Thread: New to all of this...Metal Lathe (A kinda project)

Hi Craig, nice looking lathe, if you dont get it going give it some paint and just look at it

Other than that, if you are new to metalworking then I can tell you it can be a hobby for life if you have or develop the right interests to keep you doing it.

Also, (my little bit of advise) because you don't have a background it may seem like a challenge to get the lathe working. If you can't find all the parts I would suggest changing it for a complete one before the depression wears in, been there..

And welcome to the forums!.

Jason

Hi Craig,
A very warm welcome.
While I do not know much about exchange motors.,I have had some experince in chasing tools. Tell the boys what you have got 3 & 4 jaw chucks,tailstock (what taper) You need to to know so the correct taper is purchased.
Google up lathes UK for some more info.
If you are quick there was a a tool post to suit a ward lathe on Ebay today Monday 30th April

Lathe Tool post, to suit Ward 2, or ather old machines. Good condition.
94x94x94mm. 35mm,tool holder clearance. Weight,roughtly 5kg.

Here is your link.



http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Lathe-Tool-po...QQcmdZViewItem

and the picture
Grahame

Hi Craig,

Welcome to the forums.

My ADVICE, if the lathe does not have a leadscrew / pick gears / gearbox would be to trade in /sell/ swap for a more conventional lathe.

Capstan lathes are fine, but they are intended for production work (ie repetition of the same part), rather than 'jobbing' or 'one offs'.

However; I understand that you intend to use the lathe for PRACTICE, so all may not be lost. Just bear in mind that the lathe (depending on condition, of course) may be worth more in original condition rather than modified.

Without a leadscrew / gearbox / pick gears, you won't be able to cut threads, which is something to bear in mind.

A little plug here - I have a Hercus 9" lathe, with a supporting website at www.beerbotboffin.net. Bear in mind that it is a work in progress.

Hope this helps,
Shane

Hi Craig,
Good to hear you've got an interest in metal lathes, they're good fun.

I've a Ward No 7 turret lathe, so similar but different. It had a 7 1/2hp, 3 phase motor on it when i got it and i only had single phase available on the farm, (too far and too many $$ to get 3 phase)

I just made up a plate to bolt onto the motor rails on the back of the machine and mounted a 3hp single phase motor and it worked a charm. The Ward No7 only had a top speed of 750 odd rpm and this was a challenge to get it up to top speed with the 3hp motor, but most of the work i did was around the middle range of gears and it worked fine in that range .

With the 3hp motor in the lowest speed of 37rpm (by memory) and with carbide tooling and the coolant pump going, i could quite easily peel 1/2 inch from 5" bright shaft in 1 go with no problem of the motor overloading. I had a amp meter installed onto it as a way of me knowing how much current it was drawing so i could keep the speed and feed optimum so the motor didnt overload.

Mine only had a 3 jaw chuck with adjustable jaws but i scouted around and managed to pick up a 3 and 4 jaw pratt chucks plus heaps of other nick knacks like a big pipe centre, jacobs drill chuck that would take 1", etc for only a few hundred bucks, so keep an eye out for clearance/auction sales for engineering equipment.

If you got it for a good price and have the room for it, it will always come in handy, with my old no7 i could lay a 20' shaft thru the headstock and have a bearing mount fitted to the turret end with the shaft going thru the turret head to support it whilst i worked on part of the shaft, they're a handy machine to have.

Ahh, just the talk of it's making me twitch...

An unusual choice for a first lathe. Usually capstan lathes are used in production shops. (Set the cams in them up, put in a lump of barstock and walk away for half an hour or so.)

Would strongly consider selling it and getting yourself a decent centre lathe, mate.