Member postings for Martin Lowe

Thanks to everyone who's given their advice, good to get information from so many folk.

I have stripped the Richmond, cleaned / oiled the slides, set the gibs, replaced the thrust bearings on the X axis and it moves very smoothly - not an easy job lifting the table, cross slide and knee assembly tho', not something to do every week! The 'handle' for x axis is a crank lever (not a handwheel), so it's not very good for fine adjustment. Good to know that some folk have used a X/Y table on their milling table so may well go that route.

On the other hand, a smaller bench mill would be useful for accurate drilling as well as milling, so will probably go for one as well as the X/Y table. I'm getting quite confused as to which to go for in the £1300 - £1800 bracket and many suppliers are out of stock in this price/size range at present so there'll be plenty of time to decide. If anyone has any comments as to the pros and cons of the Sieg SX2 / SX3, Warco VM range, Chester Champion 20 / 30, I'd appreciate them very much. I will be putting a DRO set onto it as thinking about it one should be very useful on a milling machine

Thanks again

Martin

Roger, thanks for that information. I'd not thought of ebay for such things, I'll check up on there very soon. As you say, horses for courses.

Many Thanks

Martin

Dave, thanks for your comments re the V20 and also the DRO - I've got one on the lathe and it's one of those things that I wouldn't be without now but I hadn't really thought about one for the mill. Good advice about the stand, even though I'll be bench mounting at present this may change in the future so I'll keep your advice in mind. Good idea re the fans, not something I'd have thought to do!

Thanks again

Martin

Thanks for the advice, I have seen these adaptors but didn't know how well they'd work.. Good to know that from your experience they do. I have drill chucks with MT2 shanks, so I will be able to use those as well.

Great to get advice like this, I'm not entirely inexperienced but just use what tooling I have and it's good to get advice on areas that I know little about. I'm not a 'spring chicken' but always willing to learn from folk with more experience than me.

I take it you don't think much of my idea to use and X/Y table bolted to the Richmond table?

Thanks again

Martin

Thank for the quick reply and a very goog point.

The Halco has #7 B&S taper and I use a MT2 Clarkson S type collet sytem with a taper adapter sleeve . Old hat I know but it's what it came with years ago.

I've thought about getting an ER32 collet system and will probably go for a MT2 for the Halco and if I need an R8 as well for a new machine then that's ok. I've got quite a few straightshank cutters as well as the threaded cutter for the Clarkson.

What I'd like to know is what others think of the pros and cons of either 'solution' and any comments on the new machines.

Thanks again

Martin

Hi

Could anyone give me advice / comments on this 'problem'. I have a Richmond horizontal milling machine with a Halco 'universal' head (http://www.lathes.co.uk/bridgeport/page5.html) attached to the top arm. It is a heavy, 'industrial' machine with heavy knee / table, ie it doesn't move easily or vibrate when used! It's at least 70 years old and looks 'old fashioned' not 'shiny and new' but that's no problem as it is very good at removing large amounts of material and it can take large items eg cylinder heads. The 'problem' is that it is rather cumbersome when working on small items as the X / Y handles are quite large and quite a distance from the quill of the Halco head. I've been considering a couple of solutions to this and would welcome any advice / comments on them.

1 - Buy an small X / Y table to mount on the table of the Richmond. THis would allow me to work closer to the Halco head and make finer movements than I can with the richmond table. Obviously I'd lock up the X/Y slides on the Richmond table. I would need to use the Richmond knee for Z movement and the fine feed on the Halco for cut depth.

2 - Buy a smaller, benchtop milling machine. I have been looking at the Sieg SX3 / Warco WM 18 or GH 18 / Chester Champion 20VS or 30VS. I would mount this on a workbench and woudl be in addition to the Richmond and my drill press.

I know the best solution woudl be to sell the Richmond and buy a newer Bridgeport style milling machine but funds will not allow this and the height of a Bridgeport would be a problem in my 'workshop' shed.

I have a Chester Crusader lathe which I am very happy with and live in south Lancashire, not far away from the Chester 'shop' so can visit when I'm allowed.

Any advice/comments would be most welcome as I am getting more confused by the minute!

Thanks in anticipation

Martin

For insulation material, look on the Secondsandco website (https://www.secondsandco.co.uk) and give them a ring. They sell seconds and overstock Kingspan and the like for much less than other places. I've bought from them twice - once for my original workshop and then for an extension - both times they were excellent prices and very helpful delivery drivers.

