Member postings for Paul Smith 37

Have you a model type? whats the spindle capacity?

Well so far ive gleaned there were two manufacturers of the big bore spindle headstock, one was Roy Milner who has packed up doing them, and theres Myford themself, who are closed due to the Corona and i dont know wether or not they will supply said big bore spindle headstock on its own as a kit. Regs Pauly

£14k crikey o riley. ill leave that there.

Thanks Andrew

Thanks Dave. ill check them out

Thanks Mr Banders

Thanks Mr Duffer

So what chinese lathes are any good?

Ive also wondered about boring out the spindle and keeping a spare to swap back should i need to.

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 05/04/2020 19:39:12

That connoisseur will be big bucks , fat end of 8k id say. But tanks for the heads up.!Im not a collector, i want to use it. Quite why you'd want to collect lathes is beyond me , watches are easier to store.

Thats a good and comprehensive read that. well put together !

I thought you could get an MT4 to MT2 adaptor? This one

Well this has probably been done to death, but ill ask the latest opinion.

Ive bought a Myford ML10 Metric a while ago, its a great little machine, but after a while i find myself hankering for a bigger unit. Its got a raft of extras with it, but i find myself being limited by what the unit can do. I hastily bought it without doing my research first. Im limited by the MT2 in the headstock.

The foot print of the lathe is great, small, compact and light. It makes a great finish and is very capable, to a point.

So my next route up is an ML7 with a big bore kit. Roy Milner has stopped making them, i messaged him a few days ago.Myford themselves make a big bore lathe based on the ML7 , wether they will sell me just a big bore headstock i i dont know.?They are closed at the moment. Do you know anybody else who makes one?

Roy was doing the headstock for £1500. Now you can buy a new lathe for that, but it will be chinese but 26mm capable.

I hear Warco and Chester gets good reviews, but also some terrible ones too. I prefer to stay English i think.

So i think ill change my route to an Myford ML7 and find the metric conversion for it, and try and find a big bore headstock .So the question is, which ML7?

One of the gearbox versions seems to be the way to go, whilst im changing over.

The other limiting factor is the space i dont have, the ML7 will fit, but a Boxford or similar toolroom lathe wont.

Im doing general fabrication of tools and log splitters,belt sanders etc for a hobby, i cant for one fit a 17mm shaft thru the headstock as its mt2.

Ive a 52 inch width available , slighty more if the unit can be pushed in at an angle then squared up afterwards due to a shelving support, which i could move if i have to.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.

Your views are greatly received.

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 05/04/2020 12:11:46

Digging up an old thread,

NIck..Did you strip your headstock and have you any details and bearing numbers? Ive contacted Roy Milner and hes not making any more big bore headstocks.

So i may attempt it myself with a bit of help.

Thanks Pauly

My angle of attack was to refurbish the lathe, Bearing in mind the machine is circa 50 years old.

Im waiting for parts for other jobs so i thought id crack on and rebuild it.Its a nice machine and thought id go for it and give it a service.Its very usable and does stuff you wouldnt expect from a machine of its size.

Ive found some new leadscrew half nuts, and found the supplier for a DRO for the tailstock,which now works lovely rather than being really stiff to use.

Stuff thats worn is relatively easy to replace so i cracked on with it.

Im deeply disappointed with Mssrs Myford Ltd. I asked for the specs of the leadscrew or can they sell me one? Their reply was less than ideal, no you cant have the spec, and no we cant make you one.Cosmic...........

So remind me to buy a new one,HAH it wont be a new .....Myford ......for sure.I will replace the leadscrew it as i want to use it to its full potential with all its features.i bought it with retirement on the horizon and i needed a garage hobby after work is done so wanted it shipshape.

Ive worked with machines and vehicles all my career, and stuff that i find worn, i replace.OCD i guess.

Well ive set the compound slide to 14 and 15 degrees,trying to get it one 14.5 deg was nye on impossible with my eyes, thus 28 and 30deg and i think the 30 deg one fits better, thus pointing to an acme thread. I was difficult becuase even though i cleaned the leadscrew with brake cleaner, the fluid kept jumping across the gap,The 30mm pencil was solid in the thread whereas the 28 was a tad wobbly

I spoke to halifax rack n screw today, and he said its defineately an acme thread too, and hes compiling a quote for a plain threaded bar i can finish.If the quote is reasonable does anybody else want one for a group buy?

thanks Pauly.

I wonder if i can turn up some metal rod in the lathe , one at 29 deg and one at 30deg, take off the points at the correct depth and try them in the thread, now theres an idea.

ive got the lathe in bits, ill rebuild it and get busy on it 

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 15/03/2020 20:29:45

Ok ive checked the ML10, it is capable of machining a 3mm pitch thread.Somehow if i could make the cutting tool,what steel would people recommend ?

Im going to have a bash and make this myself with a dodgy leadscrew.This is going to be fun.

This is another good source of info

**LINK**

So the question is, does anybody know where i can get a new leadscrew made?Its way above my station, ive still got my L plates on!

.Id be ok making the threaded bar fit, but making the thread is another matter.Bearing in mind my lead screw is worn too.

cheers chaps !

Ive put up some pictures on this thread **LINK**

The top section is the worn bit

And the bit above is the good bit.

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 15/03/2020 18:26:50

another angle shot

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 15/03/2020 18:29:21

Ill put up a picture tonight, im out for lunch right now, maybe somebody could identify it?

Ive measured the leadscrew which is about 15.87mm max width, which i take that to be a 16mm size,but i cant find a 3mm pitch, either 4 or 8.

well thats frustrating..