Tiny Lathe

[shenion]

Picked this up off ebay locally:

It is tiny. 3" swing and 8" between centers. Big enough for my needs.

It is a Craftsman, made by Sherline (same as their 4000 model). Seems to work well. There is a bit of slop in the chuck at times. Seems it has been overtightened in some places. Will probably pick up a 4-jaw chuck later. Tempted to get the thread cutting attachment.

I decided a first test would be to make a roller for my MIG feeder. I had aametalmaster make one (thanks again) and happened to have some SS the right size.

Top is the stock .035/.045 roller. Left is the 0.023/.030 roller I made (60 deg V-groove) and right is the one by aametalmaster. Note key slots cut by jig saw. They all work well.

Been fun and learning a lot. Picked up a drill chuck, parting tools and some cutting bits. Always wanted a lathe as there were many times I wish i had one.

 

[malcolm]

That look like a fantastic job. Took me a year to get that far with my lathe (my problem turned out to be that I'd been trying to machine hardened metal every time. A bit of free machining mild steel bar worked wonders).

I feel my chuck isn't the best - but if I don't go at things aggressively and use shallow cuts and sharp tools it holds stuff really well.

 

[snowcat]

Iv always fanced a little lathe to do me odds and sods on, but think id just destroy it/ im known for makeing people duck for cover when i cut on the bigger lathes (lol), Theres a trick to cut keyways in your lathe if you intrested

 

[snowcat]

That look like a fantastic job. Took me a year to get that far with my lathe (my problem turned out to be that I'd been trying to machine hardened metal every time. A bit of free machining mild steel bar worked wonders).

I feel my chuck isn't the best - but if I don't go at things aggressively and use shallow cuts and sharp tools it holds stuff really well.

A few nice (insertable) tip tools would help you out malc, there's quite often some S/H stools at the steam rallys. Big cuts on hard stuff, no problem.

 

[shenion]

Iv always fanced a little lathe to do me odds and sods on, but think id just destroy it/ im known for makeing people duck for cover when i cut on the bigger lathes (lol),

At least with a 1/5 hp motor and low speed it will not be hulring big chunks of metal accross the room. Have heard horror stories of the work jamming and shattering or coming out of the

Theres a trick to cut keyways in your lathe if you intrested

I have seen broaching tools. Nothing small enough for this one.

I probably could use a modified parting tool. Cut end to a chisel and carve a slot with it in multiple passes.

 

[rusty69bus]

i'm sure it'll get a lot of use, the times you'll say "i'll just do this on the lathe" or maybe not.

 

[MrFluffy]

Theres a yahoo group for craftsman lathes etc. Could be quite useful, I think they host some files pertinent them too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlas_craftsman/

I been on my harrison l5a all tonight, last night I made a chuck backplate for the other lathe out of a old gear out the gearbox of my now departed l5. 57.6mm major diameter, and pitch of 2.5mm, what kind of thread is THAT!

 

[aametalmaster]

That lathe is a rebranded Sherline. Here is the yahoo group.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/sherline/
Here is their website. http://www.sherline.com/
Those lathes are great for small parts. I was at the NAMES show for the last few years and what the guys make on those little lathes is awsome. http://www.sherline.com/names05.htm
N.A.M.E.S http://www.modelengineeringsoc.com/ ...Bob

 

[shenion]

Yes, have been on the Sherline web site. Priced the thread cutting gear set and a tool post for 5/16" tools (1/4" are harder to find.)

I got the drill chuck yesterday. Found a 1/2" one. No realize it interferes with the cross slide, so the slide has to be removed. No big deal.

I learned just how bad my Ryobie bits are. They chatter and want to walk all over the end. Lathe came with a small centering drill. Used that first, then ok. The Ryobie bits are all crooked, part from the case that they snap in. No way to pull them out without bending them.

Will need to get some decent bits. Been trying to find a small boring bit. Heh, just like when I got my MIG. You spend a bunch on add-on items

Will check out the sherline group, thanks.

 

[snowcat]

At least with a 1/5 hp motor and low speed it will not be hulring big chunks of metal accross the room. Have heard horror stories of the work jamming and shattering or coming out of the
I have seen broaching tools. Nothing small enough for this one.

I probably could use a modified parting tool. Cut end to a chisel and carve a slot with it in multiple passes.

most of the broching tools are made for presses, shape a piece of tool steal with slight rake on the tool, put your lathe in backgear to stop the stock from turning, clamp your tool in the holder and run the saddle back and forth, hay presto 1 key way nice and acurate, its the way most of the model engineers work..

J&L industrial should do some tooling, they originate from your side of the pond.

 

[shenion]

Ordered a quick-change tool post. Comes with 4 holders:

1 - 1/4" square
1 - 1/2" square
1- 3/8 round boring bar holder
1 - 1/2" x 1/16" parting blade holder.

Should give me lots more options

Snowcat, I have seen them. I think I can use my parting tool as long as I
can adjust the height for each pass (new holders are adjustable.)

 

[shenion]

New post holder works well.

I never really cared for the short (6'), wired-in torch on my Clarke 130EN. I have 4 Tweco torches with 12 to 15' leads. So I decided to adapt them.

First make an adapter for the Clarke:

Silver tip is a Tweco feed tube I had. It was turned down to match the liner size of the Clarke. The next step up fits 1/2" heater hose. The hose slips over the 1/2" section. That allows the clamp on the feeder to clamp on the tip and hose.

The next step up is to make it through the face plate. There is a 1/4-20 thread to connect the power feed.

The large section is bored 5/8" to accept the Tweco connector. A set screw holds it in (will get thumb screw later). A gas tap in the end matches the gas inlet on the gun.

Decided to put a Tweco end on the old torch also:

The gas feeds between the o-rings. The notch on the end is where the set screw holds it in. Still have to make a tip to clamp on the liner.

The back end is bored 1/2", then capped with a soldered plug. Center is drilled for liner to feed through and a 4mm hole drilled for the gas line. Gas enters between o-rings, passes along gap between bore and liner. Then out 4mm hole in back.

Trigger connections are via 1/4" spade plugs. I also had to add a gas solenoid to the Clarke (had one from Airco.)

Works well. have a Tweco #1 gun that is 12' long. Works great in the Clarke. I just redid the turn/brake light mounts on my trailer. Was nice to do one and just go do the other without having to move welder. I do get a bit more current out of the Clarke, the stock torch has minimum gauge power wire.

I tried the 15' #4 gun on the Clarke. It fed it fine also. Funny seeing a 400A gun on the little MIG

Here's the adapter installed and the Tweco #1 gun:

 

[oddball90]

Neat job Shenion. Handy having that little lathe around. Euro connector looks alot easier to fit though.

 

[scarecrow]

nice work Shenion
don't forget that your ordinary files are a good source of tools steal