tool # GA299. Attach it to an air hose. Submerse the siphon hose into what ever cleaner, chemical, gas diesel etc and watch it work. Be sure to wear a respirator. It would have made that job as simple as washing dishes.

The content is great but the hand-held camera work is unwatchable.

I enjoyed your video, lMO you did not restore the mill, you cleaned it.

Great informational video! Thanks

Could be bad wire in the DRO harness, and you just got lucky, or perhaps old cap on one of the boards, overall nice job, would get some felt pads, purge all the lines of any grease(with way oil), can even add an auto oiler at some point...and they also have air chucks for the collets, and motor drivers to set the speed :) lots of optional upgrades you could do, if your chasing zeros as well -- but first step is proper maintenance and finding how precise it is

I love working with a Bridgeport !

A white T-Shirt? You crazy man!

Grease holds chips and will scar the ways! Oil flushes out the ways while it lubricates them! Oil is also designed for the compression load from the table. Way oil is tacky to stay on the ways. Way oil also reduces vibration when cutting! Grease is not even part of the formula on ways! My mill does have a few things that get grease like the counterbalance weight chain. And a few other moving things. But the X, Y, and Z axis ways always get way oil!

very nice, but more of a deep clean------a :restore: to me-is complete breakdown ,clean,re-assemble. but a very nice job none-the-less.

Scrap all the 80ties electronics and put new cnc stepper motors on all axis 😎👍🏻

Nice job! However I would've loved to see polished bits and the whole thing repainted. It's just so much satisfying to see things restored good as new or better. Love your work though.

Ingenious use of the squeegee rubber. Another possible source of rubber, that would give you one piece for the length, might be greenhouse door sealing strip.

So you merely cleaned it and did not restore any geometric problem? You can clearly see the wear in the scraped finish.

Good thing metal doesn't rot.

I know an old Bridge port in Sheffield England that needs a similar treatment (but at least Richard knows about the oil, NOT grease issue).His has some extra features and the shaper attachment and the cutting fluid catchment cone. Almost all old machine tools are full of chips and sludge, most of it VERY old. I know that because I have stripped and moved several of them. BTW - that is the SHORT version of the bed! GET a stabiliser for the hand held shots, or it will give people motion sickness. You have lovely ideas - so let people see them.

Nice job! I would replace your leather way wipers with the correct felt material.

Great job on the mill cleanup.

Great video on the Bridgeport. Many years ago I used a J Head Bridgeport on my job. But now I'm retired and trying to save up enough $$$ to buy a Bridgeport to accompany my Logan lathe. But it seems that most used machines are in the North or West coast, and shipping is expensive! (I live in NE Georgia!)

Nice restoration! Keep this type of video coming!!!

Bruh. I gotta admit, this man is like 5 minute crafts, but way better.

Good video. Would love to have a Bridgeport machine like that.

Good project 👍good restoration 👍👍👍👏👏👏

Nice job. Mine could use a good rebuild. You will love that machine.

Please add covets on top of the bed. On each side so you don't get all the chips in the groves of the bed again. All you do is sweep them on the floor. Or vacuum them off. Protect your investment. Great job!!! Very well done

I really like how you slap metal surface 😂

great video man. I am about to do the same thing and this will definitely be a reference. and I love the 80s music! Subbed

Hi I spoke to a fitter and turner about your mill he said that the error reading is common he suggest de soldering and cleaning the circuit board then re solder and seal with lacquer. Not sure if this will work in your case but I did notice the circuit board was a bit dirty in your video he said its the vibration that loosens the solder joints. Good Luck>> Neil from South Australia

Rebuild or just deep clean? I’m saying a cleaning.

Awesome job on the find and the cleaning!

What a nice machine!

That camera men!!! Makes me dizzy. Great job and already suscribed, this channel Is great

Was I the only one waiting for the cutter to go bang from climb milling you will do it once and never forget😬

Made in Spain milling machine. Al casting and mechanicing is made in Lagun, Vitoria, Spain. "Brigdeport" only assembly some electrical parts.

Work shirts are nicer than my going out shirt.

I /we always used white Luba Plate( white Lithium geese) . Never a problem .

Good stuff

Well Done Bud!!

Keep on restoring stuff! I really liked this video! Can't wait to see a project with the bridgeport ❤️

Lookin.good.sir , as a diy guy my Model J needs a scale for a guy who uses it once in a while which is a good way to go ty subbed