Who's got lathes?

[Nelson58]

I am waiting for a deal to fall into my lap, do not have one or a mill either. I have friends and neighbors for the rare occasion I cant work my way around a problem. Buying parts has got more practical, efficient and cheaper, fast shipping etc these days. I haven't wanted to collect another whole layer of tooling, if I seriously started down that road would like another shop addition for it and a couple more tuck parking bays while I was at it. I am at the right edge of having the ideal shop setup for what I do more would mean more clutter and I can just plain get by without it. It isn't that I couldn't find some use but that I just don't need.

Keep checking Craigslist every day- you will find something in your area. There are deals on there all the time.


Nelson

 

[Nelson58]

Here's mine. Southbend 10L

Making a precision angle to scrape my dovetails.

Gib and Cross slide all scraped in:

Compound all ready to go:

Front Lathe bed base mount:

and finally the rear bed base mount:

Who did the scraping? It looks like a good job.

Nelson

 

[fredybender]

I see this and I'm a bit worried;
lathes are made to work, they are not a demo piece, that gives you the right to say:
I can make parts...
Keep thm clean if you want, but a lathe is made to cut metal, period!
if it doesn't, shame on you!

 

[rmuell01]

Who did the scraping? It looks like a good job.

Nelson

that would be me!

 

[spongerich]

I more or less stole this South Bend 10K at an estate sale a couple months ago.
It dates from the mid '60's but hasn't seen much use. The frosting from the original scraping still shows across the entire bed.

I paid $800 for it, but it came with a mostly complete SB 9" Model B with a rare lever action tailstock. I also got, 2 lever collet closers and a bunch of step chucks, all of which I ended up selling for around $1100.

 

[930dreamer]

Spongerich your killing me, nice score on the TWO lathes.

 

[brownbagg]

my atlas looks a lot like that south bend. havent used it in 20 years

 

[A_Pmech]

that would be me!

Your scraping looks well developed and is spotting nicely. Are you a practiced hand or is this your first scraping project?

Either way, it's obvious you're giving the job the level of care it deserves.

 

[tolken4]

I see this and I'm a bit worried;
lathes are made to work, they are not a demo piece, that gives you the right to say:
I can make parts...
Keep thm clean if you want, but a lathe is made to cut metal, period!
if it doesn't, shame on you!

Seriously? A non comment, or hey nice lathe would have done.

If that other one worried you, I figure this one ought to make you down right bat **** crazy . We should find this guy and tell him that the freddy guy from the forum said he wasn't owning or using his lathe correctly.

 

[Kevin54]

This is the lathe that I just bought from Tools-Plus. Great outfit to deal with. I did get a stand with it and I also talked her into knocking off a couple of hundred for buying from her. It's a little different from what I'm used to running but I thing it be just fine for the garage. The only thing I have yet to get is a Quick Change Tool Post. It came with a Four Way tool post and I hate it. You have to shim your tools to get the right height. With the quick change you just move it up or down and lock it and you're done.

But I have everything hooked up now, the mill and lathe, and under power. I have the Phase Converter sitting on a metal table and it is a little noisy, so I have to mount it on a different board and add some type of isolator between it and the cabinet top. Probably a piece of Styrofoam would do it.

 

[Griff93]

Here's my old Logan 10" lathe. It was a bit rough looking but very accurate. The 3 jaw chuck would grab a hardened dowel with less than 0.001" TIR. This was a 1943 model. I sold it to my Dad in order to get a bigger lathe.

Here's my 1943 Reed Prentice with an 18" swing. This thing it a real industrial machine compared to the Logan. It has a 7.5 hp motor and a 15 3/4" chuck. It will take a 0.250" pass if you have the right setup. It's 11 feet long for a size reference. I like it a lot but I want another 10" or so lathe because this one is so large there's no feel on smaller parts for doing delicate stuff. It also maxes out at around 500 rpm. Unfortunately the headstock got loose on it and we had to tear it apart to repair a piece that cracked off the transmission casting where the bolts thread into it.

Here's when it was still on the trailer coming come. The sprite can is full sized. We had to remove that chuck the other day for doing the above mentioned repairs.

 

[Kevin54]

Griff....how do you remove the chuck? I am guessing you have a towmotor?

