Member postings for Steve M

The best source for those kind of very specific queries is probably the Practical Machinist forum's South Bend sub-forum here **LINK**

Plenty of South Bend experts there, being a US forum South Bends are as common as Myfords are in the UK so the collective knowledge is expansive.

And you may be able, in a pinch, to "convert" a Boxford chuck to fit a South Bend by running a South Bend UNF profile tap down the Boxford BSW profile thread. Such taps are available from Tracy Tools etc.

Edited By Hopper on 05/03/2021 10:42:37

I also have a SB 9" lathe built in 1949. I would recommend the book "how to run a lathe" published for many years by South Bend themselves. You can find hard copies on different auction sites but there are also various sites that have accessible PDF files for you to read it. This book is generic to all sizes of SB lathe , not specifically the 9" but the essential info is all there.

One such PDF is at the link below.

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1617/5795.pdf

There is a Parts List here, this document is from US Army and covers both 9 and 10 lathes.

Thor

Is your particular lathe the model from which the 9" Boxford is cloned?

If so, the Boxford handbook "Know your Lathe" might help. here

Is your particular lathe the model from which the 9" Boxford is cloned?

If so, the Boxford handbook "Know your Lathe" might help. here

..if you can't download the Grizzly manual ( 'now discontinued' ), in Nick's link above, an internet search for 'RF-25 mill manual' might bear fruit.

Also the Grizzly manual for it's bigger brother, the G0705, is still available to download - notwithstanding slight differences in capacity and maybe detail variations, the layout of the controls and the manner of operation is pretty much the same, I think.

Looks a useful machine, I like the stop on the Y axis, it shows some previous owner was thoughtful..

Edited By DiogenesII on 24/01/2021 13:37:28

hi Steve, I think you actually have an early Warco Economy mill/drill Warco Economy

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 24/01/2021 11:28:39

This is England, so not much chance of that.

Thanks Brian.

Certainly looks like the Economy mill - I think it was 'badged' by a number of companies years ago. Good and solid assuming its not been abused, not much to go wrong otherwise (i.e. no Iffy electronics)

I'v got a similar sized more modern machine (but dovetail column etc) and generally find that I use my ARC Precision Tool Vice Type 3 most of the time for a lot of things. I've 3 or 4 other vices of varying types but rarely use them, I do have an 'economy' tilting one that I bought when first starting out but don't think I've ever had call to use it.

I would consider getting a couple of assorted slotted angle plates though if you don't already have any. So many clamping options avaiable with a bit of ingenuity!

Enjoy your new toy. Regards

Thanks a lot Mike that's really helpful.

I have the 100mm vice swivel base from ARC and it is solid. I have removed the swivel base as it gives you more height cutter to table and it is more solid but I use it when I have multiple angles to mill.

130-040-00800* Radial Milling Vice 100mm

David

I've got the 70mm type 2 precision vice from Arc Euro and it is excellent, well made, very accurate and sturdy. You could fit the bigger 90mm on your table and have plenty of room to spare.

I've not found the need to get a tilting vice so can't really comment, I've always tilted the job in some sort of fixture, or with a clamping arrangement on a face plate, or in the vice itself.

IanJ

Just a heads up re the type ll vise, particularly if bought second hand. Check that the tightening screw/bolt cannot foul the bed when fully screwed in. There was a problem with some of them, but easily sorted by removing a small amount of metal from the screw/bolt to avoid any possibility of marking the machine bed.

It’s a wild guess, but ... try this thread: **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=162074

MichaelG.

I just wondered if anyone has brought and used their Precision vices? I’m looking for a normal milling vice

I have ‘normal’ milling vises and also a couple of type ll - a 70mm and a 90mm.

They are now my ‘go to’ vises, if appropriate for the job. The others are used when it suits or the type lls are not big enough.

Type ll might be considered as ‘marmite’ vises - some like them and some definitely don’t (it’s how I got my second) but not a lot come up second hand.

You may have noted that Arc do more expensive tilting vises - but good tilting vises take up a lot of table vertical space and are not needed so very often. I have an Abwood which, while it doesn’t eat anything, is not used much!

Abwood vises are good quality, if buying second hand - as long as not damaged or worn out.

How big is a VM15?

Ok thanks a lot. The table size is 55cm x 16cm

Cheers

Steve

Got a photo of this mill, a Google search doesn't reveal one of these machines?