Remember the turning services/lathe thread?

[Cato]

I haven't been on for a while because of a range of 'real life' stuff. Nothing cataclysmic, just time sapping nonsense with work, self-isolation, family etc etc. Not and ounce of flounce was involved.

The reason for this thread is an update, and almost assuredly some amusement. I don't/didn't want a lathe, and I haven't got a lathe. I have two.

It was one of those chatting to a bloke about unrelated stuff and mentioning my plans for the side business which will become the full time thing. Long story short, a mate of his is retiring and for very humble money I have a pair of Smart and Brown model L lathes, both with collets and chucks, one with a capstan, both full working albeit one hasn't been used for a while.

I'll resist asking if I should sell one and learn to use the other, or sell both. Anyway, I'll post some pictures for your delectation when I've picked them up.

 

[My Old Landy]

Superb, swayed by the masses to join the throng!!
@eLuSiVeMiTe is the resident S&B Model L guru (I have his model M that I offered to make you stuff on )
If you do decide to sell one.......

 

[Munkul]

Thanks for the update, and sorry but yes I had to laugh a bit

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I haven't been on for a while because of a range of 'real life' stuff. Nothing cataclysmic, just time sapping nonsense with work, self-isolation, family etc etc. Not and ounce of flounce was involved.

The reason for this thread is an update, and almost assuredly some amusement. I don't/didn't want a lathe, and I haven't got a lathe. I have two.

It was one of those chatting to a bloke about unrelated stuff and mentioning my plans for the side business which will become the full time thing. Long story short, a mate of his is retiring and for very humble money I have a pair of Smart and Brown model L lathes, both with collets and chucks, one with a capstan, both full working albeit one hasn't been used for a while.

I'll resist asking if I should sell one and learn to use the other, or sell both. Anyway, I'll post some pictures for your delectation when I've picked them up.

As Brian said. Owned one. It's just gone to a new home

Detailed a lot of the tear down here

Smart and Brown Model L series 25

Following on from my Model M here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/smart-and-brown-model-m-mk1.72745/ I aquired a Model L for parts as some are a direct fit on my Model M Inc spindle threads and collets. Its in good shape and can't face selling it in bits so made some room and...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[Cato]

Superb, swayed by the masses to join the throng!!
@eLuSiVeMiTe is the resident S&B Model L guru (I have his model M that I offered to make you stuff on )
If you do decide to sell one.......

Well I will definitely be moving one of them on. Considering I didn't want any two is just taking the pi Mickey.

 

[frank horton]

just how many lathes do u need......
I have 2 metal lathes (Colch 6" Student as new Myf S7 with threading g/box and 2 wood lathes, a quite large Poolewood and a Wadkin RS)......I still look for bargains.....hahaha.....
also I have 10 drill presses......
would love a 1m plus treadal guilotene and a small box pan folder....one can hope...... hahaha...

 

[roofman]

Mate i dont know why you have bought lathes..you would be far better off sub-contracting the work out for your turning jobs

 

[daleyd]

Now you’ve got two lathes you’ll have everyone telling you that’s too many and you should sell them one

 

[Cato]

Mate i dont know why you have bought lathes..you would be far better off sub-contracting the work out for your turning jobs

It's a cunning plan. I can get the rates down by letting the subby use the lathe at my place.

 

[Cato]

Well the first one has landed. This is (so I'm told) the lower spec one which has fewer speeds, I notice that the other has a much beefier drive arrangement and I'm picking that up tomorrow. Anyway, this one comes with some twiddly bits.

 

[My Old Landy]

Nice! I like the collets, they will be very useful for knocking out spacers etc that I think you said you were looking to get machined?

 

[Cato]

Nice! I like the collets, they will be very useful for knocking out spacers etc that I think you said you were looking to get machined?

I still maintain that a lathe will be more decoration than anything.

That said I have been doing some pondering and working out what I'd need from a lathe whether it's me doing it or someone else. As far as I can see it will be along the lines of:-
Tidying up something which has mushroomed.
Welding a repair to a keyway then turning the weld flush.
Making a replacement shaft/peg.
Turning a shoulder and tapping a thread to make a stepped bolt.
Turning a replacement bronze bush/bearing.
Drilling a bolt/shaft to make an oilway/grease point.

Looking at the sort of threads I'd be dealing with would be coped with easily using dies, or to get fancy a die head. So a lathe with thread turning capabilities whilst nice isn't really needed.

Overall the plan is to work out if I'm better off keeping one of the lathes along with any useful accessories and flogging the other. Or stick with the original plan and flog both.

One thing which I didn't appreciate from the other thread where people were saying I should get a lathe was the size of these. They really are dinky little things, so I'll have the tape out tomorrow to see if I can find the space I need to keep one and still do the other stuff I have planned. I might need to go bench mount for the pillar drill, but that won't be too much of an issue.

 

[My Old Landy]

Well if you do sell one or both, I hope you put them up on here first

 

[Cato]

Well if you do sell one or both, I hope you put them up on here first

Absolutely, and one of them will definitely be going. It would be rude not to put it one here first with all the input from members I've had, and I don't mean that in a sarcastic way. Does the forum have a 'Swap Shop' section?

 

[My Old Landy]

Absolutely, and one of them will definitely be going. It would be rude not to put it one here first with all the input from members I've had, and I don't mean that in a sarcastic way. Does the forum have a 'Swap Shop' section?

Sadly not but whatever you want in exchange, I am sure you can add to the advert! Something like '£xxx or a so and so of similar value' - just check with the mods first

 

[MattF]

with all the input from members I've had

Regardless of whether you wanted it or not.

 

[Cato]

Picked up the other one this morning, which is obviously quite different. I also had a tidy round, measure and ponder and I will be able to fit one in having removed a lower shelf from one of the racks to make room for the steam cleaner etc. Some more clearing and eBay action should make it all work.

Once I've worked out what's what on the lathes, which bits I do or don't need I can decide which one will be moved on. I'll start a thread in the machine section when I have specific questions. Unless the moderators prefer to move this thread over.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Picked up the other one this morning, which is obviously quite different. I also had a tidy round, measure and ponder and I will be able to fit one in having removed a lower shelf from one of the racks to make room for the steam cleaner etc. Some more clearing and eBay action should make it all work.

Once I've worked out what's what on the lathes, which bits I do or don't need I can decide which one will be moved on. I'll start a thread in the machine section when I have specific questions. Unless the moderators prefer to move this thread over.

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Secondo last image is interesting.
Has a different pulley to mine. Same drive chain from the motor.

My spindle pulleys had a bearing arrangement Internally


Assume that's the high speed spindle with bearings both sides rather than bronze at the nose

 

[Cato]

Secondo last image is interesting.
Has a different pulley to mine. Same drive chain from the motor.

My spindle pulleys had a bearing arrangement Internally

Assume that's the high speed spindle with bearings both sides rather than bronze at the nose

That is the first (blue lathe) I picked up, the plate give the speeds as the highest three of the six available on the other one with the flat belt.

I've just been browsing eBay. Is it my imagination or has everything jumped up massively in price recently? This capstan for example.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

That is the first (blue lathe) I picked up, the plate give the speeds as the highest three of the six available on the other one with the flat belt.

I've just been browsing eBay. Is it my imagination or has everything jumped up massively in price recently? This capstan for example.

That capstan has been on there for at least a month

Capstan tailstock I bought was up for 260 and seller accepted an offer of 155
He also built me up a lever cross-slide from spare parts when I popped by. He owned what's left of smart and brown.