British empire lathe

[God mode restorations]

Time and lots of patience is key. And I appreciate some don't have that time. I enjoy it and most of the time find it relaxing. Of course sometimes things can push my patience . But stuff like file work I can spend a whole day doing.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

That's the key component. Time.

Not to overlook the skill.....

 

[MattF]

Time and lots of patience is key. And I appreciate some don't have that time. I enjoy it and most of the time find it relaxing. Of course sometimes things can push my patience . But stuff like file work I can spend a whole day doing.

Such a sense of satisfaction when you look at the completed piece too.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Have you seen the big 3phase empire that’s for sale on Facebook at the monin Manc for 500 quid?

 

[God mode restorations]

Have you seen the big 3phase empire that’s for sale on Facebook at the monin Manc for 500 quid?

I see an empire for sale on fb . It was up Scotland way I think. But that was £200

 

[Dieselman 63]

For some reason I stopped getting updates on this. Got total lathe fever atm as I’m finishing off the bed painting on mine.

 

[God mode restorations]

Hi guys.
A few more updates on my empire lathe .
As the weather is crud today I thought I'd press on. Doors are now complete and fitted. Carriage has finally been finished and almost ready for paint. A lot of scraping involved sorting that out. Just got to make the way wipers and assemble.

 

[mr migwire]

just stunning. what a cracking job, your attention to detail is fantastic.

 

[Gritineye]

Excellent job Spencer, do the four T slotted surfaces have a specific function or are they just a very useful feature that we all wish was on our own lathes?

 

[God mode restorations]

just stunning. what a cracking job, your attention to detail is fantastic.

Thanks mig

 

[God mode restorations]

Excellent job Spencer, do the four T slotted surfaces have a specific function or are they just a very useful feature that we all wish was on our own lathes?

I think just a useful feature. One that I will indeed find uses for.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I think just a useful feature. One that I will indeed find uses for.

Are they not for the steadies?

I picked up a comparator that I removed the pole from the stand. Mounts in my rear tool post. Would work well on one of those slots for you. Makes clocking in parts a doddle as it's always fixed ready to use and moves with the saddle.

 

[Seadog]

I recall reading somewhere that they're alternative tool holding positions.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I recall reading somewhere that they're alternative tool holding positions.

There fixed though. No way of moving the tool other than side to side with the saddle.

 

[Seadog]

There fixed though

True

 

[Maker]

I recall reading somewhere that they're alternative tool holding positions.

Could be a mount for a lever operated parting slide like on a capstan lathe. That or a travelling steady.

 

[God mode restorations]

Could be a mount for a lever operated parting slide like on a capstan lathe. That or a travelling steady.

I been looking for one of them

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I been looking for one of them

Given up. Il be using the spare saddle I have as a start for a fixed steady. Have a traveling steady in a box somewhere to mod to fit too. Just need to find a beefy fixed for modding. The last one cracked during milling. From a cheap mini lathe.

 

[Pete.]

Excellent job Spencer, do the four T slotted surfaces have a specific function or are they just a very useful feature that we all wish was on our own lathes?

They are for fixing stuff to the saddle for machining, that's why they are raised to the exact same height as the cross slide dovetail way. Imagine you had a casting that needed boring/facing/line boring. Remove the cross-slide from the machine and bolt a large angle plate to the tee slots. Fix the casting to the angle plate and then you can bore/face it with a tool held in the chuck.

 

[Rig Pig]

Beautiful job Spencer, can't wait to see some photos of the beast in action.