 

[rmuell01]

Your scraping looks well developed and is spotting nicely. Are you a practiced hand or is this your first scraping project?

Either way, it's obvious you're giving the job the level of care it deserves.

thanks Pmech, coming from you...well... thanks.

I took a class from Rich King two months ago. First time I'd touched a scraper. He says that he'll get you to scrape up to 40 ppi in his class, but it'll take a lifetime to acquire the Art.

So far that's been true.

this is my headstock: only needs ~ 10-15ppi
First Scrape

session #45 almost there, bottom left needs some more points.

and finally, my toughest scraping, a rockwell 80 starrett surface (why make a surface gage base this hard?) gage:
First scrape

20th scrape:

after the 15th, it hasn't changed much. My electric Biax scraper with carbide tip needs sharpening every other session. that's how tough it is.
Rob

 

[Iroc-Z]

I see this and I'm a bit worried;
lathes are made to work, they are not a demo piece, that gives you the right to say:
I can make parts...
Keep thm clean if you want, but a lathe is made to cut metal, period!
if it doesn't, shame on you!

I see what your saying but there is nothing wrong with owning something and keeping it nice. I just picked up a parts washer and had it sand blasted and painted. Guy who did it was confused on why I would spend time doing this. Because I like to keep my stuff nice. I am not saying I wont use it.

 

[John in OH]

I more or less stole this South Bend 10K at an estate sale a couple months ago.
It dates from the mid '60's but hasn't seen much use. The frosting from the original scraping still shows across the entire bed.

I paid $800 for it, but it came with a mostly complete SB 9" Model B with a rare lever action tailstock. I also got, 2 lever collet closers and a bunch of step chucks, all of which I ended up selling for around $1100.

Whoa!! Spongerich, nice lathe and you sure got a good deal on the pair.

But I'd like to see more pics of that barn/shop you have there! Do you have a shop thread somewhere on GJ that shows more of your shop? Gotta love those old timbers!

 

[Griff93]

Griff....how do you remove the chuck? I am guessing you have a towmotor?

There is a threaded collar that unscrews from the chucks backing plate. It's also on a taper on the nose of the spindle. We had to knock this loose as well. Nope, no tow motor. We put a piece of 1.5 round in the chuck extending into the spindle and clamped it. We put a piece of 1" plywood down on the ways to keep them from getting damaged and slid the chuck off the nose. Moved it down the ways and two of us lifted it off using the bar. I'm guessing it weighs a bit over 200 lbs.

I forgot to mention in my first post, some of you guys have some really really nice looking lathes. It's obvious that you put lots of hours of work making them nice. It's cool to see them. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Falcon67]

I keep all my machines clean. Maybe not "eat bacon off the cross slide clean" but clean and the work area neat. Clean is safer to use, nicer to look at and less chance of tracking swarf into the house. Plenty of swarf all over in the middle of a project, but part of "done" is vacuum things up and wipe the work surfaces. I'm lazy, so I'll blame it on Mrs Sims, the high school shop teacher. 4' 6" of skill and hard nose discipline. You sand until there are NO saw marks - GET AWAY from the BELT SANDER - and your work area is lick table clean before you leave this classroom! Buck up to her much and you might have the entire first string of the varsity football team explaining to you why that was a bad plan.

 

[Kevin54]

Better pic of the one I purchased. I've since installed the backsplash / guard on it.

 

[Kevin54]

If anyone has an Aloris BXA Quick Change Tool Post they want to get rid of or one similar to the Aloris, hit me up. I'm in the market for one.

 

[magnusk750]

x2

Whoa!! Spongerich, nice lathe and you sure got a good deal on the pair.

But I'd like to see more pics of that barn/shop you have there! Do you have a shop thread somewhere on GJ that shows more of your shop? Gotta love those old timbers!

 

[Kevin54]

This is a nice setup right here. After the second look on it, I noticed the undermounting of the motor. Nice concept.

 

[darkzero]

If anyone has an Aloris AXA Quick Change Tool Post they want to get rid of or one similar to the Aloris, hit me up. I'm in the market for one.

Nice mill & lathe. That pic of the mill & lathe makes the lathe look small in the background.

