Thread: What's in a reasonable Hercus Tooling Kit

BL,

A VFD would be nice, if you can reconfigure the 3-phase motor to run from 240V.

If you don't have a mill, then a milling attachment might come in handy for those small jobs.

What model Hercus do you have, and what have you done to it? Pictures?

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

BL,

A VFD would be nice, if you can reconfigure the 3-phase motor to run from 240V.

I don't really want to spend time messing with the electrics just now. I just want to get it working and am thinking of just getting a cheap 1HP motor for now. Maybe once I have it cranking for a while.

If you don't have a mill, then a milling attachment might come in handy for those small jobs.

I have access to a mill at work but it would be nice to be able to do stuff at home. My guess is this also involves collets? Is there a particular set or size I should be looking out for?

What model Hercus do you have, and what have you done to it? Pictures?

It's a model A 1965. It has not had much use but what use it has had is variable.
I posted some pics of it in pieces here.

First question as allways,what sort of jobs are you considering doing?

Are the toolposts lantern or square,if lantern some tool holders to suit ( straight,right,left,parting).

If square a decision on HSS or Carbide (you will need to decide on the size of the Carbide but no bigger than 1/2",if HSS any size from 1/8" to 1/2").

Depending on what you choose you would then need a Bench grinder of some type.

A centre to fit your Headstock spindle.(not needed if you turn up something in your 3 jaw.

A drive plate for between centre work (not needed if you drive off the 3 jaw chuck.
Drive dogs either home made or bought to suit diameters you may turn.

A Pipe or (bull) centre if thinking of turning hollow work of any great length ( not really needed if you machine a cone to go over your live centre).

A fixed and travelling steady.

If you are considering doing a lot of small long work under 3/4" dia a collet chuck that mounts to the headstock spindle (ER type 32),if not long through work just an M/T s ER collet chuck would do,you just need to make a draw bar to pull it back in the Headstock.

If you are thinking of cutting threads a thread pitch gauge/s, if you will be cutting Metric threads suitable change gears.

Maybe a 2nd drill chuck.

Centre drills.

Countersunk drill bit/s.

Micrometers (either Imperial or Metric)

Telescopic bore gage.

Inside micrometer.

Depth Micrometer.

Calculator.

Files.

Emery,couple of grades.

Sharpening stone for touching up the HSS.

Spring calipers,Internal,External.

Vernier 6"/8".

Steel rule 6" and 12".

Dial indicator/s.

Thanks for the very comprehensive response pipeclay. very helpful.

Originally Posted by pipeclay

First question as allways,what sort of jobs are you considering doing?

Short term I will be making collars and knurled handles for ww tools, but my mind is a can of worms so tomorrow it could be aeroplane parts

I have all of these:
A drive plate for between centre work
2nd drill chuck.
Centre drills.
Micrometers (either Imperial or Metric)
Calculator.
Files.
Emery,couple of grades.
Sharpening stone for touching up the HSS.
Vernier 6"/8".
Steel rule 6" and 12".
Dial indicator/s. (have 3 of these)
Bench grinder of some type. (Have 3 of these)
Spring calipers,Internal,External. (I have a small set, probably need a bigger set?)

Are the toolposts lantern or square,if lantern some tool holders to suit ( straight,right,left,parting).

Square

If square a decision on HSS or Carbide (you will need to decide on the size of the Carbide but no bigger than 1/2",if HSS any size from 1/8" to 1/2").

I have some HSS pieces to get me started - I'll look into carbide in due course.

A centre to fit your Headstock spindle.(not needed if you turn up something in your 3 jaw.

live or dead?

Drive dogs either home made or bought to suit diameters you may turn.

I reckon I can make these as needed.

A Pipe or (bull) centre if thinking of turning hollow work of any great length ( not really needed if you machine a cone to go over your live centre).

OK

A fixed and travelling steady.

OK

[quote]If you are considering doing a lot of small long work under 3/4" dia a collet chuck that mounts to the headstock spindle (ER type 32),if not long through work just an M/T s ER collet chuck would do,you just need to make a draw bar to pull it back in the Headstock.[QUOTE]
OK

If you are thinking of cutting threads a thread pitch gauge/s, if you will be cutting Metric threads suitable change gears.

OK

Countersunk drill bit/s.

Are these the same as those used for WW?

Telescopic bore gage.
Inside micrometer.
Depth Micrometer.

Let's go shopping! - well at least browsing?

Thanks again.

At work we have lathes with quick change tool posts that have a nice tool height adjustment system. Is there are similar thing available for the Hercus? Last time I used a Hercus was 40 years ago in high school. I don't know wht but I think they are are really cute machines - must be the nostalgia not that I remember high school with much fondness!

