Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Making me feel really bad about my lathe..lol
Found a Dalton Metal Lathe
- Thread starter AdrianBoomer
- Start date
OP
AdrianBoomer
Well-known member
A quick update as it has been awhile. I got a collet set up now, thread protector and the original draw bar. I located a collet closer and adapter for the 3c collets and Im in business
The lathe had long lost it's gear covers. Dennis Turk, the lathe guru, sent me his originals and I fabricated them out of sheet metal.
Slowly, I have figured out the best gear combos, compounding a few to get the power feed nice and slow and producing a very adequate finish cut.
Anyhow, here are a few more pictures of the finished lathe. I would love to here from people with similar lathes etc.
View media item 87859[
![GALLERY]](http://[GALLERY=media, 87858][/GALLERY])
View media item 87860View media item 87861View media item 87862
The lathe had long lost it's gear covers. Dennis Turk, the lathe guru, sent me his originals and I fabricated them out of sheet metal.
Slowly, I have figured out the best gear combos, compounding a few to get the power feed nice and slow and producing a very adequate finish cut.
Anyhow, here are a few more pictures of the finished lathe. I would love to here from people with similar lathes etc.
View media item 87859[
View media item 87860View media item 87861View media item 87862
Asport
Well-known member
Nice job on the restore!
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
AdrianBoomer that is one sweet lathe.
You have done an excellent job on bringing it back to life.
You have done an excellent job on bringing it back to life.
MayerMR
Well-known member
It blows my mind that people just toss these things. Even a scraper should have the sense to see that and think..."hmm, maybe I should post this on CL for $100 rather than that $X/lb the scrap guys are gonna give me...".
Cleave
Well-known member
I look in all the wrong dumpsters....
Very, very nice job.
Very, very nice job.
SweetD
Well-known member
I think the same thing all the time.
OP, many superlatives have already been applied, wonderful save and beautiful restoration. Way to go!
park city flyer
Active member
Nice looking job on a scrap candidate. These old timers are way better than the off shore junk being sold these days.
Tom
Tom
OP
AdrianBoomer
Well-known member
Thanks for the compliments guys. I have saved a number of machines, but this is the first one that really seems to have a lot of soul! This machine has made me really appreciate the turn of the century designs. I was all about the 30s and 40s but not I am thinking the turn of the century is a really interesting time for machinery.
If anyone knows of a lathe monster thread or Line shaft thread please direct me!
I am currently fabricating the long since lost Thread Dial that mounts to the Carriage and I use this lathe for my tool restorations, mainly dressing shafts, milling bushings etc. It is really working great for this work which is why I was looking for a smaller lathe in the first place, unfortunately this project has only made me want an old milling machine to go with it!
If anyone knows of a lathe monster thread or Line shaft thread please direct me!
I am currently fabricating the long since lost Thread Dial that mounts to the Carriage and I use this lathe for my tool restorations, mainly dressing shafts, milling bushings etc. It is really working great for this work which is why I was looking for a smaller lathe in the first place, unfortunately this project has only made me want an old milling machine to go with it!
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a Dalton six that was restored by a friend 20 years ago. He got it at a household sale we were at. There is a Dalton Lathe group that has been a great resource.
https://groups.io/g/DaltonLathes
https://groups.io/g/DaltonLathes
OP
AdrianBoomer
Well-known member
I am really close with Dennis, we go back and forth a lot, he has sent me parts, and given me advice. He sent me the end door and gear covers from his oldest Lot 4 and I reproduced them for my lathe. He is a great guy!
Let's see you lathe!
Let's see you lathe!
OP
AdrianBoomer
Well-known member
I am a member of the new group. I just logged on and I see they are using my Lathe as the banner LOL Great guys over there!
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My Dalton "six"
my friend Jack did a nice job painting it and added the back splash to keep the wall clean. He used it to make the acme screw parts for his larger lathe and thread gun barrels.
I would like to make it reverse, the switch is currently wired so either direction is forward. I have a full set of change gears, a Jacobs chuck for the tail stop, and a collet holder.
my friend Jack did a nice job painting it and added the back splash to keep the wall clean. He used it to make the acme screw parts for his larger lathe and thread gun barrels.
I would like to make it reverse, the switch is currently wired so either direction is forward. I have a full set of change gears, a Jacobs chuck for the tail stop, and a collet holder.
