What lathe?

[Stihl 041S]

I'm probably going to have a similar talk with my son in a few years, only difference is that we don't live in town.

Respect for skilled traded.

You know you are a Machinist or Logger when you know 10% of what you THOUGHT you knew 10 years ago...........

 

[machinisttx]

Respect for skilled traded.

You know you are a Machinist or Logger when you know 10% of what you THOUGHT you knew 10 years ago...........

Whenever my previous employer asked me anything, I always said "I don't know, I'm a dumb:censored: ". Even when I was just starting out, I sort of figured those old fellers just might be able to teach me something. But yeah, even when you think you know, you don't. It's never the same.

 

[dozerdan]

I hate to revive a real old thread. Is a simplex lathe a good one? It's an older unit 10x24".

Can you describe this critter for me.?
Was it set up origanaly for a line shaft or does it have its own motor?
Was it built in US or Belgium?
I ran a 14" lathe in the early 70s that was built in Belgium, made by Mondial but had the Simplex marking. I would drive a few hundred miles to get one if the price was right. If it is one of the older ones built in the US set up for a line shaft, I would pass on it.

Later
Dan

 

[Bill G]

From the pictures/info at the website that Stihl041S mentioned, those machines will be ancient designs by today's standards. They appear to have been designed to be run from lineshafts in an industrial setting and not have an electric motor integral to the design. ..............................

There are quite a bit of line shaft tools still being used here everyday. It is true many have been converted to use a overhead electric motor but there are still guys with line shafts. Simple power for multiple machines.

Bill

 

[LegDeLimber]

DozrDan, shoot man aint nothing wrong with an old lineshaft rig
if you don't mind setting up a power unit for it.
As (i think it was machinisttx) said if all wear areas are in spec
clean it up and keep the drip cups filled and enjoy the advance in your options!

machinisttx, I've run into that "wrong hand" acme thread issue (once thankfully).
cross slide was the spot and danged job I was given had something in the range of
inch & half bore , 7~8 inches deep, blind hole of course (been a while, exact numbers fade)

anyhoo..hole drilled & bored to spec, now I get to set my travel indicator
and single point the internal thread and *not* reflexively spin the handle
in the "normal" direction at the end of the cut with each pass.
oh you know darn well it was one of those old metal bin on skids
full of the parts to run.

the ancient mig gun with jumper wires in the feed controller was an adventure in burnbacks and bird nests in the feed rollers.

Had just come back to NC and needed to get a paycheck and ended up there.
...got the hell out of that place as fast as I could too.

 

[machinisttx]

There are quite a bit of line shaft tools still being used here everyday. It is true many have been converted to use a overhead electric motor but there are still guys with line shafts. Simple power for multiple machines.

Bill

Yep, lots of those machines are still plenty good to make parts on. I'd run one if I had it, but I sure wouldn't go to any extra effort to find one. I'd rather have a machine 20-30 years newer with an integral motor, quick change gear box, and a geared head(although I do like the sound of a leather belt driven machine).

 

[dozerdan]

I am fully aware of the capabilities of the older lathes that were driven with a line shaft. I own one that will swing 30" and is a little over 76" between centers. I use it very little but it does come in handy.

The Simplex Machine Tool Co. closed its doors in 1924. That's why I asked for the county that it was built in. To me that's old, darn old and I would not recommend anyone get something like that for their first lathe. There is plenty of newer lathes out there that can be picked up at a good price if you look around and don't get in a hurry.

I actually like the older US built lathes, just not that far back in time. I had a small 13x36 Sheldon I used for years that was probably built in the 50s.

I picked this one up for 500.00 a few years ago. Its an Italian built Troglia. Deals are out there for newer lathes.
View attachment 299073

Later
Dan

 

[Mastermind]

I am fully aware of the capabilities of the older lathes that were driven with a line shaft. I own one that will swing 30" and is a little over 76" between centers. I use it very little but it does come in handy.

The Simplex Machine Tool Co. closed its doors in 1924. That's why I asked for the county that it was built in. To me that's old, darn old and I would not recommend anyone get something like that for their first lathe. There is plenty of newer lathes out there that can be picked up at a good price if you look around and don't get in a hurry.

I actually like the older US built lathes, just not that far back in time. I had a small 13x36 Sheldon I used for years that was probably built in the 50s.

I picked this one up for 500.00 a few years ago. Its an Italian built Troglia. Deals are out there for newer lathes.
View attachment 299073

Later
Dan

I feel so inadequate..... :msp_unsure:

 

[Metals406]

I feel so inadequate..... :msp_unsure:

Said the guy WITH a lathe! Care to rejoin us hand mandrel guys? Come back to us Randy!

