Newest addition to my garage

[toms73novass]

I have been wanting a metal lathe for a while and in the fall found a 13" south bend that except for the surface rust was in good shape and not abused. It was out of a school one point in its life, then sat in an unheated garage. I then purchased it.

Here is what it looked like when I got it:

And here it is now with lots of cleaning and mineral spirits and steel wool and a fresh coat of original color paint:

 

[mikevango]

wow! looks brand new. good job

 

[Riverrojo]

Looks great!

 

[Mickey O]

Very nice, that thing cleaned up great, nice paint job. Now here's the plan, you move and look for a house real close to me and then let me use the lathe as needed, in exchange I will keep you supplied with as many black JellyBelly jellybeans as you can eat.

 

[LoneGunman]

That is a beautiful lathe. I'm cleaning up a Logan 820, it's the third or fourth machine I've cleaned up. I would have been all over that Southbend for that price. I got a heck of a deal on my logan but it's small (10")for what I want to do, I"d like something with a larger spindle diameter for gunsmithing work. I don't do much barreling work but I'd like the ability to.

I thought all SB's had hardened ways if they were over 12"? Or do I just not see the "flame hardened" stamping?

 

[A_Pmech]

That old South Bend looks great!

 

[LoneGunman]

If you are going to spend decent money on one have a machinist go with you, it's easy to loose your **** when buying machinery, it's hard to explain in a post how to check one out. If you can't find anyone to go with you you either take a chance or find one that you cannot loose on. I paid $200 for my Logan, I could sell the collet closer for $150 or so, can't loose.

You can adjust the gibs on the carriage when the carriage is near the chuck, then move the carriage towards the rear of the lathe, see if it tightens up. Most of the wear on a lathe will be close to the chuck, if the carriage tightens when you move it back you can get a feeling how much wear there is. Taking a cut out of a test piece will give you a lot better idea but if you never had a lathe you wouldn't know how to do that.

If there is any frosting left on the ways you know there is little wear. Look for damage to the ways, small dings don't bother me. Be aware of painted lathes, someones trying to hide something USUALLY.

When you make an adjustment how far does the wheel turn before you see movement, that's called "backlash" and is a result of wear, but that can be taken into account when you are using the machine, a DRO will also negate the backlash.

I'm a newb when it comes to lathes so if anyone sees any bad information I gave please correct me.

Very nice !

I am interested in getting into machining as a hobby. For that I need to get ahold of a lathe ofcourse, but I have been put of since I do not know how to judge one.
It looks like you have made a good buy.
Can you give me some pointers regarding what to look for when buying one?

 

[Jack90210]

Wow. I think I saw your post on Practical Machinist, or was it a similar lathe? Anyway, great job with the clean-up and paint. I'm guessing that you did a complete disassembly, felt replacement etc.?

What does a 13" weigh? My 10" Light (South Bend) weighs ~400 lbs., if I had to guess.

 

[welderwink]

that thing is so sweet man. good job on restoring it.

 

[A_Pmech]

You might appreciate this photo I found some time back and posted on PM:

Marion Bridges, South Bend Turret Lathe Operator, Maule Aircraft:

 

[Jack90210]

You might appreciate this photo I found some time back and posted on PM:

Marion Bridges, South Bend Turret Lathe Operator, Maule Aircraft:

Hey A_Pmech, what is that handle on the left end of the lathe for? Thanks.

 

[A_Pmech]

Hey A_Pmech, what is that handle on the left end of the lathe for? Thanks.

That's the bar feeder. It allows advancing bar stock into the machine while it is running. When working from bar stock and parting off, you only have to stop the spindle once, to install a new length of bar stock in the feeder. It saves a lot of time.

Edit:

You can momentarily see one in use at the beginning of this video:

 

[toms73novass]

but I'd like the ability to.

I thought all SB's had hardened ways if they were over 12"? Or do I just not see the "flame hardened" stamping?

I am 99% done with the resto, I have not attached all the tags. Yes it has a flame hardened bed.

 

[toms73novass]

Wow. I think I saw your post on Practical Machinist, or was it a similar lathe? Anyway, great job with the clean-up and paint. I'm guessing that you did a complete disassembly, felt replacement etc.?

What does a 13" weigh? My 10" Light (South Bend) weighs ~400 lbs., if I had to guess.

Yes, that was me.

It weighs about 1500 lbs

 

[toms73novass]

That's the bar feeder. It allows advancing bar stock into the machine while it is running. When working from bar stock and parting off, you only have to stop the spindle once, to install a new length of bar stock in the feeder. It saves a lot of time.

Edit:

You can momentarily see one in use at the beginning of this video:

I have to disagree with you here..

The lever is a collet closer. It allows for the quick release and clamping of a collet in the lathe spindle. The normal way you would have to insert a tube with a wheel on it and tighten down the collet and unwind the wheel when changing parts. The lever makes the change quick. You should stop the lathe change you part (or advance the the rod manually) and then restart the lathe.

My info is only for this particular lathe, there might be other brands where it will advance on the go, but the South Bend one is not designed to advance the stock for you.

 

[A_Pmech]

My info is only for this particular lathe, there might be other brands where it will advance on the go, but the South Bend one is not designed to advance the stock for you.

I learn something new every day!

It appears you're right, South Bend didn't offer a stock feeding option on their collet closer. Here's a link showing the assembly in question with no mention of it being more than a lever collet closer:

http://www.machinemanuals.net/web_pages/south_bend_turret_lathes.htm

For the sake of comparison, here's part of the collet closer / bar feeder on an old Warner and Swasey turret lathe:

The bar rest assembly is out of view.

Good catch, Tom!

 

[toms73novass]

That is cool that it does all that in one shot!

 

[arkangel06]

Man thats nice!

 

[A_Pmech]

So how many hours do you figure you have into the clean up, Tom?

It looks like a new machine!

 

[toms73novass]

At least 50 hrs, really never kept track. Started at the beginning of november and did it when I had a chance. Had to take a month off because I almost took off the tip of my thumb in an accident.

 

[fatfillup]

That lathe looks like ****

Actually I have a severe case of lathe envy and wouldn't even know how to use one.

That is an outstanding clean and paint project and thanks for the before and after pics. The machine looks brand new but also has an old school high quality appearance that I just love.

Congrats on a job well done.

 

[LoneGunman]

I am 99% done with the resto, I have not attached all the tags. Yes it has a flame hardened bed.

Awesome, and I'll say it again, Beautiful piece of American machinery.

 

[Elroy]

what is that handle on the left end of the lathe for? Thanks.

You would be better off asking Marion Bridges.

Tom your lathe looks great

 

[toms73novass]

Thanks guys for all the kudos.