Member postings for Brian Hall

I collected the lathe today and have started another thread here with photos and questions.

regards

Brian

I picked up the SABEL lathe today and have to say, I am very pleased with the purchase. Below are some photos to show the condition together with the inevitable questions

The lathe has been used at some time for wood turning and there is sawdust in quite a few places where it probably shouldn't be as will be seen in the photos.

Having the lathe in my own workshop allows a much better evaluation of its condition. With my very limited knowledge of these things this is what I have concluded and would welcome any comments.

The sawdust is clearly a problem and will need to be cleaned out properly before I run the lathe properly.

The cross slide and top slide seem to run smoothly not being too tight or too loose. The handle holding the tool post was quite stiff but easily freed up with a little brute force persuasion. The bolts for holding the tools are seized up and will need to be freed.

There is some wear in the bed as I should probably expect. Moving the saddle from the headstock end to the tailstock end shows some tightening but I do not believe it to be excessive, certainly not too much for the level of accuracy I am likely to require.

The headstock mandrel has some play which I can feel and hear but it is very slight and I cannot see the movement although my grandson with better eyesight than mine says he can see it move ever so slightly. I believe it should be possible to tighten this up.

The first photos show the headstock with the gear cover removed and the sawdust is clearly visible as is a small amount of surface rust on the pulleys:

The next couple of photos show the saddle and a view from the tailstock end:

The motor and pulley assembly follow:

The next picture shows the stand mounted on wheels...!

So some questions if I may.

What is the best way to clean up all the sawdust? I have in my head that if I remove the brackets holding the headstock pulleys & mandrel I should be able to get inside to give everything a good clean. I should be able to adjust any play in the mandrel at the same time. Is this thinking correct?

I started a discussion here about leveling the lathe and am sure that most people would agree with me that whatever your views on leveling, wheels are probably not a good thing to have on a lathe stand. I am thinking of removing the wheels and using the holes to bolt the stand to the floor.

I have loads more questions but should probably leave it here for now as I have rambled on long enough.

Any and all comments gratefully received

regards

Brian

I certainly didn't intend opening up such a can of worms with my simple question, mind you it has all made very interesting reading even if I don't understand a lot of what has been written.

As for my original question "Would not a normal level be sufficient?", I think the answer to that is a resounding yes and that I should make sure, as far as I am able, to set the lathe up with minimal twist in the bedways - I will do my best.

I have learned a few unexpected things from this topic, not least of which is to remember what I have already read. I refer to Harold Hall's first post with the link to his site. Harold, what you describe on your website is of course in your Lathe book which I have owned for a number of years but forgotten about. You'll be pleased to know that I have started reading it again

I have also finally figured out who Tubal Cain is/was. I have been watching a guy in America (mrpete222 on youtube) who calls himself Tubal Cain but have now realised he is just using it as a pen name as indeed was Tom Walshaw writing for Model Engineer.

I was also pleased to learn about College Engineering Supplies, thank you Graham, a very useful source of materials for the small hobbyist such as myself.

I am collecting the lathe tomorrow so we shall see,

Regards

Brian

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I can see that the main criteria is obviously twist, or should I say the avoidance of it.

I will have to see how I get on when I get the lathe this weekend. Probably won't get it all set up for a week or two as it needs a good clean as I re-assemble it.

regards

Brian

I have now Thor, thanks,

regards

Brian

Rico is my here

I think health & safety is in the eye of the beholder

regards

Brian

Hi there,

In thinking about picking up my SABEL lathe next weekend, I have been reading about installing it and the issue of levelling is often mentioned with the use of an (expensive) engineer's level.

My question is, how important is it to use an engineer's level when setting up the lathe? Would not a normal level be sufficient?

regards

Brian

Thanks Norman,

I have already found that newsgroup and downloaded the user manual & parts list but thanks anyway. The only thing I get confused with newsgroups as all the messages seem to be mixed up and just listed in the order they are posted. Not like on forums where things are more organised.

Still another useful resource nevertheless,

regards

Brian

Well, I went to look at the lathe yesterday and for better or for worse have agreed to buy it. It is situated in a tiny village called Y Fron in the hills above Caernarfon in North Wales. Very bleak & misty up there yesterday but a beautiful place with stunning views when the weather is fine.

I will be collecting it in two weeks time and it will have to be dismantled somewhat in order to move it. I looked at a Colchester Student a couple of months ago but that one was just huge, far too big for me. This SABEL is a lot more manageable.

As for the condition of the lathe, while I am no expert, everything did seem to be in quite reasonable condition. There is some surface rust but this can easily be cleaned up. I think it will teach me a lot about the lathe just moving it and cleaning it and during that process I should get a good feel for how it is going to operate.

The lathe used to belong to the sellers father who has apparently bought a larger Boxford and no longer has need of this one

At £200 it does appear to be a real bargain and there is a wooden box included that contains a 3 jaw self centering chuck, a 4 jaw independent chuck, drill chuck for the tailstock and a faceplate together with a few other bits & pieces. Even if I don't take up this hobby of small engineering, which I doubt, I am sure, as Bazyle indicates above, I should have no trouble moving it on.

So people, expect a few (no - a lot) of silly novice questions in the coming months

regards

Brian

Watch very little on the box as it is.

I am mainly a woodworker and like to think quite practical too, not averse to a bit of blood, sweat & tears. I've been watching some youtube videos and reading books about engineering and am keen to have a go.

No idea what I want to make but some of the books I've been reading have plenty of tool projects to get me going.

The lathe is being sold by a member of our local woodturners club.

regards

Brian

The following is how it has been described on the email that the owner has sent with the photo:

'This lathe is in working order, but needs a bit of TLC to bring it back to its former self.
It is at least 40 years old and has been stored for the last 10 years.
It is 240v single phase and included are 3 & 4 jaw chucks, centres and various tools.'

I called him on the phone and that was when he told me it was working okay but just needed a good clean up. It has been run occasionally while in storage to keep it running okay.

I would have thought that a faceplate would make a worthwhile project for me to make, surely it is just a piece of steel (round of course) with holes/slots in it and a suitable thread to fasten it to the headstock.

Olly does make me wonder but then Ady's comments are quite encouraging.

regards

Brian

Here is a photo of the lathe:

regards

Brian

Thanks Michael,

I have only seen a photo of the lathe so far and it looks okay to me. The owner assures me that it is functioning okay but just needs a good clean. The issue with the availability & price of spares seems to be an issue with a lot of older lathes so I guess if I buy it I will have to live with that. The lathe is being offered for £200 so that sounds like a bargain to me.

I'll let you know how I get on

regards

Brian

As a novice in this world of small engineering, I am still looking for a lathe. I may have the oportunity to purchase a Smart & Brown SABEL Engineering Lathe and wonder what you good folks think of it's suitability for a none-engineer like me.

regards

Brian