Small lathe rebuild

H

henrya

Guest
If I came upon a small well used lathe that needed a rebuild and assuming I could handle the general mechanic part, how much would it cost to have the bed re-ground or re-scraped? Who could do it? How much might it cost?

I've had a couple of Atlas lathes and one Southbend several years ago. The Atlas never were much to brag about, the Southbend was pretty nice but its long gone.

I'd kinda like to have a nice old American machine but see either pretty ragged examples or near new ones that cost too much. I wonder if it makes any sense at all to rebuild one if I start with a near zero cost.

Does it make sense to rebuild a good old piece of American iron or should I just smack my forehead with a hammer and then go buy a new Grizzly?
 
It is very expensive and that is only part of it. The apron will need building up with Moglice or similar material. Your gears and leadscrew will not match up after grinding and scraping unless it is built up as I mentioned above. Unless you are turning long pieces to a very tight dimension, I wouldn't worry about the ways. Not saying that I would want one that is worn out. The ways have no effect on threading and chambering a barrel.
Butch
 
Thanks Butch

I had to research "Moglice" a bit - interesting to read about it. So I guess that you'd hard shim the headstock to make the gears fit and then "shim" the carriage (and tailstock?) with moglice to match?

To clarify what I'm wondering about this kinda like restoring an old firearm and bringing it back to maybe even better than when it was new. It might be worthwhile or not.

I might not even care if the lathe is big enough to be a perfect machine for barrel work. A smaller machine might be OK with me. I do see some 11x24s from time to time that would be nice all spruced up.
 
Look for an 11" Rockwell. I have had several friends buy them at very reasonable prices. They make an excellent gunsmithing lathe.
Butch
 
The Stuff Works

At the Houston Trade and Machinery Show last year I looked at a large 5" spindle Lucas Horizonal Boring Mill that had its ways repaired with Moglice. They applyed it,and then machined the ways on a planer just like it was a new casting. Looked pretty darned good. The Rep said it had even better wear chracteristics than the originol Iron on Iron.
Personally,it looked like Devcon Putty with cast iron powder in it.
As Butch said, the single biggest concern when altering the ways on a lathe is maintaining the lash between all of the parts. There is a little leway, but not much.
I saw a picture once of a EE Monarch that had the ways all re-ground,and the apron was sitting on the ways, with brass jacking screws holding it in the correct position, all damed up, ready to pour the Moglice in.
They were usin a release agent on the bed ways, and had a course sandblast finish in the apron ways to assist the Moglice adhesive properties.
Sort of like bedding a Rifle........jackie
 
Butch,I have a 11" rockwell,Its fully tooled & in excellent condition,I have a lot of spare parts also,I have a 4 axis CNC mill coming & need to make room in the shop,so if some one needs a good Lathe ,I have one. BILL
 
Bill,
You shouldn't have any trouble moving it. I would much rather have it than a Grizzly. You guys out there that want a good piece of American iron, this is your chance. Getting this with tooling would put you way ahead of the game.
Butch
 
Bill --

You mentioned that you have "spare parts" for your Rockwell lathe. I have an 11" RW and would be interested in knowing if any of those parts are for sale separate from the lathe. The only thing I'm missing on my lathe is a lever collet closer and follower rest. Many thanks.

-- Brian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top