old myford lathe

[pondy]

i know nothing about lathes, but have fancied one for a while. this cropped up in a Facebook selling page local to me, bellow is all add shows, its £160, ive no idea what model it is, what its worth etc, for complete beginner just ******* about in his garage

Myford lathe complete with single phase electric motor, homemade bench and some change wheels. Complete with three jaw chuck

 

[gaz1]

looks to be myford ml1-4

heres a post on the subject

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/early-myford-getting-some-love.72500/#post-986675

 

[Pete.]

Yeah it's a ML4. Handy that it has the change gears because they aren't a lot of use without them. It'll be fiddly to do gear changes but should work of a fashion. Chuck looks quite new, I'm guessing someone bought a chuck then realised the lathe's inherent limitations having a solid spindle and low centre height made it too much trouble to go with.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Could be a Drummond M type?

Scroll down for pics which look the same.......http://www.lathes.co.uk/drummond-m-type-post-1924/

 

[doubleboost]

I had a ml4 lathe for some time
Mine had a 5/8 hole through the spindle
The strange thing was the carrage wheel worked backwards they were all like that
Ok once you got used to it
Sold mine to a bloke that was making bag pipes

 

[Richard.]

@pondy
For like you say messing about in the garage turning up some parts and trying out various things it's perfect.
160 quid and in theory you just add a tool.
It doesn't need to have all the fancy stuff I get that.
You just wanna load up and skim off some swarf.
Bet the chuck wasn't far off that price alone.
Go for it, you don't get much lathe wise for that money so it's worth a bash.

 

[pondy]

I've asked for some more detailed pictures, not that I know what im looking at , it comes with no tooling so if I brought it ild need to find out what ild likely need and where to get it from,
can someone explain what the change wheels are for?

 

[Richard.]

I've asked for some more detailed pictures, not that I know what im looking at , it comes with no tooling so if I brought it ild need to find out what ild likely need and where to get it from,
can someone explain what the change wheels are for?

They alter the speed your lead screw turns at. So you can cut at different travel speeds for cutting various threads pitches.

 

[pondy]

They alter the speed your lead screw turns at. So you can cut at different travel speeds for cutting various threads pitches.

thanks Richard, think I'm going to go for it, money sounds good for what it is?

 

[Richard.]

thanks Richard, think I'm going to go for it, money sounds good for what it is?

It does. It's probably spot on for what I believe you want it for.
The problem will be when you do start to enjoy it and get some results from it because then you will start to find it's limits and want to get yourself something possibly bigger or more equipped. But for less than £200 it should get you in a position to make a few small simple things.

 

[pondy]

It does. It's probably spot on for what I believe you want it for.
The problem will be when you do start to enjoy it and get some results from it because then you will start to find it's limits and want to get yourself something possibly bigger or more equipped. But for less than £200 it should get you in a position to make a few small simple things.

thanks again Richard, waiting to hear back from seller

 

[gaz1]

heres some more info for it

(Myford Lathe 1 and 2) both with a 31/8" centre height and admitting 15" between centres and then, a little later, into the 31/2" x 24" models ML.3 and ML.4.
The ML1 and ML2 could swing 8.5" in the gap, the ML3 and ML4 a rather more useful 9.25".

i also note yours also has a tumble reverse fitted to it

http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford-ml2-ml4/

 

[RichardM]

Check for play in the nuts as they are machined into the casting originally, they may have been replaced, I made new bronze ones for my ML2.
Originally flat belts, so you are better off with the Vs. Check front head stock casting to make sure it isn't cracked.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Tbh wish I'd bought that one over my myford ml1. Straight as it is the more I learn the more I realise its going to be a money pit. That's the problem with impulse buys with little knowledge. Won't make that mistake with lathe No 2. I'd grab it for that price. Spend a year learning then make your money back and upgrade.