I agree with Jason about using ply rather than OSB, much better finish and much easier to drive screws into when fitting shelves.

Hope this helps

Martin

Just used an Aldi sharpening grinder for the first time since I bought it a while ago, it did a reasonable job on the kitchen knives.

Thought this video would bring a smile to your faces!

Cheers

Martin

Would these be any use?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Copper-Sealing-Washers-Metric-M4-M6-M8-M10-M12-M14-M16-M20-Flat-Seal-Washer/123038741250?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D52945%26meid%3D49a3de722be74d0eafd4dc7b0a4b4c7c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D292621025969%26itm%3D123038741250&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Or these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-to-27mm-Internal-Diameter-Copper-Compression-Washers-Oil-Seal-Crush-Sump-/272746503102

Cheers

Martin

The lathe arrived yesterday at about 10.00am, the driver got near to the workshop before the pallet truck grounded - he should have waited for me to lay out the next OSB board and it would have got even closer. Phoned my 2 'recruits' and they arrived half an hour later, I got all my steel bar rollers, large wooden blocks and 'persuader' bar ready for action (had these from a few years ago when I moved my Richmond miller). The lathe was on a wooden base with 3 'skids' which in turn was on a pallet, there was a plywood case covering it and 2 boxes on top held together with plastic strapping.

My neighbour wasn't at work yesterday, so he came to check on things. He then became involved on the operation, good to have his help as he used to work in heavy haulage!

The base of the pallet was in bad condition, so it was decided to get the lathe off and use the rollers under the 'skids'. So strapping cut, boxes removed, plywood case removed, inside the case was the catchplate, faceplate, drip tray, backpanels, footbrake bar and several boxes - all of which were removed to reduce weight.

So we now had the lathe on it's wooden delivery base with skids, using OSB sheets to 'level' the ground it was rollered to the door. At the end, it had to be turned through 90deg to be inline with the door. Now. it was raised about 10" to go over the door threshold using wooden blocks and levers. My neighbour controlling the operation!

It's now in the workshop, with case panels, OSB boards, wooden blocks and rollers abandoned all around - my job for today is to tidy up!

I'll have to move the miller and do some other jobs before it's put on the stand and 'commissioned'. Unfortunately this could take a few weeks because of other commitments. At least the lathe is in he workshop and it didn't rain!

I took a few photos, which I'll post when I get time later.

It's been several months since I asked for advice on a lathe purchase. I decided on a Chester Crusader Deluxe after weighing up all the advice and it's being delivered on Wednesday (4 Nov). I've had to put an extension on my workshop which has taken a while and, as always, other things have got in the way. After I've got the lathe in place, the miller has to be moved and benching, cupboards and shelves made - should be a busy time!

So, hopefully, I will be up and running soon.

Thanks again to all who gave advice, it's really appreciated.

Martin

Wow, such a lot of info to take in! I wasn't expecting so many answers, thanks to everyone who has responded. There's loads for me to absorb and think about. For the projects I'm thinking about, I need at least 1.5" spindle bore and 36" centers, that's why I'm looking at these lathes. I don't really know how to assess a used lathe, so that's why I thought a new one would be better for me (can't afford a new M300 either!). In the dim distant past (when at school) I did use a Kerry and have owned a Holbrook SC1 ( a large beast that started it's life at Cammel Lairds), an ex school Boxford (with change wheels and a bit chewed up) and now a Myford (it's been great up to now but a bit small). Now I'm retired, I want to start on some projects that have been in mind for a while. I'm not going to be using the lathe all day every day - too many other interests!!

I've been to look at the Chester lathes and was advised that the Crusader Deluxe would be a good choice, so now i'll have to make a decision.

I've also got a miller (an old Richmond series 01 with Halco head) which is a solid machine, so I just need to learn how to use them properly!

Thanks again to everyone who's provided information, I really appreciate it.

Martin

Hi Derek

I'll look out for any info from "bogstandard", I need all the help I can get at this stage!!

Thanks again

Martin

I'm in the process of looking for a new lathe. At present I have a Myford ML7 and need a larger lathe, about 12" x 36" size. The models I am considering are the Chester Crusader, Warco GH1236 and the Excel D320 x 920. I would appreciate any comments about these lathes. I live in the north west, so Chester is quite close.

Thanks

Martin