You'd be better off with a BXA or probably even a CXA for your size lathe. I absolutely love my Dorian Wedge Lock. But they're not cheap. DTM's are also nice if you can find them. If you're patient you can score an Aloris on ebay for a good price.

 

[Kevin54]

Nice mill & lathe. That pic of the mill & lathe makes the lathe look small in the background.

You'd be better off with a BXA or probably even a CXA for your size lathe. I absolutely love my Dorian Wedge Lock. But they're not cheap. DTM's are also nice if you can find them. If you're patient you can score an Aloris on ebay for a good price.

I realized that after I posted this. I e-mailed a buddy at work and asked him if our were AXA's or BXA's and he said they were all AXA's. After looking at the size I realized I need at least a BXA.

I did find one set with holders from a guy that I picked up some items at a garage sale a while back. He wanted $600 for a set No way I'm paying that. I'll pay fair price but not $600.

 

[Kevin54]

I switched the size in my first response from AXA to BXA. Thanks Darkzero.

 

[darkzero]

I realized that after I posted this. I e-mailed a buddy at work and asked him if our were AXA's or BXA's and he said they were all AXA's. After looking at the size I realized I need at least a BXA.

I did find one set with holders from a guy that I picked up some items at a garage sale a while back. He wanted $600 for a set No way I'm paying that. I'll pay fair price but not $600.

I switched the size in my first response from AXA to BXA. Thanks Darkzero.

No problem Kevin, it would **** to get the wrong size tool post. IIRC a 13x lathe is bordeline between BXA & CXA. You should measure the height from the top of the compound slide to centerline of the spindle. If you can use a CXA it would be better as you will be able to use 3/4" shank tools & have a much wider variety of tool options. But it's also more expensive of course & if you ever needed to use tools smaller than 1/2" you might have issues.

I was curious & checked ebay last night for Aloris TPs & they were going for more than what I paid for my Dorian Wedge Lock. But I do remember seeing them pop up occasionally for reasonable prices.

No hits on DTMs though. I had a AXA DTM for my old lathe, it is a very nice TP. Arguably better than Aloris but the company is no longer in business. What I heard was that a number of workers left Aloris & started the DTM company and made improvements to the Aloris TP. No idea if they actually were. Also made in Clifton NJ like Aloris. The BXA DTMs are rare to find, CXA pop up more 7 the person who bought the remaining DTM stock still has AXA TPs left that are still available on ebay.

The most noticeable difference on the DTM is the guide for the wedges.

Next to a China AXA

Next to an older non wedge lock Dorian BXA.

Next to a Dorian wedge lock BXA.

 

[Kevin54]

I did find a BXA plus holders for $140 on a site called Tools4cheap.net. They have Aloris, and they have China knockoffs. Unfortunately I have to get the China holder because the Aloris set is around $1500. I just can't see shelling that out. The $140 set has 5 holders plus the toolpost, which is a wedgelock post. I'd rather have the wedgelock than the plunger style. I think they hold tighter. This is the set I'm looking at.

Later on down the road, if this set does go bad, which the only thing may be the post going bad, I'll keep an eye out for either a Dorian or Aloris set. One is bound to pop uo somewhere, sometime.

As far as a CXA, I don't think I need one quite that large as most of my tools are 5/8" and below. If per chance I do need a holder to hold 3/4", I can buy single holders from the same place and modify it. I've had to do that in the past at work in an emergency

 

[Falcon67]

I have a piston version of the AXA on my 9x20, paid like $90 for it (Phase II) from Enco. Not as spiffy as the wedge type but it's a great tool on the machine. I get tool holders from CDCO on sale for cheap - AXA $8, BXA $9 right now.
http://www.cdcotools.com/

 

[Griff93]

I did find a BXA plus holders for $140 on a site called Tools4cheap.net. They have Aloris, and they have China knockoffs. Unfortunately I have to get the China holder because the Aloris set is around $1500. I just can't see shelling that out. The $140 set has 5 holders plus the toolpost, which is a wedgelock post. I'd rather have the wedgelock than the plunger style. I think they hold tighter. This is the set I'm looking at.

Later on down the road, if this set does go bad, which the only thing may be the post going bad, I'll keep an eye out for either a Dorian or Aloris set. One is bound to pop uo somewhere, sometime.

