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Post by jakesrocks on May 19, 2015 21:26:38 GMT -5
Does anyone have any experience with a Hillquist Gem Drill, vintage 1950's ? I just scored one on ebay. Looks to be in good condition, Only needs a new motor. If anyone has owned or used one, I'd like to hear from you.
Don
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Post by orrum on May 20, 2015 6:38:53 GMT -5
Good job Don You Got it!
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Post by jakesrocks on May 20, 2015 10:22:20 GMT -5
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Post by orrum on May 20, 2015 10:57:25 GMT -5
Wow that's a hoss! Bet it would drill some nice cores!
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 20, 2015 11:15:00 GMT -5
Don jakesrocks , never did use one of them, but found an ad for Hillquist in an old Desert Magazine: dezertmagazine.com/mine/1953DM11/files/195311-desertmagazine-1953-november.pdf You will have to download the file, can't just view it online. Go to the bottom of page 37, there's an ad for Hillquist, with pic of the drill and other machines they made. On page 41 is another ad for their Gemmaster.
The company was based in Seattle (in 1953), and they had a whole line of lapidary equipment. Their Gemmaster looked like a faceting machine, but used a variety of accessories to do many different things. Laps, drum and disk sanders, saws, thin sectioning machine, sphere makers.
Website for Hillquist: www.hillquist.com/ Now located in Denver, still making lapidary equipment.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 20, 2015 12:30:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the links Jean. I'll check them out. Also have to dig out some of my very old Lapidary Journal's, to see if I can find more info.
Don
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Post by jakesrocks on May 25, 2015 12:38:41 GMT -5
I'm really, really beginning to hate Fedex. The gem drill left Oregon on Friday morning, with it's first stop to be in Frenchtown Mt. No updates yet. Tracking still shows it on its way to Montana. With what they charge for shipping, you would at least expect them to keep you updated on the where about's of your package.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 27, 2015 15:12:24 GMT -5
Hillquist drill arrived today. It'll need a couple of minor repairs. New belt & a couple of thumb screws to hold the lid down. Saw a pic of one using a series of belts & pulleys from the motor to the drill. I can simplify that by using a motor meant to run vertical instead of horizontal, and only one belt. (Think clothes dryer motor).
Not happy with the seller. He advertised and charged for shipping of 5o lbs. Actual shipping weight was 20 lbs. Since winning the bid, he has removed any mention of 50 lbs from the original listing. He ain't gonna like my feedback.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 27, 2015 18:19:28 GMT -5
The new toy. Quarter added for scale. Grease in the front spindle has hardened. Gonna have to tear it apart & clean everything.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 27, 2015 19:37:21 GMT -5
Show it again when you get the motor mounted. Can't imagine how they got it to work if motor was horizontal.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 27, 2015 20:03:44 GMT -5
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Post by Rockoonz on May 27, 2015 20:48:46 GMT -5
Hillquist drill arrived today. It'll need a couple of minor repairs. New belt & a couple of thumb screws to hold the lid down. Saw a pic of one using a series of belts & pulleys from the motor to the drill. I can simplify that by using a motor meant to run vertical instead of horizontal, and only one belt. (Think clothes dryer motor). Not happy with the seller. He advertised and charged for shipping of 5o lbs. Actual shipping weight was 20 lbs. Since winning the bid, he has removed any mention of 50 lbs from the original listing. He ain't gonna like my feedback. Were shipping charges for 20 lbs, sometimes large items ship at a higher weight rate due to the package size. I would contact the seller first and see if you can get any overpayment for shipping refunded before leaving bad feedback. Hilquist and their funky lever action feed system has been my nemesis lately, trying to get a friends 24 inch saw backup and running. If anyone has one of those sprag clutch setups lying about... The fiberglass tubs are kind on deluxe looking, don't care for the backwards vice either.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 27, 2015 21:23:22 GMT -5
Lee, right in the guys original listing he had the weight of the machine at 50 lbs. He has since edited out the 50 lb weight. Shows me he knew he was over charging for shipping.
This drill is going to be interesting to field strip. There's a worm & sector drive to a cam & lever which lifts & lowers the drill bit. The grease in the drill spindle has hardened, so until I free things up I have no way of knowing how many times the bit cycles up & down per minute.
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mrhillquist
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2016
Posts: 7
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Post by mrhillquist on Apr 22, 2016 23:10:00 GMT -5
Does anyone have any experience with a Hillquist Gem Drill, vintage 1950's ? I just scored one on ebay. Looks to be in good condition, Only needs a new motor. If anyone has owned or used one, I'd like to hear from you. Don Hello, my name is Randall Hillquist my great grandfather designed the gem drill you won on eBay....I have a lot of my grandfathers equipment, except for the gem drill, if you ever decide to sell this I would be willing to pay you double want you payed for it. ?
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mrhillquist
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2016
Posts: 7
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Post by mrhillquist on Apr 22, 2016 23:20:46 GMT -5
Hello, my name is Randall Hillquist, my great grandfather designed the gem drill you won, I have a lot of knowledge of all Hillquist equipment I use all of my great grandfathers equipment, in my lapidary hobbie, I do not have his gem drill, if you ever decide to resell the gem drill I would be willing to give you 200.00 for it, kind of a family heirloom to me. Sincerely, Randall Hillquist Sr.
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mrhillquist
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2016
Posts: 7
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Post by mrhillquist on Apr 22, 2016 23:31:29 GMT -5
I have a lot spare parts, and accessory for the Hillquist gem drill, but unfortunately I don't have the drill, I'll keep looking, God bless great grandfather.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 23, 2016 10:33:58 GMT -5
Hi Randal, and welcome to the forum.
Let me think about your offer for a couple days. My original intention was to restore the machine and display it along with some other vintage lapidary equipment I have. I'm getting old and have too many projects left to finish before I kick the bucket.
You say that you have many of your great grandfathers machines. Why don't you take pictures of them and post them for our members to see ? Also, if you have any of his working drawings or owners manuals, would you consider reproducing them ? I'm sure there are a few Hillquist saws and possibly other pieces of equipment floating around among our members. Old documents like that are pure gold to those of us who enjoy restoring and using those vintage machines.
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mrhillquist
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2016
Posts: 7
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Post by mrhillquist on Apr 23, 2016 11:28:18 GMT -5
Yes, I got a lot of pictures I post as soon as I figure it out, I do have some old manuals, should'nt be a problem getting some copy's made in due time. I really appreciate you thinking about my offer, my intention is to restore it as well, I restored the Hillquist 16 inch inch slap saw I have as well as a 8 inch trim saw. Both these machines work fantastic. I also have a 36 inch saw I am working on. Lots of spare parts as well...anyways thanks keep in touch.
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mrhillquist
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2016
Posts: 7
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Post by mrhillquist on Apr 23, 2016 11:44:08 GMT -5
Just tried to upload pictures, I am going to have to take or edit my pictures the ones I have are to large to upload.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 23, 2016 12:45:29 GMT -5
Just tried to upload pictures, I am going to have to take or edit my pictures the ones I have are to large to upload. To upload pictures on here, You're going to need Photobucket or one of the other picture hosting sites. If you can copy any of the owners manuals, blueprints or working drawings you have, it would be greatly appreciated by many. I'm sure that anyone needing manuals for their Hillquist machines would be more than happy to pay for them. I search various sites almost daily, looking for manuals and parts lists for vintage lapidary machines. They're few and far between. When I do find one, I aggressively bid on it.
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