Lister Engine Forum

Lister Engines => Lister Based Generators => Topic started by: bandmiller2 on July 12, 2012, 12:05:41 PM

Title: Metal lathe
Post by: bandmiller2 on July 12, 2012, 12:05:41 PM
How many of you guys have a metal lathe and even better a milling machine too.??I'd be lost without mine and old 14"x36" Hendy and Cincinati toolmaster vert. mill.This stuff is around cheap and it opens new worlds especially with shafts and pulleys[sheves]. Frank C.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Combustor on July 12, 2012, 02:31:38 PM
            Retired and sold off my earthmovers, but kept most of the workshop to pursue my old machinery interests. My gear includes a big old early 1900's lathe that will swing about 30" and a better class Chinese machine around 11" x 36".  Also about 3 tons of Cincinnati No.2 Universal mill with vertical attachment and slotter. Still need some time to get familiar and explore the possibilities of the mill, but it sure beats joining the queue at the local machine shop now that we have a mining boom going here.  Combustor.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: mobile_bob on July 12, 2012, 04:17:16 PM
i have a southbend heavy 10 lathe, a 17" leblond rapid production lathe, and a brown/sharp horizontal mill, all of which are waiting patiently for me to get the house remodel done so i can start working on getting 3 phase up so i can use them.

just knowing i have them provides a sense of security, around here to get anything done would take an hour drive and who know's how much of a wait to get back something other than what i asked for.

bob g
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Tom on July 12, 2012, 06:15:20 PM
Well I want a lathe and mill. Used to do a lot of machine shop where I worked and greatly miss having those tools available to me. Someday soon.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Sfene on July 12, 2012, 08:35:46 PM
I've got a 100 yr old Seneca Falls "Star" lathe that I restored. Does everything I need it to, kinda interesting,  it was originally treadle powered ...
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: bschwartz on July 13, 2012, 01:31:32 AM
I also have a southbend heavy 10 lathe.  No milling machine......... Yet ::)
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: bandmiller2 on July 13, 2012, 01:50:51 AM
Kinda figured you guys would have some big iron stashed away, old engines and machinery go togather like hot days and cold beer. Frank C.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: macgyvermike on July 13, 2012, 02:53:33 AM
Work in machine shop. Have full access to shop anytime.
Not bragging just stating
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: AdeV on July 15, 2012, 06:37:25 PM
Yep, I've got the whole workshop thing going on too.... an old Herbet Edgwick Mk1 lathe from the late 1930s, a Bridgeport vertical mill from 1985 - and most recenly a Bridgeport Interact 1 CNC mill, also 1985 vintage. I have a couple of old Manchester Rapidor donkey saws, AC/DC TIG welder, MIG welder, and a rather lovely Hardinge turret lathe (which, TBH, I will probably sell to buy another centre lathe).

Mostly used to make bits for themselves, or for the racing car. I've yet to make any Lister components, but it's just a matter of time.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Thomas on July 16, 2012, 12:50:04 AM
Just thought I would get in to South Bend Heavy 10 Adcock Shipely Milling machine and welder  of all make and sizes need to get something to do splines and key ways. Tom T
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Thob on July 16, 2012, 03:09:14 AM
I have a 12" Craftsman lathe that I inherited from my Dad.  He was just a hobby machinist, but I learned a lot from him about it.  I have a Kent mill (Bridgeport 1J clone); I'm still learning the basics of using it.  I use them both for hobby purposes, odd jobs, etc.  Some day I want to get a bigger, heavier lathe.

Lincoln 225 cracker box stick welder - I can do the basics but try to weld everything flat.

Miller 125 auto-arc MIG welder - bought it used and still learning.  Great for thin stuff (made for auto sheet metal repair).

Big hammer, railroad rail anvil, small vise, bunch of rusty files, a few punches, some old dull drill bits, a couple of grinders.

Working on a forge and furnace for sand casting - all in my head for the time being.

Too many hobbies, not enough time.  Always room for one more tool.