As far as a CXA, I don't think I need one quite that large as most of my tools are 5/8" and below. If per chance I do need a holder to hold 3/4", I can buy single holders from the same place and modify it. I've had to do that in the past at work in an emergency

The tools4cheaps guys are good to deal with. That said, I got one of their No 1 CA china tool post holder and wasn't impressed at all. I'd say it's a very poor copy. Even the broaching in the allens **** to the point you can't get a key in one of them.

 

[WILD-BILL]

Ok, Now I have a question I hope one of you guys may be able to answer.

I have an Atlas MK II 6" lathe that I bought the Little Machine Shop tooling package that came with an A2Z QCTP seen here....

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3514

Would the AXA tool holders fit the tool post I have or is the A2Z even smaller then the AXA?

 

[EOC_Jason]

My buddy just got a Gisholt 2L the other day. Found it on CL... I think it has an 18" chuck and like a 4.1" bore (maybe bigger?)... Right now they are cleaning all the crud off of it so I'm staying out of their way.

The sole purpose of buying that machine is to bore holes in round stock. The cost of that machine is less than what one order of sending out the material to get holes drilled would be... So it's kind of a no-brainer.


He also happened to find a 1993 Mori Seiki TL-40 CNC lathe... 12" Chuck, 75" turning length. It's a little old but low hours and for the price and the size it was just too good to pass up.


I'm happy just using his Bridgeport and a 14 x 40 lathe...

 

[Kevin54]

Ok, Now I have a question I hope one of you guys may be able to answer.

I have an Atlas MK II 6" lathe that I bought the Little Machine Shop tooling package that came with an A2Z QCTP seen here....

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3514

Would the AXA tool holders fit the tool post I have or is the A2Z even smaller then the AXA?

I have the same setup that you have that I bought from the Little machine Shop. It is smaller than the AXA, or at least the AXA's that we have at work, it is smaller.

 

[WILD-BILL]

Yeah, that's what I figured.

Thanks.

It would have been nice to get some more holders for those other tools cheaper then what LMS is selling the holders for.

Hell, what am I saying, It's awesome just to have a lathe let alone to have the tooling package available and get extra accessories.

 

[darkzero]

I did find a BXA plus holders for $140 on a site called Tools4cheap.net. They have Aloris, and they have China knockoffs. Unfortunately I have to get the China holder because the Aloris set is around $1500. I just can't see shelling that out. The $140 set has 5 holders plus the toolpost, which is a wedgelock post. I'd rather have the wedgelock than the plunger style. I think they hold tighter. This is the set I'm looking at.

Later on down the road, if this set does go bad, which the only thing may be the post going bad, I'll keep an eye out for either a Dorian or Aloris set. One is bound to pop uo somewhere, sometime.

As far as a CXA, I don't think I need one quite that large as most of my tools are 5/8" and below. If per chance I do need a holder to hold 3/4", I can buy single holders from the same place and modify it. I've had to do that in the past at work in an emergency

I understand, the cost for a USA TP is expensive & especially when you are starting up to tool a new lathe it might not be the best choice.

I agree toolsforcheap is a reputable vendor but not all those China TPs are equal. My 12x came with a China TP & it was junk. I had a China TP on my 8x & it was much better. I find that the TPs that have stamped markings seem to be better than the ones with laser etched markings. But even with the stamped versions I've seen two different ones (manufacturers0. Can't go by part numbers as they all use the same part numbers.

But the ones I liked come in purplish brown boxes with dark yellowish righting in a diagonal pattern. Although I have a Dorian TP, I use China holders & the ones I like to use come in these same boxes. Shars (as much as I don't like them) & WT is where I get them. I used to buy from WT cause there are no China markings on them but they started buying their supply from Shars. Lathemasters also uses this unknown manufacturer. The TP set that came with my 12x that I did not like came in a white box. But don't quote me on this, with that stuff & all different manufacturers there could be lots of variances.

I used to buy from CDCO & even though they're holders are very cheap I don't like how the height adjusters are poor quality. The holes on the four that I received where not straight which created problems when adjusting. Maybe it was just the ones I got at the time.

