Do you own and use a lathe? What kind of lathe do you have and what do you use it for? Ever for anything related to Cruiser work? How did you get into metal turning? What do you like about it? In short, tell us everything you can think of.
For Those with a Lathe
- Thread starter El Cazador
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I have two really old Rockwell / Delta wood working lathes. My buddy has a metal lathe so I use it when I need to.
If you are looking for a metal lathe, I know where one is sitting in Cloverdale, CA.
If you are looking for a metal lathe, I know where one is sitting in Cloverdale, CA.
$1,200 and it comes with a ton of accessories.
It stands about 5' tall and I think it has a 5' long bed.
I think the throat is 10" so you can turn a 20" diameter think in it.
220
It might not be as big as I think it is. He had some racking above it to hold the tools and chucks. I do know that ou can turm a 1-ton brake drum in it with no problem.
It might not be as big as I think it is. He had some racking above it to hold the tools and chucks. I do know that ou can turm a 1-ton brake drum in it with no problem.
Clausing 13x36 - wasn't quite moved into position in this photo.
Playing the learn as you go game. Haven't used it for cruiser related stuff, but have used it for other fixes and made a few parts with it. I blame my machining crap on zebrabeefj40 - he is the devil
No, seriously, it's a lot of fun and very rewarding to be able to fix things and make parts you can't get or find. Plus my son is learning along the way 
. There's a lot of great info out there on practical machinist and home shop machinist. Really depends on what you want to do.
Playing the learn as you go game. Haven't used it for cruiser related stuff, but have used it for other fixes and made a few parts with it. I blame my machining crap on zebrabeefj40 - he is the devil
No, seriously, it's a lot of fun and very rewarding to be able to fix things and make parts you can't get or find. Plus my son is learning along the way . There's a lot of great info out there on practical machinist and home shop machinist. Really depends on what you want to do.Clausing is an awsome machine.............looks like it has all the goodies; what doe sit have by way of tooling???....................grab it; have an older Monarch cone head ; this is a lot nicer......... good heavy well made stuff.....love em!
Lou
Lou
Yer welcome.... PUNK!!!
Never mind the 5 ton Monarch lathe you hooked me up with. Or the Cincinnati horizontal mill. And the 2 tons of "stuff" that came with them.
And you say I'M the devil....
But to answer the questions: Yep, I have a couple lathes (and a mill); one very small and one edging to the big side of things. Still working on getting enough power in the garage to run the big stuff though. Plan to make Cruiser stuff and whatever else I might need (custom tools, maybe a tube bender or roller, press brake, etc.). Also have several folks who want me to make stuff for them in return for cash. I machine metal for a living; I'd rather have my own machines to make my stuff on than use the machines at work. Some companies frown on government jobs... I enjoy makin' stuff outa metal. I need the right tools to make what I want. A lathe and mill are some of the right tools for the job.
Nick
Never mind the 5 ton Monarch lathe you hooked me up with. Or the Cincinnati horizontal mill. And the 2 tons of "stuff" that came with them.
And you say I'M the devil....
But to answer the questions: Yep, I have a couple lathes (and a mill); one very small and one edging to the big side of things. Still working on getting enough power in the garage to run the big stuff though. Plan to make Cruiser stuff and whatever else I might need (custom tools, maybe a tube bender or roller, press brake, etc.). Also have several folks who want me to make stuff for them in return for cash. I machine metal for a living; I'd rather have my own machines to make my stuff on than use the machines at work. Some companies frown on government jobs... I enjoy makin' stuff outa metal. I need the right tools to make what I want. A lathe and mill are some of the right tools for the job.
Nick
Junk grabbed it a couple years ago. Came well tooled and is a pretty decent machine. At least he didn't dump the lathe over unloading it like the nice bandsaw I had to get back on it's feet last time I visited the Junkster...;p
Nick
Nick
The school I work for has a nice South Bend in my shop there. I use it for all kinds of weird things.
I use it a lot to drill out DOM tube for threaded inserts for steering linkages.
It's just a little too small to machine the centers of GM rotors for disc brake conversions.
I use it a lot to drill out DOM tube for threaded inserts for steering linkages.
It's just a little too small to machine the centers of GM rotors for disc brake conversions.
I have a South Bend lathe; think it is a 9". This is second lathe; the first was older and didnt have quick change box on it.
Dont remember anything made for the 40, but wasnt trying to remember all the stuff made and fixed via lathe. I highly recommend adding a good lathe to any shop; a very useful tool. There is a good feeling to making a part that cant be found. I have made lots of parts for the antique gas engines I collect and restore--including the carb for a 1916 2 hp engine.
Dont remember anything made for the 40, but wasnt trying to remember all the stuff made and fixed via lathe. I highly recommend adding a good lathe to any shop; a very useful tool. There is a good feeling to making a part that cant be found. I have made lots of parts for the antique gas engines I collect and restore--including the carb for a 1916 2 hp engine.
