Thread: Tough lathes.

Originally Posted by tea lady

I am have been the owner of a Tough lathe for whole 6 days now. Following the revelation that Issatree also has a tough lathe I wondered who else has one. OK! So own up. And how did you acquire it.

Any tips and tricks out there. Maybe we could even have some pics, of the lathe and/or the things you have made on it, and/or the attachments you have for it.

I have one brought it new about 20 years ago, fitted a variable speed drive, don't make them tike that any more great solid lathe

Some pictures
Attachment 124209
Lathe in the background

Attachment 124210
Rocking chair

Attachment 124211
Some hall tables

Attachment 124212

TL & Phil (or any other Tough lathe owner), could you tell me the spindle size/thread and the amount of tailstock travel on these lathes.

Being an older lathe (and because TL bought one of my 1"x8tpi chucks) I'm assuming it is 1"x8tpi. Do they have MT2 in the headstock spindle and the tailstock spindle?

Originally Posted by Big Shed

TL & Phil (or any other Tough lathe owner), could you tell me the spindle size/thread and the amount of tailstock travel on these lathes.

Being an older lathe (and because TL bought one of my 1"x8tpi chucks) I'm assuming it is 1"x8tpi. Do they have MT2 in the headstock spindle and the tailstock spindle?

1" 10 TPI, tail stock travel 70mm, swing over the bed at the gap 205 mm rad, No 2 MT both ends, bed length about 1M also 1"10 TPI LH thread outboard

Thanks Phil, sounds good. What's the side to side movement like when you slide the tailstock back and forth on the bed?

Did you achieve the variable speed via a VFD and 3 phase motor?

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Thanks Phil, sounds good. What's the side to side movement like when you slide the tailstock back and forth on the bed?
The tail stock slides true and smooth no side to side movement

Did you achieve the variable speed via a VFD and 3 phase motor?
Used a three phase motor connected 240 V delta and an inverter 240 V single phase in and 240V three phase out won't answer any more questions on the inverter as there are too many experts with conflicting and wrong opinions out there

Also have a face plate with a thread that is cut both LH and RH

Originally Posted by Big Shed

TL & Phil (or any other Tough lathe owner), could you tell me the spindle size/thread and the amount of tailstock travel on these lathes.

Being an older lathe (and because TL bought one of my 1"x8tpi chucks) I'm assuming it is 1"x8tpi. Do they have MT2 in the headstock spindle and the tailstock spindle?

The thread is 1"x 10. Got the opportunity to buy the lathe just AFTER I got the compact chuck. apparently has a "converter" on his compact chuck so ha can use it on his lathes. (The proper name has escaped me for the moment. ) Hopefully I can do something similar.

Would LOVE a variable speed motor. Maybe for next Xmas.

Originally Posted by tea lady

Would LOVE a variable speed motor. Maybe for next Xmas.

Have a look at the CMG motor at Carrols it is about $800.00 and will fit the Tough without any modification Ie drilling out the pulleys if you can go for a 11/2HP you won't run out of torque.

Hi Phil

We must think alike, see my separate thread posteed simultaneous with yours!!

The Variable motor we have is a constant torque 1hp motor which is very hard to stop and comes with the standard B56 frame and 5/8" shaft.

To go to the larger motor you need to go to a metric frame and a larger shaft which starts to make it uneconimical to change.

uses one on one of his Nova lathes and there is quite a few on other Tough and woodfast lathes.

Have a look here

Originally Posted by GoGuppy

Hi Phil

We must think alike, see my separate thread posteed simultaneous with yours!!

Slightly different, I engineered my own system unlike the CMG thing I can reverse my lathe and have overload protection. If you look at the picture of my lathe you will see the inverter mounted on the wall with the remote controls above the head stock and an ABB 1.5Kw motor mounted underneath I can get a spindle speed of 10,000 RPM if I were silly enough.

Any how this is a Tough thread lets get back on topic

Hey TL
Where's your piccies.

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

Any how this is a Tough thread lets get back on topic

Phil
That's why I opened a new thread....
Cheers

Waldo has a Tough Lathe as well, pretty certain he inherited his from his father.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Hey TL
Where's your piccies.

I'm getting there. At least I've turned something on it now. (Well, at lest made a square thing round. ) had left the pulleys on "" speed and done up the screw for the cover tight. I did rough it at that speed but finnaly got the scrrew undone and changed it to the more civilized 1750 RPM.

Originally Posted by DJ's Timber

Waldo has a Tough Lathe as well, pretty certain he inherited his from his father.

Is that three of us now?

$800 for a variable motor? Might stay low tech for a while yet then.

BTW, it is so SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH! Nothing fell off the bench. I could hear the radio. No shaking and carrying on. Its so beautiful.