Mj

"Morgans"

04/05/2014 9:48 PM

Craftsman shop machines are a kit?

I have been down in the shop setting up some of my father's old machines. I
worked on his old lathe, about 15 or so years old. I don't think he used it
very much, and after trying to get it working right, I think I might know
why.

The tool rest and tail stock mounts both would not move smoothly. The
registration bar, or key, on the bottom of the slide is riveted on, and
distorted at the rivet holes, and the rivets were raised above flush. I had
to drill the rivets out of the key, and pound it out, then I used screws to
countersink in the key so they were flush, and then mounted it, and had to
file the key in the area of the screws to keep it from catching. The
locking screws were messed up, too.

I got them all fixed, and things are moving like they should. I have yet to
try and turn anything, but it will at least be possible to do so now.
--
Jim in NC


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This topic has 10 replies

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 5:15 AM

"Morgans" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I have been down in the shop setting up some of my father's old
> machines. I worked on his old lathe, about 15 or so years old. I
> don't think he used it very much, and after trying to get it working
> right, I think I might know why.
>
> The tool rest and tail stock mounts both would not move smoothly. The
> registration bar, or key, on the bottom of the slide is riveted on,
> and distorted at the rivet holes, and the rivets were raised above
> flush. I had to drill the rivets out of the key, and pound it out,
> then I used screws to countersink in the key so they were flush, and
> then mounted it, and had to file the key in the area of the screws to
> keep it from catching. The locking screws were messed up, too.
>
> I got them all fixed, and things are moving like they should. I have
> yet to try and turn anything, but it will at least be possible to do
> so now.

It's amazing how roughly they (not just Craftsman) machine some of those
tools and then send them out as "ready to use/assemble", isn't it?
There's often no indication that the tools need a good tuneup before they
see the first workpiece.

Have fun with the lathe. A smoothly operating lathe is a lot of fun. My
new lathe has seen more use in the last month than the old Performax
ever got.

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 10:14 PM

"tdacon" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>

*snip*

>
> The spindle thread is 3/4" x 16, and has a #1 Morse taper. Most small
> lathes sold today are 1" x 8, with a #2 Morse taper. Tooling for 1MT
> is pretty scarce but you can find spur centers and live centers for
> 1MT if you look around on the web. Try http://www.wbnoble.com/ for
> faceplates.
>
> Regards,
> Tom
>

The 3/4-16 thread is the same that's used on the Taig lathe. You can
probably use their chucks and other accessories on there. The Sherline
apparently uses the same thread as well. (I haven't played with the
Sherline, only the Taig.)

HF carries a 1MT drill chuck adapter, so you can drill on the lathe.

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.

wn

woodchucker

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

04/05/2014 10:06 PM

On 5/4/2014 9:48 PM, Morgans wrote:
> I have been down in the shop setting up some of my father's old
> machines. I worked on his old lathe, about 15 or so years old. I don't
> think he used it very much, and after trying to get it working right, I
> think I might know why.
>
> The tool rest and tail stock mounts both would not move smoothly. The
> registration bar, or key, on the bottom of the slide is riveted on, and
> distorted at the rivet holes, and the rivets were raised above flush. I
> had to drill the rivets out of the key, and pound it out, then I used
> screws to countersink in the key so they were flush, and then mounted
> it, and had to file the key in the area of the screws to keep it from
> catching. The locking screws were messed up, too.
>
> I got them all fixed, and things are moving like they should. I have
> yet to try and turn anything, but it will at least be possible to do so
> now.


If you are asking if you have to assemble them, yes I had to assemble my
radial arm saw. to some extent.

What type of lathe is this. Is this the round tube lathe? or the older
atlas /craftsman lathe with standard ways?



--
Jeff

GR

"G. Ross"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 1:46 PM

Morgans wrote:
> I have been down in the shop setting up some of my father's old machines. I
> worked on his old lathe, about 15 or so years old. I don't think he used it
> very much, and after trying to get it working right, I think I might know
> why.
>
> The tool rest and tail stock mounts both would not move smoothly. The
> registration bar, or key, on the bottom of the slide is riveted on, and
> distorted at the rivet holes, and the rivets were raised above flush. I had
> to drill the rivets out of the key, and pound it out, then I used screws to
> countersink in the key so they were flush, and then mounted it, and had to
> file the key in the area of the screws to keep it from catching. The
> locking screws were messed up, too.
>
> I got them all fixed, and things are moving like they should. I have yet to
> try and turn anything, but it will at least be possible to do so now.

I have a similar machine from Harbor Fright. It was a gift and got me
hooked on turning. The keyway is fastened to the tube with screws on
mine. I soon graduated to a larger lathe but kept this one for
buffing. If you need a face plate for it I can send you one if you
like.

--
 GW Ross 

 There's no such thing as strong 
 coffee -- only weak people. 





Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 9:46 AM



"woodchucker" <[email protected]> wrote

> If you are asking if you have to assemble them, yes I had to assemble my
> radial arm saw. to some extent.
>
> What type of lathe is this. Is this the round tube lathe? or the older
> atlas /craftsman lathe with standard ways?

Yep, round tube. I guess I was extra frustrated at Crapsman for having to
go completely through an older radial arm saw last week to make it work.
--
Jim in NC


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Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 9:47 AM



"woodchucker" <[email protected]> wrote

> What type of lathe is this. Is this the round tube lathe? or the older
> atlas /craftsman lathe with standard ways?