My day job is writing software, which pays the bills and a little left over for hobbies.  If I quit, I'd have time for hobbies but no money!
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: 38ac on July 16, 2012, 12:22:19 PM
Ex gunsmith/machinest here. Kept my Summit 16x60 engine lathe and 9x42 Jet Mill when I shut the shop down.  I think I would have to quit my engine hobby if I had to part with them. We make and "adjust" may parts with them.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: bandmiller2 on July 17, 2012, 12:00:25 PM
38ac,I to did a stint as a licenced gunsmith 20 or so years,got fed up with all the gov. red tape,now I gladly pay a little more and let someone else have the hassel.Smiths are grossly underpaid for what equipment and skills they need.I made more money baleing hay.Frank C.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: 38ac on July 17, 2012, 12:19:03 PM
I knoiw what you mean about low paid work Frank. The first few years as tough and was a glorious day when the shop got busy enough that I could turn down work I didnt want to do and people I didn't care to work for. My operation was mainly custom rifles and blueing work. Insurance is what killed my operation, I have too much in my  name to go without it and couldn't afford the rates. Most gunsmithing operations run bare and I couldn't take the risk.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: rleonard on July 19, 2012, 10:15:38 AM
Several lathes.  Most used is a 14X30 Hendy.  Next is a Warner Swasey 2A turret Lathe.  2 Bridgeports, one an older CNC that needs to find a new home.  Doall surface grinder, American 9X36 radial drill.  Scotchman 51 ton ironworker, vertical and horizontal saws.  Usual support equipment.

Bob
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: M61hops on July 20, 2012, 09:37:01 AM
O.K. I'm bragging here  ;D!  I've got three lathes and two milling machines!  Plus a cut-off bandsaw that can be used vertically and all the other stuff you find in a well equipped home shop.  One lathe is a cheap toy from Harbor Freight, the 7 X 12 and it is sort of stupid in the way it's built so I'm glad I only paid $100 for it.  Another lathe is a nice 15 X 60 gap bed with a 3 13/16 spindle hole also from china but a good machine.  My favorite tool is my 1943 Reed Prentice 15 X 72 engine lathe; it's just way cool and the serial number is stamped on all the tooling that came with it.  Everything works very smooth and you can just tell it's solid and rigid due to it's way generous portions of cast iron.  They just don't make things like this in the USA anymore.  The 15 X 60 lathe weighes 3500Lbs. and feels nice and solid, but I bet the Reed Prentice must weigh twice that and feels like it could carve an inch a pass on mild steel.  I also have a chinese clone of a Bridgeport with electric power feed, and an old Brown & Sharp No. 1 1/2 universal mill that has really cool because it's complicated gear drive power feed.  Yeah, I have a shop at home, maybe that's why I got no wife  ::)!                 Leland
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Gippslander on April 30, 2013, 10:17:31 AM
Hi All

I have 7 lathes .

1964   Colchester Chipmaster

1940  Hendey  12 X 30  ( metric version )

1958  Harrison L5

Premo ( Australian made )

1920  Drummond hobby lathe

Unknown pedestal lathe

Sheraton 9 ( copy of the South Bend 9 )

two shapers

 ATLAS 7B


Two milling machines

DM 45 Asian thing

A tool and cutter grinder ADDISON brand



1940's Cash horizontal


Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: mobile_bob on May 04, 2013, 05:38:26 AM
hey!  is that Drummond a round bed lathe?

if so do you have any pic's?

bob g

Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Gippslander on May 05, 2013, 11:35:44 AM
hey!  is that Drummond a round bed lathe?

if so do you have any pic's?

bob g



hi Bob

Sorry it is a flat bed model B I have . There is a Drummond lathe yahoo group , quite a few round bed owners on there

Cheers ...Mike
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: dieselgman on May 05, 2013, 02:44:01 PM
Hello all you lathe aficionadoes... does anyone have a spare crossfeed screw for a Clausing 5914?

dieselgman
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: selmawp on May 06, 2013, 02:52:20 AM
Well after all this I guess I put in my 2 cents worth, have a small old Sunnen Hone 50ts? Cematron watercooled AC/DC300 tig welder, old bridge port that used to be a MOOG hydraulic converted to manuel with a powerfeed, a Clauser 13" Cholester, Floor drill pres cutoff saw, bench grinder, 6" belt sender with 1hp 3phase motor, Sunnen seat grinder, 50s Kwikway valve grinder, Kelco pressure blaster, 30hp Davey rotary compressor (110cfm?) band saw, old 3/4 Black and Decker drill and several handgrinders and hand drills. Also for sale watercooled Glen Tig 303 500amps. need a forklift to move it.
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Gippslander on May 06, 2013, 04:58:43 AM
Hello all you lathe aficionadoes... does anyone have a spare crossfeed screw for a Clausing 5914?

dieselgman

HI

Usually, the cross feed nut is made from bronze , this wears too . I would replace both the nut and the screw .

