Myford refurbs - can anyone do it?

[Beanwood]

As I've said elsewhere - and in common with many others I'm sure - I have an itch to scratch - I'd like a lathe.

I don't have three phase, or room for a large machine. I could manage a Boxford CUD size, but probably only need something Myford size to start with. Money is always an issue and I'd rather spend £300 than £500...

I've seen some unnamed 'Myford size' machines, but if they break, are parts tricky to source? (Or does it depend)

I've seen a Myford (ML2?) on the local facebok group. It won't be there long.
It was taken apart some years ago to refurbish, and was never fully put ack together.
All the bits are there apparently, and beyond what looks like superficial surface rust on some parts, it looks reasonable.
I know parts can be expensive, but if they're all there..... and the ones that aren't would at least be available at a price

So, we come to the big question - is something like this within the capability of someone who's never rebuilt/fettled a lathe before? Or are there all sorts of complications with bearing preloads and stuff that would just be too damn tricky to cut my teeth on?

It's a lot cheaper than mist that get advertised at 'only' £200.

Unless of course, someone knows of something better for little more cash?

May I haveyour thoughts please.

 

[gaz1]

getting a lathe depends on where you are and how much you may end up paying

but to be honest an ml2 for 100/120 isnt bad 200 with loads of stuff with it and ive found a few like that

ml7 can be bought between your price but they can also go ver the price easily with what they have got in extras

its also same with a milling machine as well

boxfords yeah theres those but be aware of change wheels as most do need to change and boxfords do need extra gear

prices on a heavy machine for extras can cost you more than teh machine itself so beaware of this when buying

eg travel steady and set steady also qctp is also a bonus as well

others can be bought just becareful when buying, parts for them can be hard to find or be rather costly

 

[AKN]

If you haven’t already take a look at http://www.lathes.co.uk/ there’s lots of good advice there. I got a Warco BV20 from a friend in return for some electrical work, he had upgraded to a Myford 254. I would never have looked at the Warco as a purchase but it is fine for all I do shame it has no back gear but I’ll get round to a variable speed conversion ……… eventually.

 

[Seadog]

I could manage a Boxford CUD size, but probably only need something Myford size to start with

If you think you will be going larger then do it at the start.

 

[skotl]

If you think you will be going larger then do it at the start.

Not least cause in this case, larger is typically cheaper than smaller (at least where boxfords are concerned)

 

[Screwdriver]

As I've said elsewhere - and in common with many others I'm sure - I have an itch to scratch - I'd like a lathe.

I don't have three phase, or room for a large machine. I could manage a Boxford CUD size, but probably only need something Myford size to start with. Money is always an issue and I'd rather spend £300 than £500...

I've seen some unnamed 'Myford size' machines, but if they break, are parts tricky to source? (Or does it depend)

I've seen a Myford (ML2?) on the local facebok group. It won't be there long.
It was taken apart some years ago to refurbish, and was never fully put ack together.
All the bits are there apparently, and beyond what looks like superficial surface rust on some parts, it looks reasonable.
I know parts can be expensive, but if they're all there..... and the ones that aren't would at least be available at a price

So, we come to the big question - is something like this within the capability of someone who's never rebuilt/fettled a lathe before? Or are there all sorts of complications with bearing preloads and stuff that would just be too damn tricky to cut my teeth on?

It's a lot cheaper than mist that get advertised at 'only' £200.

Unless of course, someone knows of something better for little more cash?

May I haveyour thoughts please.

Yes you can do it. Chances are the stumbling block will be a missing part or a stuck screw, user modification from decades ago, fiddly stuff like that. Then there will be nicks and dings, possibly cracks and breaks, repairs etc. Finally ask yourself, why would someone take it apart in the first place...

If you are prepared to rebuild a lathe from scratch, I thoroughly recommend you look at a "cheapo Chinese" lathe. It will in fact be far superior to a dodgy old Myford "type". It will be all metric(!), newish motor, decent size, ton of spares and new parts cheaply available. Plenty of YouTube videos out there of people modifying them basically so they work.

If Stefan Gotteswinter has done something like that on YT (I have a dim/distant recollection he might), do what he did!

 

[Beanwood]

Thanks all.

From poring over the pictures, I can now see it's missing the stepped pulley block for the motor,(Seller forgot to mention that...) so that'd be a first purchase at something like £85, before I start to work out why it was taken to bits for running 'a bit rough'.

I think I'll give this one a miss, as it could easily turn into a money pit.

 

[JMS1972]

Yes you can do it. Chances are the stumbling block will be a missing part or a stuck screw, user modification from decades ago, fiddly stuff like that. Then there will be nicks and dings, possibly cracks and breaks, repairs etc. Finally ask yourself, why would someone take it apart in the first place...

If you are prepared to rebuild a lathe from scratch, I thoroughly recommend you look at a "cheapo Chinese" lathe. It will in fact be far superior to a dodgy old Myford "type". It will be all metric(!), newish motor, decent size, ton of spares and new parts cheaply available. Plenty of YouTube videos out there of people modifying them basically so they work.

If Stefan Gotteswinter has done something like that on YT (I have a dim/distant recollection he might), do what he did!

Stefan's got a fairly big Chinese lathe (not a mini lathe) I remember he re-engineered the headstock bearing supports amongst other stuff....,