New tool

Mike V. Florida

Mike V. Florida

Well-known member
For some time now I have read about "just put is in the lathe..." "Turn down this or that". Well I came across a small lathe for free (yes Chinese, one plant seems to make all the 7 X lathes). Parts had enough rust to keep things from moving, The gears all had hard grease, the controller was shot, some of the handles were broken but it had most everything needed to make it work other wise.

I took everything apart, removed the rust and old grease. Lapped the metal parts so every thing moves like it should. Gave it a "hammered" paint job so it looks good. The motor is good, the controller is shot but I found someone that has a flat rate for the repair.

I found a few places on the web that had the parts I was missing and I have placed on my wish list upgrades for the future.

Can't wait to start turning metal. :D
 

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tbirdtbird said:
a live center, a drill bit chuck, and some cutters and you'll wonder how u lived without it

what's the taper in the tail stock? morse #2?
Click to expand...

I have all that now although it does not appear in the pic. I bought an early Christmas present got a quick change tool holder and the live center. The taper a a short Morse #2.

I forgot, it's a 7x10.
 
I have said in the past, that for the money that many spend on buying replacement or reproduction parts for their Model-A was instead spent purchasing a lathe, mill, and an oxy/acetylene torch, they could actually restore items and likely have a better outcome in the end.

This will be a great starter lathe for you Mike. There are quite a few good YouTube channels that offer great 'how-to' advice that will give you great ideas. Keith Rucker, Dale Derry's Tips & Tricks, Mr. Pete222, Adam Booth's Abom79, and Tom Lipton's OxTool channels are just a few to go watch.
 
An interesting post appeared this morning on the MILL_DRILL@yahoogroups.com list. Quoted here. I've looked at a few, great stuff!

------------------------------------------
1a. Joe Pieczynski's channel
Posted by: petersdw@jmu.edu dornpeterson
Date: Sat Nov 26, 2016 5:10 am ((PST))

Most of the people reading this will know about various popular youtube channels that talk about tricks and techniques of machining (I'll repeat my favorites at the end to save people that don't know what I'm talking about some time.) A couple of months ago I subscribed to a new channel with a rather small numbers of subscribes (though that number has been rapidly growing.) I've been working though some of his "back issues". Just to give you an example of the great resource he is here is a link to one video that taught me things about holding work in a vice that I should have known years (dare I say decades) ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q60iFRfag8
Joe Pieczynski's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpp6lgdc_XO_FZYJppaFa5w

Enjoy Dorn

Other favorite youtube machining channels: clickspring:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCworsKCR-Sx6R6-BnIjS2MA
mrpete222: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKLIIdKEpjAnn8E76KP7sQg
oxtools: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZC9LGZLfyjrKT4OZne-JNw
Suburban Tools: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrUM7Q29YDCs-zDrc1QRKQQ
Stefan Gotteswinter: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY8gSLTqvs38bR9X061jFWw
Abom79: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw3UZn1tcVe7pH3R6C3Gcng
ThatLazyMachinist: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOfQ4Ufy4s7GJB3h9VieY1Q
xynudu: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXGgjDg8p1nJBgHdxPdvkjQ

Metal Tips and Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCorf3SIH8zyQnfNCdMRNFnQ
 
Once you have one, you will wonder how you ever got by without one! Then start looking for a Bridgeport...
 
Free is and can be a great price. Have fun with it. I am on dial up now but have watched some on line videos in the past. Great way to get some basics but nothing beats hands on.
I picked up an old Atlas 9" long bed for $250 with the change gears and found I have been using it more then I thought. As I use it I find what is working right and what needs a little tweaking. Still in the amateur ranks but getting better. :)
 
As a once journeyman machinist I can tell you the next thing to invest in is the Machinist Handbook. For the beginner there is a LOT of worthless information in it, but there is also the "tool to diameter to speed to feed rate" charts that will help you get done what you need without making much more than 2 useless parts.

I would get hold of the folks at http://www.rlstephenstool.com/ and see if they could make you up a basic tool selection "kit" for the beginner. They will also have the Machinist Handbook and other charts, such as "drill-Tap" and dimensions charts.

Good Luck, and keep your fingers away from moving parts!!
 
I spent most of my life wanting one. One day A few years ago I was checking Craigslist, and spotted a pre-war Logan. After rounding up better pieces on ebay, I now have a very good lathe that often comes to the rescue on projects.
 
I agree with Mitch, wont be long and you'll be looking for a 10 x 24 and
after you get that it will be a 16 x 48:eek: ask me how I know.:D

Bob
 
Please do not take this a wrong way.

That is an odd looking lathe. I mean odd in the tooling looks like it would be strange to buy.

While the lathe appears small length wise the chuck, tool holder and tailstock seem large. What I am getting at, it might be way cheaper in the long run to spend $600 on a South bend 9" (or a logan) which is small and uses much cheaper tooling that is easily available.

While the lathe might be free you might be best checking how much it is going to cost to make it useable. Plus if you buy all the tools and it breaks you probably can not get the parts to fix it.

There is a lot of value in a nice South bend or Logan lathe cause parts and tooling are available and reasonable. No I did not leave out Atlas. They are OK I guess, but I like the V ways on the SB/ Logan instead of the flats on the Atlas/ Sears.

For those looking for a lathe, keep your eyes on Craigslist. They pop up cheap and sell fast sometimes. I paid $300 each for the ones I bought (bought one that was a bit worn for the 6 jaw chuck and gave the lathe to my brother for his basement). A guy I work with picked up one with zero wear for $300. All A models with the quick change gear box. Deals can be found in the $300 to $600 range and if they have tooling prices can jump, but still be cheap. I would buy a SB 9" for $600 just to get a milling attachment or a taper attachment then sell the lathe for $500 so I am always watching craigslist for lathes.
 
WOW thanks for all the great advice and additional links. The last piece I needed was the controller to be repaired, waiting for it to come in.

Again thanks for all the additional info.
 
Going to be fun 4 you,I think it is anyway to make or fix stuff with my old lathe,been playing from the time I got it in 1958. Now an then if you have not used one much,there'll be a prob,something dosen't cut right or what ever. Don't know were in south Florida you are,but I'm in Miami and if thats close even enough to help any,I will .:D
 
Look into getting some collets so you can put round stock in without having to adjust any jaws. You will have to find out exactly what size will fit into that lathe. If it turns out that it takes 4C collets I do have some extras.
 
Hey, that is just a wee bit larger than the one I have. A word, be sure to take small cuts. Mine can handle up to about .005 per pass with brass, .002 with steel, and I really haven't figured how to get a clean cut on aluminum but I manage.
 

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