You can make a new cross feed screw on another lathe , they normally use a ACME thread on all of that stuff .

If you cannot find a new nut, you might try tinning the nut with some bearing material ( building up the worn threads )  and then run the new screw through the nut , tapping it for a higher tolerance fit  .

mike


Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Thob on May 06, 2013, 04:02:51 PM
Hello all you lathe aficionadoes... does anyone have a spare crossfeed screw for a Clausing 5914?

dieselgman

I think you can still get parts from Clausing

http://www.clausing-industrial.com/partsService.asp

I'm not familiar with that particular model, but often a crossfeed screw can be made by taking a piece of stock acme threaded rod and machining it down to round where it goes thru the bearings.  That assumes you have enough of the old one left to measure - is the old one broken or just worn?
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: dieselgman on May 10, 2013, 02:57:20 PM
We purchased the old Clausing after someone had scavenged the crossfeed assembly. I know that folks are making the brass nuts for them but I have had trouble finding the rest of the pieces.
We can do a number of jobs with the old machine as it sits and we use it for crankshaft polishing, but it would be nice to restore it completely and be able to get full functionality out of her again.

Thanks for your responses!  :)

dieselgman
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: mobile_bob on May 11, 2013, 03:28:51 AM
i can't remember if i reported on my shop machine tools or not
but i just this last weekend picked up a decent hardinge bb4 milling machine

been working on it off an on for the last few days as time allows, and what a sweetheart it is!

it needs a cross slide lead screw and T nut, and a couple of better crank handles, but the rest of the machine is in really pretty useful shape

it only has about 5inches by maybe 3 inches of travel, but it has all the collets i need (4c) and i have a bunch of end mills, so it has enough to work with from the start.

its nice to have a machine capable of at least doing keyways and slots... and probably much more.

and it gets me really interested in getting the bigger stuff hooked up! 

which brings up a question for you 3phase guru's

i know about static converters, and rotary converters as well as electronic varispeed controllers, however this is what i am thinking of doing as i don't have 3 phase power here.

having a 19inch leblond rapid production lathe with at least a 5 hp motor (3phase) it has a clutch pack to disengage the motor from the headstock, so

i am thinking of removing one of the 3drive belts which would free up a groove, and drive it with a single phase motor to get the motor running on single phase power, once running it will generate the 3rd phase and then i would have power for the other tools...

anyone see a problem with this?

as for reduction of power to the leblond headstock because of only having 2 drive belts instead of 3, it is unlikely i will ever have a need for full power or even half power for that matter.

bob g
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: Thob on May 11, 2013, 02:23:59 PM
Congratulations on the Hardinge - they make excellent machines!

A lot of the VFDs will run with single phase 240V input and give 3 phase output.  They may have reduced power capability, depends on the model.  That's what I'm using on my Bridgeport clone mill.  I really love being able to adjust the speed just by turning the knob - I got spoiled to that really quick ;D

Another option is to get a 3 phase head for your favorite prime mover, and run it when you need to machine something.

I'm not sure you'll ever get the voltage and frequency correct attempting to use a 3 phase motor as a generator.  I know it works when attempting to back-feed generated power to the grid, but that's because the grid determines the voltage and frequency.

You could always put a single phase motor on the mill (cringe).
[For those that don't know: single phase motors have a "cogging" that creates vibrations in machine tools, resulting in bad finish, frustration, etc.]
Title: Re: Metal lathe
Post by: M61hops on May 12, 2013, 12:01:37 AM
Hi Bob!  You could leave all three belts on as it is and start the motor with a start capacitor in series with one leg and a momentary contact push button switch!  My back has gotten worn out to where I don't like to bend over unless it is real important so instead of winding a string around the shaft of the 10hp motor I use as a converter, I hooked up a lazy mans starter. ;)  My home made converter draws 20A just idling so I can't help wondering what would happen if I belted a Changfa 175A to the motor shaft and pushed a few amps back into the grid when the converter is idling?  Would I get more starting torque out of my geared head lathe? ::)  There is no clutch so there is a lot of drag when starting in the higher speed gears and I will pop a breaker trying to get things rolling in the top few speeds.    Leland