To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Need a handle made or a source for new

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Well when I bought my 6" Craftsman lathe, the handle for the cross slide was broke. The handles are made out of potmetal. I ended up finding a complete saddle and compound on EBay with all of the handles. When I received it and unboxed it, the handle I needed was broke:scared::mad: To buy one is anywhere from $55 to $145.

If I sent one of the old handles to someone that is set up for machining, could someone make it for a reasonable price. I don't mind being fair, but for what the handle is, it's not worth the price they are commanding for them. I'd rather have a handle made out of steel, or if you have the means to chuck it up and screw the old handle to the old base to put it back together, that would also work. I just am not set up with a mill or a drill press to get the holes in where they should be.

This is the handle I need repaired or replaced
140.jpg


Larger view. What breaks is the handle coming out of the smaller ball. I'm thinking that there is a demand for then due to the high cost. BTW...the one shown is going for $64,95 on EvilBay :mad:

$(KGrHqFHJCME9Bf96SkuBPU!T-fiFQ~~60_57.JPG
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

bad_idea

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
4,335
Location
Pasquotank, NC
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

Sorry to say racingtadpole is probably right. Unless someone rogers up and does it as a favor, that handle is going to cost more in time than what evilbay is asking.
 

joshuaz223

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
49
Location
Central Square, NY
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

making it exactly the same is a lot of work making it really close is possible. if your interested pm me and i will give you my address. i would do it for pepsi money and shipping.
 

lametec

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2008
Messages
2,099
Location
Michigan
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

The handle is most likely threaded into the ball. Unscrew the broken piece, then buy a new handle to screw back in. Enco has 'em.

If they're not threaded, drill and tap, then thread one in.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=688

My cross slide handwheel was missing both handles. I drilled out the holes and press fit new handles from Enco. The reason I press fit them was that they stuck out too far for my taste when simply threaded in. So I cut off the threads and pressed them in instead.
 
OP
K

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

The handle is most likely threaded into the ball. Unscrew the broken piece, then buy a new handle to screw back in. Enco has 'em.

If they're not threaded, drill and tap, then thread one in.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=688

My cross slide handwheel was missing both handles. I drilled out the holes and press fit new handles from Enco. The reason I press fit them was that they stuck out too far for my taste when simply threaded in. So I cut off the threads and pressed them in instead.

I looked all thru Enco's catalof this morning and didn't find anything like that. I'll have to measure what I have now to see if it will work.

If not, then joshuaz223 I'll be getting in touch with you.

Kevin
 

Alchymist

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
4,423
Location
Central PA
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

You have a lathe ......seems a reasonable substitute could be done on a lathe, though a small mill would obviously help. Does it really need to be chrome plated? The handles on my South Bend aren't.
 
OP
K

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

The handle is most likely threaded into the ball. Unscrew the broken piece, then buy a new handle to screw back in. Enco has 'em.

If they're not threaded, drill and tap, then thread one in.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=688

My cross slide handwheel was missing both handles. I drilled out the holes and press fit new handles from Enco. The reason I press fit them was that they stuck out too far for my taste when simply threaded in. So I cut off the threads and pressed them in instead.

I looked all thru Enco's catalof this morning and didn't find anything like that. I'll have to measure what I have now to see if it will work.

If not, then joshuaz223 I'll be getting in touch with you.

Kevin
 

WILD-BILL

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2011
Messages
875
Location
Brook Park Oh
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

I have the same lathe and had the same issue, broken handle. I just bite the bullet and bought one.

What I can tell you is these are IIRC a 5/25 shaft with a key way. The nut you see pictured in your first post has a slight taper to it and a matching taper on the handle. When its installed, the outer nut is tightened in then another locking nut is tightened from the carriage side of the the screw. There is no exposed thread outside the handle so getting some aftermarket handle and fabbing it on may not happen
 
OP
K

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

I really hate to bite the bullet and buy one that is expensive. I thought I lucked out when I bought the complete saddle with all three handles, but by the time I got it out of the box, it was broken. And as I said, I'm not blaming the seller. The saddle was in a box and it was wrapped in shipping paper. If the box got tossed around any, I could see where it would break. I can make one if I had a mill, but all I have is a lathe so far. I'll keep looking around, but may have to take joshuaz223 up on his offer. I can make most of it, but will need to have a little more work done. Later on I may have to get some castings made and sell them myself as it seems that everyone that has the Craftsman/Atlas/Dunlap lathe has the cross slide handle broke. One guy was selling three castings on Ebay I believe for something like $175. For that kind of money, I'd try to make handles all day long
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
K

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Thanks guys. One of those places are bound to work. I'll take one off today and measure it and let you know.

Thanks again!!!!
 

mike13u

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
616
Location
S.Florida
I will second Reid Supply for stuff like that. Order a print catalog and keep it in your shop. It is a great reference.
 

trainer

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2005
Messages
2,019
Location
Northern Ontario, Canada
Re: Need a handle made or a souce for new

You have a lathe ......seems a reasonable substitute could be done on a lathe, though a small mill would obviously help. Does it really need to be chrome plated? The handles on my South Bend aren't.

^^^^^^^
this!
From wikipedia;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning

"It is said that the lathe is the only machine tool that can reproduce itself"
 

rsanter

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,524
Location
visalia ca
I had the same problem with the ball part that has the handle in it broke off.
Fix
The handle is pressed into the ball. Clamp the ball in a vise and drill a small hole on the back side of the ball. Take a punch and knock the handle out

Take the handle off the lathe and drill a hole in the other ball on the handle...use the broken off one as a guide as to what size hole to drill.

Tap the handle piece into the handle and reinstall on the lathe

Now get a piece of aluminum and machine a new handle. Polish the aluminum, no need for plating

Bob
 

larry4406

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
19,585
Location
Northern Virginia

Attachments

  • L2-61 Crank handle.jpg
    L2-61 Crank handle.jpg
    141.2 KB · Views: 24
Last edited:

ProGun3400

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Messages
460
Location
Will County, Illinois
I was just in the shed & came across a cross slide apron from an old Craftsman lathe that I no longer have. The pictures posted above are not viewable, not certain if we are all speaking of same part??
 

larry4406

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
19,585
Location
Northern Virginia
I was just in the shed & came across a cross slide apron from an old Craftsman lathe that I no longer have. The pictures posted above are not viewable, not certain if we are all speaking of same part??

I couldn't see Kevin's original pictures either, thus I posted a picture in my Post 19 of what I need.

I am interested if yours matches.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom