Member postings for David Standing 1

Lucky man, if only my life were that simple!

I have projects/machines that are:

Metric

BA

BSF

BSW

BSP

UNF

UNEF

UNC

Brass

Cycle

Enfield small arms standard

And probably some more I have forgotten!

See posts #3 and #5

Decades ago it would have been oversteer, today drifting.

A photograph, as ever in these situations, would help!

If I recall correctly, at one time under the Motor Vehicle Construction and Use Regulations in force at that time, from a safety point of view, handbrake mechanisms had to be mechanical, and not hydraulic, operated. The drum within a disc arrangement got round this requirement.

Douglas

If you didn't know, you might like to note this thread:

**LINK**

My recently acquired Student has the start/stop/forward/reverse switch located on the saddle (the big red knob in the photo, stop in centre, up for reverse, down for forward)).

Very safe and very handy!

Reduce your tool overhang too, if you can.

Edited By David Standing 1 on 15/04/2019 21:18:08

I do not like synthetic brushes, they flick paint, and do not flow as well as real bristle.

Also, if your paper is immediately clogging with paint, the paint is too soft/hasn't fully gone off.

When you say sandpaper, do you really mean sandpaper? Sandpaper will fall apart if wet, only wet and dry will work wet.

I spent years working in bodyshops, so do have a bit of background in paint prep and finishing.

Remember if making a comparison that you are brush painting, and the manufacturers spray paint.

I like your humour

A photograph would help

Karl

254 accessories are as rare as hens teeth.

If you don't buy the taper turning attachment that is available, chances are it will be gone. Home & Workshop Machinery had one, that has gone.

Bill

If it helps, the Boxford has gone

Lathe wise I have the Colchester, Myford 254S and Myford Speed 10 now.

Nigel

There is space to get between the 254S and the Student to get to the coolant tank - albeit on hands and knees!

Hopper

I believe the previous report was that they were selling some of their production machinery (like surface grinders, probably used in the X10 production process), and the building was up for sale.

My take on it after talking to the Boxford spares staff is that they are selling the site - which if you look has masses of unused space - robably to raise funds for a smaller site.

It appears they are concentrating on CNC machines and 3D printers, so will probably buy in production from the far east, possibly made to their spec, so just be a box shifter and not need the existing space.

Rumours of the factory being 'closed down' are just that I believe. They were certainly there when I spoke to them eight days ago.

Steve

It's a matter of logistics.

Three lathes, three milling machines, two large benches, a Clarkson grinder, pedestal grinder, floor standing drill, floor standing polisher and various storage cabinets have to all share the same space!

The Student is that way round so I can get the change wheel door open, and pass material through the spindle.

It sits back to back with my Myford 254S as that is the most economical use of space.

Ideally I would have it flat to the wall, but there is already a tall tool cabinet, Myford 254S, and a Warco WM18 along the same wall!

Colin, you do have a set of mismatched jaws.

Pratt Burnerd are very much still in business, part of the 600 Group that owns, amongst other things, Colchester and Harrison.

If looking for a new set of PB supplied jaws, make sure you are sitting down first.

The 3 jaw 30M chucks might be made for Myford, but they do have a separate backplate, it is just they were supplied with the correct backplate for Myford.

It is more likely a jaw problem than a backplate problem.

It will probably be cheaper to get a good s/h chuck than buy a new set of genuine PB jaws from PB.

For starters, I would try and borrow a known accurate chuck from someone nearby and try that on your lathe, so you know the chuck is the problem.

Edited By David Standing 1 on 25/03/2019 15:05:16

Nope, not a what shall I buy thread, i've already bought it

I have had my eye on a Colchester Student 2500 for a while as an upgrade, and one came along in the right condition at the right price last week - so I grabbed it.

Deal done last Monday, installed in my workshop on Saturday.

330mm swing x 1,000mm between centres.

40mm spindle bore.

The current Student 2500 and Harrison M300 are identical, just a matter of the different stickers.

The previous owner bought it direct from the factory in 2013, and didn't use it.

I spent a chunk of Saturday cleaning the remainder of the protective coating off that it came out of the factory with, but apart from a little bit of swarf from test cuts, I can't find evidence it has ever been used, which was what I was told by the dealer I bought it off.

I need to upgrade my rotary converter (the 2500 has a 3 hp motor), it will then be time to make swarf!

For anyone unaware, Boxford have ceased production of the X10 series lathes - 10.20, 10.30, 280, 330 etc.

Many of the accessories - some steadies etc are already obsolete.

Boxford are still stocking spares, but I suspect their days are numbered too.

If you want spares, I would buy them sooner rather than later.

End of an era, no manual lathes are now made by Boxford.