Attachments
dougp63
New member
Beautiful Lathe... I have a Lot4 # 673 that I am working on right now. Work but the ears are broke off the slide for the tool holder (T-slide). Need to get it repaired or find a new one. and missing the self-feed gears. The motor is mounted differently, the belt goes from the spindle directly to the motor. You move the motor back and forth to change the speeds. I will post pix when I get them.
OP
AdrianBoomer
Well-known member
doug, you should post some pics here on the dalton group. I'd be interested in seeing progress. a southbend cross slide will work as a replacement. Pretty standard Ebay stuff. And you should really get the countershaft and spindle speeds situated because of the babbit spindle bearings. These lathes werent meant to run fast than about 600 rpms. I can get mine down under 100rpms when back geared.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Your lathe looks great Adrian, and thanks for posting the thread I have enjoyed reading it. Love the stand you made for it.
You almost made me start to restore my (currently broken) Boxford, which is a Made In England copy of a South Bend lathe...
It's not as clean as yours as it's kept slathered in WD40 with a sheet over it in a barn. For those wondering, the wall of the barn is older than the USA !
You almost made me start to restore my (currently broken) Boxford, which is a Made In England copy of a South Bend lathe...
It's not as clean as yours as it's kept slathered in WD40 with a sheet over it in a barn. For those wondering, the wall of the barn is older than the USA !
Attachments
bubinga
Well-known member
I'd really like a Little 6" lathe for my basement. I do have a pretty nice 10" Logan/Wards lathe. But it's in the garage, and don't have my electric run, and Its too cold anyhow.
A little 6" one would be perfect for my basement.
A little 6" one would be perfect for my basement.
OP
AdrianBoomer
Well-known member
Farmer J, you should bite the bullet and start into your old lathe! And to the others, thanks for following a long on this one, it's be a fun time machine experience.
So, I recently made a few new parts, a thread dial, and carriage stop. While I was machining the stop, I thought I would also make hold an indicator dial as well.
The only other new thing I have going is a Shars import 5" 3 jaw, the ancient westcott was no long serviceable sadly and was not helping me dial in the accuracy.
Here are a few updated pics.
View media item 90368View media item 90369View media item 90370View media item 90371
So, I recently made a few new parts, a thread dial, and carriage stop. While I was machining the stop, I thought I would also make hold an indicator dial as well.
The only other new thing I have going is a Shars import 5" 3 jaw, the ancient westcott was no long serviceable sadly and was not helping me dial in the accuracy.
Here are a few updated pics.
View media item 90368View media item 90369View media item 90370View media item 90371
ckucia
Well-known member
I have a Dalton lot 5 that I picked up from my Dad last fall.
I think he got it from the school system where he worked.
Right now it's just sitting in my garage waiting for some love. Has some grey paint slathered on it. The gear cover is cracked and crudely repaired. But I have buckets of parts for it.
Unfortunately there is a long line or projects ahead of it. My intention was to work on it over the winter, but that wasn't to be this year.
Your rebuild is inspiring. Beautiful work.
I found the Dalton forum. Was wondering if there are any forums devoted to repairing/restoring old machinery that might be helpful. I have some basic mechanical and machining knowledge, but I'm not sure I've ever worked with something this old and certainly not as precise as this has the capacity to be. I believe I probably don't know what I don't know and I'd rather not screw it up any worse than it already is due to lack of knowledge.
I think he got it from the school system where he worked.
Right now it's just sitting in my garage waiting for some love. Has some grey paint slathered on it. The gear cover is cracked and crudely repaired. But I have buckets of parts for it.
Unfortunately there is a long line or projects ahead of it. My intention was to work on it over the winter, but that wasn't to be this year.
Your rebuild is inspiring. Beautiful work.
I found the Dalton forum. Was wondering if there are any forums devoted to repairing/restoring old machinery that might be helpful. I have some basic mechanical and machining knowledge, but I'm not sure I've ever worked with something this old and certainly not as precise as this has the capacity to be. I believe I probably don't know what I don't know and I'd rather not screw it up any worse than it already is due to lack of knowledge.
454ragtop
Well-known member
Ckucia, try OWWM.org
Tobster1234
New member
I own a Dalton 6 B6 Lathe in perfect condition. I have been trying to sell it. It was my fathers. He found it at an auction in Detroit in the 80's . He has passed away and I dont have a use for it.
Ricky Joe
Well-known member
I might be interested. Can you call me at (540) 493-8756 if you still have it? Thanks!