Do you happen to know what you have to do to grease the headstock bearings?
Have not even looked it up yet, but I think they need it.
--
Jim in NC


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tT

"tdacon"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 9:07 AM



"Morgans" wrote in message news:[email protected]...

>Do you happen to know what you have to do to grease the headstock bearings?
>Have not even looked it up yet, but I think they need it.

I’m just finishing a restoration of that same lathe. It's a bit crude, but
if you tune it up a bit it'll work pretty well for spindles and small
faceplate work. I had a little of the same trouble with the rivets that hold
the bar onto the bottom of the tube, but fortunately only one of them
interfered. I just relieved the bottom of the tailstock and the carriage for
the tool rest so as to pass over the rivet. It wasn't until after I finished
that part of the job that I realized that I should have done what you did
and replaced the rivets with flat-head machine screws. Probably would have
taken less time than what I ended up doing. I might still go back and do
that one of these days if I have occasion to take the tube out again.

The headstock bearings are ball bearings, #6302 with a 3/4" bore. Few people
need 3/4 bore these days, and the 6302 is mostly manufactured with a metric
bore that's close to 3/4. So the 3/4 bore version would probably be a
special order from your bearing supplier. The good news is that the bearings
are cheap - I got mine for $3.85 each. The motor takes a similar bearing,
but with a 5/8" bore (don't know the part number offhand). I had expected
that it would have bushings instead of ball bearings.

Clean up the tube with a wire wheel on a drill motor, wet-sand it with some
fairly fine waterproof sandpaper, and give it a coat of TopCote or BoeShield
or something like that to keep the rust at bay, and the tailstock and tool
rest carriage will slide easily.

Mine was manufactured in 1973, or so I believe. I think that the last part
of the serial number is the year it was manufactured. Mine ends with P0073,
and if yours still has the plate on it you should have a clue as to how old
it is.

The spindle thread is 3/4" x 16, and has a #1 Morse taper. Most small lathes
sold today are 1" x 8, with a #2 Morse taper. Tooling for 1MT is pretty
scarce but you can find spur centers and live centers for 1MT if you look
around on the web. Try http://www.wbnoble.com/ for faceplates.

Regards,
Tom



Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 4:46 PM



"tdacon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "Morgans" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
>>Do you happen to know what you have to do to grease the headstock
>>bearings? Have not even looked it up yet, but I think they need it.
>
> I’m just finishing a restoration of that same lathe. It's a bit crude, but
> if you tune it up a bit it'll work pretty well for spindles and small
> faceplate work. I had a little of the same trouble with the rivets that
> hold the bar onto the bottom of the tube, but fortunately only one of them
> interfered. I just relieved the bottom of the tailstock and the carriage
> for the tool rest so as to pass over the rivet. It wasn't until after I
> finished that part of the job that I realized that I should have done what
> you did and replaced the rivets with flat-head machine screws. Probably
> would have taken less time than what I ended up doing. I might still go
> back and do that one of these days if I have occasion to take the tube out
> again.

Something had gotten jammed in the tool rest, and caused me to have to drill
the rivets. Happened in the move or storage, I suppose.
>
> The headstock bearings are ball bearings, #6302 with a 3/4" bore. Few
> people need 3/4 bore these days, and the 6302 is mostly manufactured with
> a metric bore that's close to 3/4. So the 3/4 bore version would probably
> be a special order from your bearing supplier. The good news is that the
> bearings are cheap - I got mine for $3.85 each. The motor takes a similar
> bearing, but with a 5/8" bore (don't know the part number offhand). I had
> expected that it would have bushings instead of ball bearings.

So no grease needed; sealed bearings?
>
> Clean up the tube with a wire wheel on a drill motor, wet-sand it with
> some fairly fine waterproof sandpaper, and give it a coat of TopCote or
> BoeShield or something like that to keep the rust at bay, and the
> tailstock and tool rest carriage will slide easily.
>
> Mine was manufactured in 1973, or so I believe. I think that the last part
> of the serial number is the year it was manufactured. Mine ends with
> P0073, and if yours still has the plate on it you should have a clue as to
> how old it is.
> Mine is no where near that old. I know it had to have been purchased
> sometime after 1988.

> The spindle thread is 3/4" x 16, and has a #1 Morse taper. Most small
> lathes sold today are 1" x 8, with a #2 Morse taper. Tooling for 1MT is
> pretty scarce but you can find spur centers and live centers for 1MT if
> you look around on the web. Try http://www.wbnoble.com/ for faceplates.
>
I have a 4 jaw chuck, a drill 1/2" chuck, spur, dead center, live center
and two smallish faceplates. That will keep me going for a while, I guess.

Thanks for the info.
--
Jim in NC



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Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 4:48 PM



"G. Ross" <[email protected]> wrote

If you need a face plate for it I can send you one if you
> like.

thanks for the offer, but I'm good.
--
Jim in NC

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tT

"tdacon"

in reply to "Morgans" on 04/05/2014 9:48 PM

05/05/2014 1:51 PM



"Morgans" wrote in message news:[email protected]...


>So no grease needed; sealed bearings?

Yes - sealed bearings.

Tom


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