Spiders:

Pete Wass

Pete Wass

Well-known member
Years ago now, I made a lovely Bronze spider for the rear of the spindle on my South Bend 10L Lathe. I made it to be a slip fit on the rear of the spindle. It look and work goot. The only problem is the Spider is short. I am not able to use it and have the rear cover on the machine. I came to realize I shouldn't be running the machine with the cover off.

So, what do I do? I am loath to make another Spider after having a finished item in hand. Is it practical to make an extension for the one I have from either Steel or Aluminum or is there a source to be able to purchase a Spider allready made?

Thanks,

Pete
 
Pete,
Could you cut a bigger hole in the cover to where the spider would clear or would that defeat the covers intent?

Best,
Dan Batko

"Where are we going and why am I in this basket?"
 
You could fabricate a larger cover that would be installed after the work piece is zero'ed in. Sheet metal or ???

On the little Grizzly gunsmith lathe you have to remove the cover to use the spider. I don't have a problem with it. You are on the other side of the headstock when the lathe is running.
 
I considered that BUT

wolf gray said:
Pete,
Could you cut a bigger hole in the cover to where the spider would clear or would that defeat the covers intent?

Best,
Dan Batko

"Where are we going and why am I in this basket?"
Click to expand...



It would necessitate cutting a lot of the cover and one of the purposes of the cover is to keep chips out of the gear train below. I guess an extension may be the answer . I had hoped to just be able to buy one. Getting lazy in my dotage :D
 
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Pete,
Dotage beats being "in the dirt". :D

Best,
Dan Batko

"Where are we going and why am I in this basket?"
 
Slip Fit

How do you true anything up, and keep it true, if the spider is a slip fit. I would think a interference fit would work much better.........jackie
 
I didn't mention

jackie schmidt said:
How do you true anything up, and keep it true, if the spider is a slip fit. I would think a interference fit would work much better.........jackie
Click to expand...

That I had 4 set screws in the portion that slips on the spindle and have 4 screws to engage the work piece. It works, I have used it. Wouldn't that go without having to say it?
 
Pete Wass said:
Years ago now, I made a lovely Bronze spider for the rear of the spindle on my South Bend 10L Lathe. I made it to be a slip fit on the rear of the spindle. It look and work goot. The only problem is the Spider is short. I am not able to use it and have the rear cover on the machine. I came to realize I shouldn't be running the machine with the cover off.

So, what do I do? I am loath to make another Spider after having a finished item in hand. Is it practical to make an extension for the one I have from either Steel or Aluminum or is there a source to be able to purchase a Spider allready made?

Thanks,

Pete
Click to expand...

Pete,

A couple of readily apparent things. First, if you use an extended spider you will run into a few problems when using it with the cover closed. The screws will be too long if you are centering a large diameter object (if they are long enough for a small diameter object that is ;)). You obviously can overcome this by having different length screws for different diameter objects, but there is not a lot of extra room between the spider and the lower cover.

Second, you are adding some length to the distance through the headstock. I have both a short spider and one which extends through the cover. I remove the screws when not using either of these spiders, but generally leave the spider I had been using last in place. The only real advantage of the long spider lies in not having to remove the upper cover, and a little more protection for the gears. With the short spider, and a spider for the spindle nose I can put a pretty short barrel in the headstock :).

Does your Heavy10 have a one piece or two piece cover? If one piece the above comments may or may not apply, as I have not used the one piece design.

Jim

Installing a tuner on an old barrel

IMG_2654copy.jpg


IMG_2650copy.jpg
 
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Nice pictures Jim:

My Lathe has the one pieced cover and is a smaller lathe than what you have. I was concerned about chips falling into the gear train but perhaps that would not be a an issue, I don't know.

I am nearly embarassed to show any pictures of my lathe after seeing yours. :eek: I remember seeing it when I visited you but had forgotten just how pretty She is. ;) :)
 
Here are two pictures of my 11 inch Rockwell taken from the backside to show the hinge...

Originally the cover hinged open when a front cover screw was loosened..

The center hinge pin was removed and a longer pin was made with a knurled top so it can be removed easily. The hinge is now just a quick latch. It does work as a hinge with the spider fit so close to the hole in the cover...

A spider was made so with the screws backed out all the way it still fits inside a slightly altered hole in the cover when in use as a spider. The screws do not protrude outside the diameter of the spider.

I just loosen the front screw of the cover and pull the pin, remove the cover and set the barrel up... then I place the cover back, drop the hinge pin in, tighten the front cover screw and I am good to go.

I run a heavy sticky gear lube on the gears and clean it all off and re lube once in a while...

lathecoveron-0.jpg

lathecoveroff-0.jpg
 
Very Nice:

The South Bend I have has a cast Iron one pieced cover held on by t 1/4-10 Button Heard screws. There is no way to hinge it easily that I can see. I will take a picture next time I go there. Thsi lathe is a small Toolroom Lathe about 36" long. It is a smallish unit with a big spindle in it.

I may go in a different direction now that I have seen another way to go.
 
Will your cover fit over the spider without the screws? If so just get shorter screws. They do not have to extend out of the OD of the spider. I think you have to be pretty wild and crazy to get chips in the gears while chambering.
Maybe if you read the post on rimfire ammo testing again, it will settle you down.
Butch
 
Dennis Sorensen said:
Here are two pictures of my 11 inch Rockwell taken from the backside to show the hinge...

Originally the cover hinged open when a front cover screw was loosened..

The center hinge pin was removed and a longer pin was made with a knurled top so it can be removed easily. The hinge is now just a quick latch. It does work as a hinge with the spider fit so close to the hole in the cover...

A spider was made so with the screws backed out all the way it still fits inside a slightly altered hole in the cover when in use as a spider. The screws do not protrude outside the diameter of the spider.

I just loosen the front screw of the cover and pull the pin, remove the cover and set the barrel up... then I place the cover back, drop the hinge pin in, tighten the front cover screw and I am good to go.

I run a heavy sticky gear lube on the gears and clean it all off and re lube once in a while...

lathecoveron-0.jpg

lathecoveroff-0.jpg
Click to expand...

Dennis,
I too have 11 in. Rockwell and when I built my spider I made it out of steel and attached it to the gear retaining ring with 4 allen head cap screws.
From your pictures, it looks like your spider replaces that retaining ring.
I remember the original ring having a lock screw. Did you use a locking screw on your spider? I can't tell from the angle of the photos.
Thanks,
Gene
 
Gene DeLoney said:
Dennis,
I too have 11 in. Rockwell and when I built my spider I made it out of steel and attached it to the gear retaining ring with 4 allen head cap screws.
From your pictures, it looks like your spider replaces that retaining ring.
I remember the original ring having a lock screw. Did you use a locking screw on your spider? I can't tell from the angle of the photos.
Thanks,
Gene
Click to expand...

It replaces that ring and is threaded for a very close fit and held on with two locking screws.
 
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