Well, a couple of weeks ago, the old machine orphanage I operate gained some new children. As usual, I wasnt planning on buying anything but a visit to a tool dealer uncovered an EW (2.5) lathe in very good condition. It came with 3 & 4 jaw chucks, faceplate, boring table and vertical slide. It also had the backgear and change wheels. There was no motor or countershaft but the old pulley shaft and pulleys were all in the box.
It was pretty complete and in good order for a lathe that started production in 1947, although mine is probably younger than that as it has no Stringer plate. All this kit for about half the price of a new Chinese mini-lathe. Its small enough to pick up and carry about but robust enough to do real work. Ideal I thought for an inside lathe. Inside in the warm that is!
So, Ive fixed up a table with a lump of worktop for a surface and have started to think about making a countershaft to power her up. However, the Picador bearings are plain oilite ones and the shaft is quite badly scored. No, problem I thought, Ill knock up a new one.
The shaft is 5/8 in the middle, so I found a bit of rusty 5/8 and cleaned it up. Problem, it wouldnt fit in the mandrel of the ancient mariner (my old Myford) to drill thge required centres. I needed a fixed steady to drill the centres but whilst I have the castings its something thats never quite got completed (theres a lot of things like that Im afraid).
Casting about I found an old flange that had a 5/8 hole in it and initial thoughts were to use it with a lump of wood to make a temporary steady. Then I had an idea and Im sorry if this is sucking eggs for some of you. I found a 1 piece of scrap MS just over 5/8 and turned it halfway down to fit the hole in the flange. Then I drilled it enough to guide my centre drill. I had intended to hold the bar in the vice, slide the flange with guide over it and use an electric drill to centre it.
I didnt end up doing it this way, although I did use the flange as a filing guide to clean up the bar ends. It occurred to me that my drill press has a 1 hole in the table centre. First thoughts was to use an angle plate to hold the bar upright but (unusually) I then had a second (and temporary) moment of brilliance. I have a Keats plate.
I used the Keats to hold the bar upright on the table and used the guide to centre the drill over the bar. I clamped the Keats down, removed the guide and drilled away. The other end was simply a matter of reversing the bar.
No handy flange or Keats plate? Well I could have drilled some scrap to 5/8 and used a simple angle plate on the drill press (with some fiddly set-up). It could have been done in the vice with an electric drill too but not as easily.
I hope someone finds this useful Ive seen lots of good stuff on the site and hope this small contribution is sufficient thanks.
It was pretty complete and in good order for a lathe that started production in 1947, although mine is probably younger than that as it has no Stringer plate. All this kit for about half the price of a new Chinese mini-lathe. Its small enough to pick up and carry about but robust enough to do real work. Ideal I thought for an inside lathe. Inside in the warm that is!
So, Ive fixed up a table with a lump of worktop for a surface and have started to think about making a countershaft to power her up. However, the Picador bearings are plain oilite ones and the shaft is quite badly scored. No, problem I thought, Ill knock up a new one.
The shaft is 5/8 in the middle, so I found a bit of rusty 5/8 and cleaned it up. Problem, it wouldnt fit in the mandrel of the ancient mariner (my old Myford) to drill thge required centres. I needed a fixed steady to drill the centres but whilst I have the castings its something thats never quite got completed (theres a lot of things like that Im afraid).
Casting about I found an old flange that had a 5/8 hole in it and initial thoughts were to use it with a lump of wood to make a temporary steady. Then I had an idea and Im sorry if this is sucking eggs for some of you. I found a 1 piece of scrap MS just over 5/8 and turned it halfway down to fit the hole in the flange. Then I drilled it enough to guide my centre drill. I had intended to hold the bar in the vice, slide the flange with guide over it and use an electric drill to centre it.
I didnt end up doing it this way, although I did use the flange as a filing guide to clean up the bar ends. It occurred to me that my drill press has a 1 hole in the table centre. First thoughts was to use an angle plate to hold the bar upright but (unusually) I then had a second (and temporary) moment of brilliance. I have a Keats plate.
I used the Keats to hold the bar upright on the table and used the guide to centre the drill over the bar. I clamped the Keats down, removed the guide and drilled away. The other end was simply a matter of reversing the bar.
No handy flange or Keats plate? Well I could have drilled some scrap to 5/8 and used a simple angle plate on the drill press (with some fiddly set-up). It could have been done in the vice with an electric drill too but not as easily.
I hope someone finds this useful Ive seen lots of good stuff on the site and hope this small contribution is sufficient thanks.