In regards to the Quick Change Toolpost yes the AXA type or similar.

The Countersunks I couldnt tell you if would and metal are the same although they would be similar.I cant recall the correct name but I use the type with the hole in the side(they come in a range of sizes to cater from 1/16"through to 3/4").

With the Centre for the headstock it would be a Dead centre (in essence it is live once the spindle is turning).

There are times when I couldnt be bothered removing the chuck or cleaning the Spindle and just put a bit of bar in the 3 jaw turn a 60 degree point and drive my dog off the chuck jaw.

Originally Posted by pipeclay

In regards to the Quick Change Toolpost yes the AXA type or similar.

Great - I saw them on AMH - reasonably priced too!

The Countersunks I couldnt tell you if would and metal are the same although they would be similar.I cant recall the correct name but I use the type with the hole in the side(they come in a range of sizes to cater from 1/16"through to 3/4").

Yep - I know these - have used these in our shop.

With the Centre for the headstock it would be a Dead centre (in essence it is live once the spindle is turning).

There are times when I couldnt be bothered removing the chuck or cleaning the Spindle and just put a bit of bar in the 3 jaw turn a 60 degree point and drive my dog off the chuck jaw.

Good idea.

Thanks for the great help especially as I know these are newbie questions.
Cheers

and more storage space to put it all in i use them metal filing drawers but they keep filling up some how
john

BobL,

If you decide to attempt small milling jobs in the lathe, apart from a milling attachment, an ER32 chuck with MT3 arbor M12 and collets will be a necessity. CTC Tools have these reasonably priced.

ER32 is an ideal size, the matching collets will hold cutters from 2mm to 20mm dia.

Personally, I would not purchase a milling attachment, sellers are asking gold prices for them. Although a nice addition to lathe tooling, I reckon you are better off setting the money aside for a dedicated milling machine. If tight for space, a nice Hercus horizontal mill takes up little room, or something like a Sieg X3 mill as a minimum.

You have some fun times ahead,

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

If you decide to attempt small milling jobs in the lathe, apart from a milling attachment, an ER32 chuck with MT3 arbor M12 and collets will be a necessity. CTC Tools have these reasonably priced.

ER32 is an ideal size, the matching collets will hold cutters from 2mm to 20mm dia.

Personally, I would not purchase a milling attachment, sellers are asking gold prices for them. Although a nice addition to lathe tooling, I reckon you are better off setting the money aside for a dedicated milling machine. If tight for space, a nice Hercus horizontal mill takes up little room, or something like a Sieg X3 mill as a minimum.

You have some fun times ahead,

Thanks Ken, yeah I'm really excited by having my own MW lathe at home.

Can see a big hole burning in my wallet just thinking about all the cool stuff you can get.

Cheers

BobL.

Tooling can be very, very expensive. Greg Q, who is an expert in these matters, suggests that not only does the cost of tooling come into play, but so does the cost of a new BMW and diamond ring.

The later will keep the missus blind sided to your eBay transactions.

Make sure you are up early to head off the delivery man, receipts are destroyed immediately, and you have the only key to the shed, hidden in your wallet.

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

BobL.

Tooling can be very, very expensive. Greg Q, who is an expert in these matters, suggests that not only does the cost of tooling come into play, but so does the cost of a new BMW and diamond ring.

The later will keep the missus blind sided to your eBay transactions.

Make sure you are up early to head off the delivery man, receipts are destroyed immediately, and you have the only key to the shed, hidden in your wallet.

Ken

Yeah - I can see that. I also have access to a lot of this sort of stuff at work and the techo does let me borrow stuff over a weekend etc so I really do need to show some restraint.

I'm not sure if you know, but SWMBO has a dressage horse, , It's not a really expensive one but it still makes my hobby look pretty reasonable. That's definitely helped in acquiring a fancy new shed, big new DC and I'm sure I can squeeze a bit more out of it yet! But I definitely control myself as I still have some ways to go with renovating the old shed.

What model Hercus do you have, and what have you done to it? Pictures?

Ken

Here's a few pics. It's funny when you see it in photos it looks like the bits are from 3 different lathes although it could just be that someone got excited with a spray gun from time to time.
It got some surface rust on it from sitting on my driveway for 14 months.

Attachment 169548
Attachment 169549
Attachment 169550
Attachment 169551

I would recommend getting a good light and a coolant pump/tank.

I really like the way you have sheeted the walls for easy cleaning. That's got me thinking a bit