Member postings for Robert Grain

It's certainly handy to know people that have those skills to reproduce items like that. I have sent a couple of Emails off to engineering companies locally to see if they would look at making a unit and a Coventry based company they say they deal with piston spraying so I thought they might be used to the precision required that does metal spraying.

I have already learned that from here so thank you very much I didn't know that was possible before now.

I am going to give the measuring the runout a go first and then once I know how worn it is I will then make the decision to letting someone else take up the reins and me getting a different lathe or continue to resurrect this one, although I do want to keep this one if possible.

There's no rush because it's only for learning the ropes of metal turning.

I imagine the Tap would be ideal for a loan item not any everyday thread of that size.

I must admit I have had a sneaky peak at Boxford lathes too. it seems everyone needs 2 lathes to mend the other one .

I doubt I am the only one that has talked themself into that theory on here Hopper

Thanks

Rob

Hello Howard

Thank you very much for the message and fantastic information. With luck, I am installing a computer system at an Engineering firm, and Might just happen to have the spindle and bearings with me to see if they will help. I think I need to learn the art of scraping by the Sounds of it although the Crossslide seems very deep and will probably need to be built up, I have a tig and I have been learning that on my own in the garage making the CNC and 2 pieces of metal stick together and not too messily so I will have to see if I can see if tig will weld to Cast and what rods to use.

I'm a little worried about running out of talent when I'm working with things like this without any experience but there is only one way to learn.

I have Patience but the time & cash thing is more of a stumbling block but at the moment it will be good to return it to what it would have been,

I don't think I'm too much of a purist that I will use the green though I like the grey (I remember spitting image with John major just being grey and dull, now its the colour to have) I love being down with the kids.

I must admit I like the idea of being able to make threads so the adapter will certainly be on my list to make when it's up and running.

Everything in my life seems to take longer than originally I think it will but I always keep chipping away at them so if it isn't going to take too much money I will keep going, Although I also have my eye out for a local ML7 if one comes up.

I will certainly keep you posted on progress.

Thank you

Rob

Hello Hopper

Thanks for the message I think I know what you have in your workshop and more than one . It does seem a fulfilling part of the hobby taking something that looks like it should be more of a scrap yard resident and turning it into a precise instrument that gleams in the workshop.

Hello Hopper

Thank you very much I will try that and see what I get on there, Thank you very much for the link I will have a look at that too. It sounds like a good challenge to get started on.

Thanks

Rob

Hello Hopper thank you very much for the information, I will speak to a couple of engineering firms I will have to have a look around to see who does it around here.

I was wondering what the amount of movement should be and so very much different, I can feel the difference with my fingers but also the vernier caliper just sliding along picks the difference without even needing a micrometer.

The bearings are definitely worn inside and also there is a step on the outer face too. I have started to look for a ball bearing system but the sizes don't seem to be a standard but I have been working in metric so it would be a possible Inch size I might need to look for, (every day is a School Day time to learn imperial properly then ) would there way at home that I could find if the bed is worn at all? I have a dial indicator If I put it on the slide and then used the bed as a reference would that be good enough to find if it is worn. there is certainly wear on the Cross slide it is quite dug in but I wasn't sure if that would still be okay because I could maybe shim the Cutting tool to get to the centre and still get the accuracy.

It would be a shame if it can't be used but also these things have a finite life but I feel bad telling the lady that it was going to a good home.

Thank you

Rob

Hello MadMike

Thank you very much for the kind offer that would be great to visit you if you have some time It looks like it will be at least 4 weeks before we would be allowed.

Thanks

Rob

Hello Michael

Thank you very much for the link, That't the one I thought about trying. Sorry for the mis post of saying it was on here . it was the Lathes.co.uk A very informative resource.

I did wonder if it could be either taken away and adding smaller ball bearing type bearings or adding but I wasn't sure if it was a system that is used. its certainly worth checking.

Thanks

Rob

Hello Everyone

Thank you very much for the Warm welcome Thank you for the link yes that's the one. I have created an Album and uploaded several photo's although I am sorry to show the mess around it.

we are having windows fitted this week and so everything is now piled up as of last night in there. on the right side is a Rover 3.5 V8 waiting for me and the metal around it is a CNC machine in the early stages of the build.

Thank you Brian it seems to have the problem I have read about on these that there wasn't a shimmed and at some stage, it has been welded although it seems to be a successful repair although I did see (I believe it was on here) someone had milled away the damage and made a top plate I'm not sure if I have enough talent for that so I thought I would try and use what I have initially,

I have taken the Spindle out and it has lots of wear on it there aren't any oilers on it so it has probably just had oil when in use. I did try to tighten the top up a little but it still has the movement of around 1/2mm I'm not sure if it is usable to make small parts or not.

I haven't as yet ever used a metal lathe but I thought if I worked on larger lengths it might push away from the cutter giving me a taper but it was just a guess really.

I have a small mini Mill which I thought I might be able to repair the Damaged cross slide but I'm not sure if that will work.

It does seem like it might be one of the Rarer type ML74 which I always thought rare might be a good thing but then rare means less available parts to I guess. sadly,

I'm not even sure if Engineering companies would look at making a bespoke spindle for it. I have never had this type of thing made before.

It seems the definition of irony that I seem to need a lathe to get my lathe working. the first-ever lathe must have been a chicken and egg thing going on

Guy, I love the comment and I'm definitely Gunner finish something I start one day .

I hope the album works

**LINK**

Thank you

Rob

Good Evening My name is Rob I live in leicestershire

I have been trying not to start more projects in my live but I just can't help it I am a serial starter, A finisher well as I said I'm a good starter so thats got to count for something .

I have always into making things with wood or metal or with pretty much any thing and love how things work.

I have been looking for a metal lathe for a very long time and I finally found one that was near to collect and looked good.

It was from a gunsmith that has sadly passed away the amount of grease on it has preserved it rather well.

It is a Myford ML74 Long bed lathe from what I can tell which seems to be from the 1940's and must have so much history to tell.

But with history comes war wounds and so with many Ebay bargains It needs a little love and attention.

The first thing I checked was the spindle runout and it definatley has some. So I thought it would be as easy as Emailing Myford and giving then a Visa number, Although it seems like the ML74 isn't quite the same for Spares as the ML7 as I hoped.

So what started as thinking I would like to make a few small steam engines and see how metal lathes work. I will be on the hunt for ML74 spindles & Bearings.

If anyone knows of a similar M type lathe with availble spindles any help would be very much appreciated, I told the daughter of the last owner it was going to a good home and now I'm not so sure.

I am sorry I am not an engineer so i will not be much of a giver but I will always try and contribure on the forum if I can be of any help in the future.

Thankyou all very much for be inspirations for home workshop wanabe's

Rob