Thread: Show us your Hercus

Hi Ken, when you come over you can show me how to upload photos as I have tried and failed miserably DJ might be sending you a PM about your nut to make sure it is ok for me to pick up as the drive will do me good and I might catch me mate in Yarra Junction with luck

all the best derek

Originally Posted by bitza500

Hi Ken, when you come over you can show me how to upload photos as I have tried and failed miserably DJ might be sending you a PM about your nut to make sure it is ok for me to pick up as the drive will do me good and I might catch me mate in Yarra Junction with luck

all the best derek

Posting Pictures to Your Post

1967 Model. I was using a collet chuck at the time. This lathe is very convenient for me and is in constant use.
Peter.

Hi Penpal, nice to see a lathe that has been used as many of the registered owners are still trying to put theirs back together again

Have you done any modifications or paint or is it as you bought it
As it looks good considering it gets used
all the best Derek bitza500

I bought the lathe from the original owner who used the lathe seldom, I have the original test certificate from Hercus. It came with Angle Boring Attachment,Milling Attachment both in the original packing grease, I have bought many other bits and pieces since purchase.It is original in every way useful as well.

Peter

I've seen Peter's lathe in real life and it's a beautiful example of a Hercus in pristine original condition.

Here's a pic of my 1952 model A in action. I made the fixed steady and the QC toolpost myself. I got the machine off an old European guy who had completly reconditioned it after spending his life rebuilding machine tools the old fashioned way. He had even fitted a new spindle by handscraping the bearings. You can see the scraping marks on the bed if you look closely.
Attachment 89846

Nice one. The steady rest looks like a commercial one not like a home made one. I'd be interested in some more info/pics on how you went about making it. I'm in the process of trying to design one now but it would look like something you would find at the tip compared to what you have done there.

I was doing an evening foundry course at a Tafe many years ago. Really just an excuse to make castings at will. They had the pattern sitting around, so the rest was relatively easy. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Steve

Bugger. I got all excited there for a while. Pity they don't have any courses like that around Canberra.
Oh well. Back to my crappy design.

hi Steve, As the holder of the register I always ask if you join our little group by registering your lathe all I need is Serial number and that is all as the rest is on the Forum anyway and you would be our 25th owner and the register is only to try and track down more Hercus owners and collect your serial number to see were you sit in with the other 24 owners
It is not a compulsory thing more a Hercus were are they now list as thousands were made but we have 24 and as I said if you do not mind giving me your serial number I have you on my papers less the number so please let me know

Pity about the steady as if you had kept the pattern it would have been a good money maker

all the best derek bitza500

Yer, I would guess they don't have a course like that anywhere now Peter. It seems you can buy a steady from the UK though.

see

http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/B...SERS_NEW1.html

and

http://www.lathes.co.uk/boxford/page12.html

re. making your own, have a look at
http://homepage3.nifty.com/homeshop-...d_steady-e.htm

Also there's some mob in the UK who sell castings for an oversized steady with four fingers. They have a Boxford version as well as the Myford one. I think it was either model engineering services or hemingways, but I'm not sure and they don't have it on their site anymore, you could email them about it though.

Derek, my number is A4231. It would be interesting to find out what year they changed over to the lever tailstock and detent tumbler reverse. Sometime in the mid 50's. Also the year they increased the micrometer dials and changed the cross slide. Sometime in the 60s I think.

Cheers
Steve

Well she is almost finished.
I made the little useless brass oil thingy for the tailstock ( I was going to put this in things you have made for the Hercus but I didnt feel like getting kicked). I think I need a life heheh. You have to look carefully to see it though.
The logo that ken (neksmerj) fixed up (thank you very much) I just printed out on photo paper and stuck it on the head stock.I think I will just get some decal paper or air brush the dam sticker. I ordered some brass wipers for the saddle as I thought the steel ones looked crap and I luv shiny bits! . I still need to polish the handles a bit more but I couldn't do it, I have had enough and needed a break so I threw the last couple of bits on . I still need to make a small shelf on the r/h side for my tools. And tomorrow I will measure up a splashback and get it pressed up. Then I will get it painted not sure of colour yet might make it silver. I also have to mount the fixed steady on the wall and repaint it and the thread gauge thingy
Thanx to all who gave me advice on how to do things I really appreciate it. I fitted the original cross slide instead of the one with the mill slots in it. I needed a gib strip as I didnt have one for the cross slide (they are different of course) ,rang Hercus and got a new one, not bad for a 1964 machine LOL. The mill cross slide is a pain in the ass to clean as it gets all the chips in it so it can sit on the shelf till I need it. I also have to make up a coolant pump.

Hi Gene Congratulations at what must be the most amazing restoration on a Hercus 9" lathe mind you with what you have at your disposal plus your Painting Knowledge and skils you have done a terrific job
although remember
a clean workshop and a clean machine means you need to get a life or you have a very sick mind
My garage never looked that clean when it was new and now just ask Ken he will tell you I have Hercus parts and 4WD parts
I cannot even see a spiderweb get a grip on your self go and get it dirty make something hang your conversion sheets on the wall

But I must say I am keeping the photos as that is one over the top Restoration I reckon you should send a copy to good old Hercus Old Jeff Vickers would be impressed

By the way on the T-Slot Crosslide did it have a full length jib or not or you never got one for that either ??
And if you did can you tell me how long the jib is please

So what is next a Hercus Milling Machine ?????

to a top notch tradesman
all the best Derek bitza500