Under normal use I doubt the TP would fail on you for many many years. If it were me needing to save a buck, I would forget buying one of those sets & get a PhaseII holder (also China but they actually have some QC standards). Then buy the holders as needed. The knurling tool that comes with the generic China sets aren't that great & the cut off tool from the set just sits in a drawer & collects dust. But one of those sets might be a better choice to get you started.

Have you made any chips yet?

 

[Kevin54]

Dark....no chips yet. The wife and I have been busy trying to get some outside work done. Been planting a few trees, put out a large flowerbed, and have to try and get some grass to grow before it gets cold.

I did get a subscription to a new magazine, The Home Shop Machinist, just to see what it was like and ran across an advert in there from a company called CDCO Machinery Corp. A BXA tool post and 5 holders like the other one only this is the plunger style is for $89. I may just get it to see what it is like. Then I need to order some material so I have some on hand. A friend of mine runs a scrap yard, so I may hit him up either tomorrow morning or Monday to see if I can get a hold of some aluminum. When I was at work, we had all kinds of scrap we could get our hands on. Now being home all the time, I need to buy some metal.

I'll have everything fired up here before long, once we get some of the outside work done, and get our house back together from have the floors redone. I know that once the weather temps drop, I'll be out in the garage more. I have three roll-a-rounds that I have to reorganize everything, so that'll keep me busy for a day or so. I'll be making chips shortly though.

 

[Griff93]

Just for the fun of it, I weighed that large chuck while I had it off. It's 220 lbs.

 

[darkzero]

Dark....no chips yet. The wife and I have been busy trying to get some outside work done. Been planting a few trees, put out a large flowerbed, and have to try and get some grass to grow before it gets cold.

I did get a subscription to a new magazine, The Home Shop Machinist, just to see what it was like and ran across an advert in there from a company called CDCO Machinery Corp. A BXA tool post and 5 holders like the other one only this is the plunger style is for $89. I may just get it to see what it is like. Then I need to order some material so I have some on hand. A friend of mine runs a scrap yard, so I may hit him up either tomorrow morning or Monday to see if I can get a hold of some aluminum. When I was at work, we had all kinds of scrap we could get our hands on. Now being home all the time, I need to buy some metal.

I'll have everything fired up here before long, once we get some of the outside work done, and get our house back together from have the floors redone. I know that once the weather temps drop, I'll be out in the garage more. I have three roll-a-rounds that I have to reorganize everything, so that'll keep me busy for a day or so. I'll be making chips shortly though.

Damn that is cheap but I'm not a fan of the piston style TPs. I personally would spend the extra $40 & get the wedge style, lock up is so much better.

CDCO has great prices but ever since I had to return something I don't wish to deal with them ever again.

 

[michel]

I got a little Atlas 12 a while ago for 250$, rebuilded it and got to get another motor for it and I have to build a table for it too.

250$ to buy and a couples of rattle cans to make it look pretty.. everything works on it.
I'm happy and it wont be a paper weight in the garage.








http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164182

 

[Kevin54]

One of the other member on here had an orange Hardinge. They rebuilt the lathe I believe and repainted it orange. I thought it looked nice instead of the gray industrial that you always see.

And good deal you got Michel. $250 for that isn't bad at all!!!

 

[Kevin54]

Damn that is cheap but I'm not a fan of the piston style TPs. I personally would spend the extra $40 & get the wedge style, lock up is so much better.

CDCO has great prices but ever since I had to return something I don't wish to deal with them ever again.

I would rather have a wedge lock, but I'll still hold out for one on CL or for the one that will show up in a local sale. This should get me by for awhile. As far as CDCO, I'll let you know whether I have any problems or not with them. They say that everything shipped, which I checked with UPS and it did. It's supposed to be here Tuesday afternoon.

I do need to fire up the mill today. I need to make some clips to hold some rope lighting that I bought. I want to fasted the rope lighting underneath some cabinets but don't have enough clips and couldn't find any separately for sale. I have a big piece of Lexan I am going to make them out of but I need to get my toolbox off of it first.

 

[Nelson58]

I've heard mixed reviews on CDCO- but the prices are very good on holders.
Aloris is way out of line pricewise, despite the excellent rep and quality. Maybe for a pro shop, but for a hobbyist it's just too much.

Nelson