South Bend 10" 4 1/2' bed. Use it for making lots of parts - not too much crusier stuff though. First machine tool was a mill and folks told me I should have gotten a lathe first as I'd use it much more. They were right!
Came with a lot of goodies including 3 jaw, 4 jaw & collet chucks. It's L0 mount, so they are a bit tough to find but I did add a 6 jaw. Aloris toolpost, drill chuck, some tooling blah blah blah. Runs on 3 phase but that's what phase converters are for 
Two things it didn't some with, skill and knowledge though so I'm kind of winging it
Yup, as zebrabeefj40 mentions, be careful when you move it. Moved the lathe myself and it went ok although had a few browning moments. Several months ago I almost lost a leg though when a 1200 lb bandsaw got away from me and almost pinched my leg against the house. Now with the gantry crane it should be slightly easier
Two things it didn't some with, skill and knowledge though so I'm kind of winging it
Yup, as zebrabeefj40 mentions, be careful when you move it. Moved the lathe myself and it went ok although had a few browning moments. Several months ago I almost lost a leg though when a 1200 lb bandsaw got away from me and almost pinched my leg against the house. Now with the gantry crane it should be slightly easier
I have three lathes, a Small Atlas, a midlin' South Bend, and a bigger Colchester (not installed).
This one (actually, one like this but shorter - this actual machine bed was bought and imported from Gumbyville
) was originally bought for rebarreling my rifles but over the years I've used it for any number of things right down to making new bobbins for my wife's old parts-not-available sewing machine. The Atlas is set up in my downstairs work/hobby room and mostly I've used it to turn down the necks of brass for benchrest shooting.
A Bridgeport mill, A K.O. Lee surface grinder and a K.O. Lee tool&cutter grinder are running in my shop all of 3 phase 220v supplied through VFD's or phase converters from my 220v 1 phase service.
they're tools. When I need them they're here. Like a hammer.
This one (actually, one like this but shorter - this actual machine bed was bought and imported from Gumbyville
) was originally bought for rebarreling my rifles but over the years I've used it for any number of things right down to making new bobbins for my wife's old parts-not-available sewing machine. The Atlas is set up in my downstairs work/hobby room and mostly I've used it to turn down the necks of brass for benchrest shooting.A Bridgeport mill, A K.O. Lee surface grinder and a K.O. Lee tool&cutter grinder are running in my shop all of 3 phase 220v supplied through VFD's or phase converters from my 220v 1 phase service.
they're tools. When I need them they're here. Like a hammer.
MrMoMo
That's not rust, it's Canadian patina...
Honk, that is an awesome setup!!
Here is my '47 Southbend - it's sad how rarely I get to use it, poor planning - my shop is under my sons bedroom.
But Man oh man is it ever useful to have a lathe when you need one!
Here is my '47 Southbend - it's sad how rarely I get to use it, poor planning - my shop is under my sons bedroom.
But Man oh man is it ever useful to have a lathe when you need one!
- Thread starter
- #17
I was curious. But now I'm a soon-to-be owner. Buying a 13" variable speed Sheldon. I haven't checked yet but I'm guessing it was built around 1953-55. Not the prettiest you'll find but mechanically very nice. Got a lot of tooling & accessories with it, as well as a 5 hp rotary phase converter. They're so much better than the static type, which I've owned before.
Soon as I get the rotary phase converter up & running and the lathe leveled & bolted down I have two easy projects to do that will help with the Cruiser rebuild.
Now, who has a mill and what do they use it for?
Just wondering.
Soon as I get the rotary phase converter up & running and the lathe leveled & bolted down I have two easy projects to do that will help with the Cruiser rebuild.
Now, who has a mill and what do they use it for?
Just wondering.
MrMoMo
That's not rust, it's Canadian patina...
Now, who has a mill and what do they use it for?
Just wondering.
I would love to have a mill... but I'd even settle for a Z axis vice mounted in place of my tool post on the lathe.
Mills can be very useful, with a lathe and a mill you can make anything.
Machining groves, slots, truing flat surfaces, recesses, protrusions, the list goes on!
Hey,
Atlas 12" swing lathe, Clausing mill, BurrKing 2X48 belt grinder, 500A Miller Goldstar TIG,Miller 175 MIG, Victor Oxy/acetylene gas setup, Thermodynamics 4XI Plasma cutter, 20 ton press, Delta 12" disc sander, Hankinson airdrier for nice dry air, Use 'em all for cruiser, aircraft and whatnot!
Hola
eric
Atlas 12" swing lathe, Clausing mill, BurrKing 2X48 belt grinder, 500A Miller Goldstar TIG,Miller 175 MIG, Victor Oxy/acetylene gas setup, Thermodynamics 4XI Plasma cutter, 20 ton press, Delta 12" disc sander, Hankinson airdrier for nice dry air, Use 'em all for cruiser, aircraft and whatnot!
Hola
eric
There is one over in the Misc for sale section.