One of us. . . One of us. . . One of us. . . One of us. . .

 

[Mastermind]

Said the guy WITH a lathe! Care to rejoin us hand mandrel guys? Come back to us Randy!

One of us. . . One of us. . . One of us. . . One of us. . .

LMAO Nate.

I have a 9 X 20 Chinese lathe........that I've already had to make several modifications on.

It ain't a real lathe. :msp_unsure:

 

[dozerdan]

LMAO Nate.

I have a 9 X 20 Chinese lathe........that I've already had to make several modifications on.

It ain't a real lathe. :msp_unsure:

I thought that you purchased a larger one ?

Later
Dan

 

[Mastermind]

I thought that you purchased a larger one ?

Later
Dan

I was using a 7 X 14......

 

[dozerdan]

I was using a 7 X 14......

OK

I don't know why but I was thinking that you picked up a lathe with a 10" swing.

Later
Dan

 

[machinisttx]

LMAO Nate.

I have a 9 X 20 Chinese lathe........that I've already had to make several modifications on.

It ain't a real lathe. :msp_unsure:

You shouldn't have much trouble finding an older South Bend 9" with a quick change gearbox. The speed selection on them is limited, but they're good little machines and there are tons of them out there. Prices generally aren't too bad either.

 

[LegDeLimber]

Dang, I lose track of who's got what tools around here.
sorry if I end up blabbering on about things that anyone already has or knows about.

P.S. I'm just a pinch envious of all y'all with access to or possession of a tool room sized lathe
and a decent mill.

 

[machinisttx]

Dang, I lose track of who's got what tools around here.
sorry if I end up blabbering on about things that anyone already has or knows about.

P.S. I'm just a pinch envious of all y'all with access to or possession of a tool room sized lathe
and a decent mill.

It ain't the machines that cost money, it's the tooling. Here's one that I used to run. Horizontal Machining Center | MAG1 5-Axis CNC Machine

 

[046]

It ain't the machines that cost money, it's the tooling.

tooling can cost as much as the lathe ... always on the lookout for deals on tooling for my trusty 9in Southbend.
last year purchased another Southbend lathe loaded with tooling for $550 (quick change collet set, QC tool holder, $2k+ of Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, etc tools, etc etc) ... sold 9in lathe without tooling for $1,500 or way too cheap, still had original paper sticker on some pieces. talk about a mint machine!!

the guy that purchase the mint 9in Southbend sure was happy! if I had more room in my garage, would have kept that lathe .. oh well ..

later I'm seeing fully restored 9in Southbend lathes priced at $5,500 ... wonder if they actually sell for those ridiculous prices...

 

[machinisttx]

tooling can cost as much as the lathe ... always on the lookout for deals on tooling for my trusty 9in Southbend.
last year purchased another entire Southbend lathe loaded with tooling (quick change collet set, tool holder, butt load of precision tools, etc etc) ... sold 9in lathe without tooling for $1,500 or way too cheap, still had original paper sticker on some pieces. talk about a mint machine!!

the guy that purchase the mint 9in Southbend sure was happy!

later I'm seeing fully restored 9in Southbend lathes priced at $5,500 ... wonder if they actually sell for those ridiculous prices...

I'm surprised to see that anyone paid $1500 for a 9" SB with no tooling. My SB Heavy 10 with underdrive cabinet cost me $600. The only significant wear I could find was the compound screw.

 

[wise wood]

Having been around machinery(42 years as a tool & die guy) I wouldn't go smaller than 10 " on a S.B. Reason is spindle hole is to small
on smaller lathe. A "heavy" 10" has about 1 3/8 I D if I remember correctly . You are only gonna buy once go a little larger than you think you need.
you wont regret it down the road when you get that job that is a bit larger than normal.
Wise Wood

 

[machinisttx]

Having been around machinery(42 years as a tool & die guy) I wouldn't go smaller than 10 " on a S.B. Reason is spindle hole is to small
on smaller lathe. A "heavy" 10" has about 1 3/8 I D if I remember correctly . You are only gonna buy once go a little larger than you think you need.
you wont regret it down the road when you get that job that is a bit larger than normal.
Wise Wood

Yep, the 9" and the "light 10" have small spindle bores. You're correct on the heavy 10. I think somewhere around 12-13" of swing is a pretty decent size for most folks.

Props to the tool and die makers. I learned a lot from them in my first couple years, before I went to another shop. Been a while since I worked with anyone I'd call a toolmaker. Worked with a lot of guys on the blacksmith level though. LOL.