Thread: Regrind of lathe ways

I don't know but I'd be calling the second hand machinery dealers around Brisbane for a recommendation.

Also if you find a specialist reconditioner give them a look before you jump to any conclusions. I'm not saying your wrong, but a good reconditioner may have a way to put it right that's cheaper/simpler.

Hare and Forbes, and there is about 5 or 6 others...Shaw, Power Machinery, who by the way have this on their site:

http://www.powermachinery.com.au/mac...achineid=13422

Don't know if they are any good, but that's a handy size machine...

There is an artical on regrinding a myford lathe, in my latest model engineers workshop mag.

It isn't the latest issue, but is the current issue available in Australia.
It has some very good tips on what to look for in a regrinding service.
I would try to pick up the mag if I were you. If you can't get it for some reason, give a hoy back here, and I'll scan it for you.

I also read model engineers workshop and actually have a subscription.Fossil has hit the nail on the head with the latest issue in Aus. The artical is very informative on the myford rebuild.I also have a mars lathe.There is one on ebay at the moment to and is fairly cheap.It may do for parts for yours.(Justa thought)

My understanding is that there is only one company in Australia that regrinds lathe beds. No idea on the name but they are in Sydney.
Expect @ $800 for the job. After that you will need to reset the height of the saddle through either rebedding in moglice or turcite or one of the other teflon materials.
Read some of the lathe resto's on Practical Machinist http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb...ad.php?t=98625 is one thread.

I had a lathe bed reground years ago by a company called Grout & Darlington, I don't know if they are still around, I do know it will cost quite a bit so way up if the machine is worth rebuilding.

I have tried to get some response from a company here advertising way grinding...flash website, friendly telephone operator, no answer about my job though. Why do people bother advertising a service that no staff member knows anything about?

Anyway...I have decided to hand scrape my ways back into true for various reasons. While daunting, tool intensive and complex, it may be something for you to consider if you can't get an affordable grind job.

Greg

I thought of that for my Atlas, it has a flat bed, and the saddle has brass shims to adjust, but if it's going to cost that much I don't think I'll do it, that is if I could find some one in Brissy to start with.
BTW, I'm puting together my web site, if you like to check out some of my toys, you're most wellcome, Cheers.
http://www.freewebs.com/richardstoys

I had a lathe bed reground about 6 months ago by Machine Tool Automation in Mona Vale.

The contact is John Tatum - (02) 9979 4866
2 By The Sea Rd, Mona Vale, 2103

He is advertising in Australian Model Engineer magazine. Tell him that is is a hobby machine. He does these as fill-in jobs - don't expect to get it back in a week. My Harrison took about 6 weeks.

When I was talking to him last December, a Hercus rebuild was ~ $550.

Bedways reground, saddle machined & scraped to fit, compound slides scraped to fit, feed rack lowered.

If your machine is a "C" (no powered crossfeed) you could leave the feed rack where it is and machine the top of the apron to raise the apron. That's what I did on my son's Advance lathe which was also reground by John.

The Advance is a flat bed with outside dovetails so quite easy to regrind. Saddle was scraped to fit. ~$220.

This company used to be in Annandale for many years as Hardwick & Tatum.

These prices assume that you strip & rebuild.

Hope this helps someone.

Findlay

Originally Posted by MacPuddock

I had a lathe bed reground about 6 months ago by Machine Tool Automation in Mona Vale....

...When I was talking to him last December, a Hercus rebuild was ~ $550....

Bedways reground, saddle machined & scraped to fit, compound slides scraped to fit, feed rack lowered.

These prices assume that you strip & rebuild.
Findlay

Man that's cheap. Thanks for the information. What was the quality of the grinding? Was any mention made of using turcite or moglice to build the saddle back up to spec? (Rather than shimming everything down?)

Greg

I did inquire about using one of the Way rebuilding materials for the Harrison and he does do it but was not keen in my case. I think that basically it added a lot of work to the job.

Grinding & scraping is good, this is a hardened bed. Most wear was in the saddle but the bed had wear at the headstock end.

I have not quite finished the rebuild yet, I have lowered the lead / feed screw assembly but have not yet finalised it (some minor issues I have not yet solved to my satisfaction). I still have thoughts of putting Moglice under the saddle and returning all other parts to standard. That would not be difficult since all the alignment work is done. The tailstock will simply be shimmed.

Findlay.