Lathes.....

Discuss non-crawler related issues here (keep it sane, please)
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lurch85
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Lathes.....

Post by lurch85 » Sat Apr 04, 2015 2:56 am

I'd like to get a machinist's lathe, was to understand that I might be able to get a decent used one with saddle, tail stock, crossslide, decent head chuch, and feed for threads.... hopefully for under $1200. What's big enough to do what I may want to do with stuff that "we crawler/tinkerer/mechanics/hobbiest" might want to do? Brands? Stories?

Lets start this thread and hopefully some of us will be educated and/or entertained....

and..... GO!
John Deere 420C, John Deere 350 straight with Gafner loader, John Deere 4020

hydrogeo
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Post by hydrogeo » Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:48 am

To kick this off....

I'm not an expert by any means, but I picked up a used South Bend Heavy 10 and rebuilt it. www.practicalmachinist.com is the JD Crawlers forum of machine tools. I knew nothing about lathes (still only know a little), and that board was invaluable during my rebuild. My lathe is vintage 1942, war production tags and all. This picture shows the wrong tool post on it. I upgraded to a quick change.

Image


Also, there is a guy with a Youtube channel that goes by Tubalcaine. He has a bunch of basic videos including how to evaluate a lathe. Again, very helpful.

You should be able to find something pretty decent for $1,200, at least you could in the northeast. Things I learned:

1) My heavy 10 works excellent for most things, but if I had my preference I would have liked something a little bigger, especially for working on the dozer and truck stuff. Maybe a 14" or 16" swing. Mine has a 4' bed, I wouldn't want any shorter.
2) Quick change gearbox is a must, I use mine quite a bit. Some of the older lathes use manual change gears. I bet that is a PITA.
3) I only have a 3-jaw chuck but a 4 jaw is on the top of my list once the money tree blossoms again.
4) A little lower on the priority list below the 4 jaw is a ball turner and a set of boring bars.
5) My lathe has some bed wear but I'm not making rocket parts, and the lathe is still far better than my skills. But even with my rudimentary understanding of machining it is handy as heck.

Now if I could only find a Bridgeport....

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Paul Buhler
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Post by Paul Buhler » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:22 am

Last edited by Paul Buhler on Wed Apr 15, 2015 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
Paul Buhler
Killington, VT
420c 5 roll with 62 blade, FOPS, and Gearmatic 8a winch

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lurch85
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so here's what I got....

Post by lurch85 » Wed Apr 15, 2015 12:19 am

pre 1905 Blaisdell 22 inch lathe...

http://s1025.photobucket.com/user/lu ... o work...
John Deere 420C, John Deere 350 straight with Gafner loader, John Deere 4020

hydrogeo
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Post by hydrogeo » Wed Apr 15, 2015 7:57 pm

Wow, that was a great price for that Bridgeport assuming it was in decent shape. Maybe some day.

Lurch, is that yours?

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lurch85
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Post by lurch85 » Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:32 pm

Yep. Mine now. Its a 14 inch with 10 foot overall bed blaisdell. Someone either dropped it or twisted it in half (scary thought) and its been repaired. Scabbed and brazed. Worse case senario can make my money back easy on scrap... Someone else said just move the head 2 feet tward the tail and should be good. Im going to take some measurents and try ad double check. A machinist friend thought must have been dropped.
John Deere 420C, John Deere 350 straight with Gafner loader, John Deere 4020

hydrogeo
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Post by hydrogeo » Fri Apr 17, 2015 6:28 am

I'd get a guage and see how far off it is first. True machinists freak out about everything being perfect. I just use my lathe to make already worn out parts fit stuff. It's far from perfect but great for my needs. NASA has yet to come knocking at my door.

country53
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Post by country53 » Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:08 pm

A lathe needs to be level within .0002" front to back and side to side. A lot of older lathes have a dip in the ways from sanding and not cleaning which causes them to cut a taper. The tail stock needs to be centered, if it isn't it will cut a taper when using a center and it will break tools such as center drill and flat bottom drill it will do "OK" with twist drills but will build excess heat. If you are not a machinist run the lathe slow until you get used to it. Try not to make blue chips with High Speed tools, blue chips are "OK" with carbide tools. Keep it clean and be careful, lathes have been known to bite amateurs.
Have fun, Old Tool & Die Maker :wink:

MADJACK
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Post by MADJACK » Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:23 am

There's some good stuff from the 80s at decent prices, mine is a good size for most medium size work it's 13x40 ....hmmm no way to post a pic?[/img]

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Tigerhaze
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Post by Tigerhaze » Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:51 pm

MADJACK wrote:There's some good stuff from the 80s at decent prices, mine is a good size for most medium size work it's 13x40 ....hmmm no way to post a pic?[/img]
You can post a pic but it has to be hosted on another photo sharing site and linked on this site:

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... php?t=3690
(1) JD Straight 450 crawler dozer with manual outside blade; (2) JD 2010 diesel crawler loaders; (1) JD 2010 diesel dozer with hydraulic 6-way blade; (2) Model 50 backhoe attachments, misc. other construction equipment

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Lavoy
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Post by Lavoy » Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:10 pm

I just bought a Craftsman Industrial, not home yet, couldn't get a really good look at it, but I have done dumber stuff.
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Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
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Lu47Dan
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Post by Lu47Dan » Thu Jul 30, 2015 7:24 pm

Lavoy, have you got the lathe home yet?
I have really ramped up the equipment in my shop, that is one reason I have not done much on my 420 yet, that and the last two winters we have had here.
Now you can really start spending money,,,,, :shock: The lathe itself is the cheap part.
If you are looking for good information try these two sites.
http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/index.php
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forums/3-General
Dan.
1956 420C with GSC blade
Tools are to men as shoes are to women , you can never have too many !!
Used diesel engines are an adventure any way you look at them !!

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Lavoy
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Post by Lavoy » Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:41 am

No, won't be here til late September it looks like now.
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Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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