Member postings for Robert Holton

First of all I do not have a clue what the word FWFW means.

Most of the work I do is very small and a tiny bit of eccentricy wouldn't notice. In fact because a lot of what I make is turned without taking the piece out of the chuck it should end up concentric anyway. I do take your point about the 4 jaw chuck, and I had already decided to keep it.

I have been using my Unimat for the stuff I make and may carry on doing so, at least for a while. It's a very able little lathe, but with the drawback that the original type motor is pathetic.

The Flexispeed enables me to turn larger parts. So I had thought the 4 jaw will be useful. Plus it is such a lovely piece of engineering in itself, I just like it.

Thank you for your comments. I am looking forward to using it. It';s got to be 40 years since I used a Flexispeed, and even more since I used a big Lathe.

My grandson was showing an interest in the lathe a few days ago, so I want to show him how it works and what can be made.

Cheers

Rob

Strange thing is if my lathe had been advertised as a Simat, it might not have sold at all. As it was no mention was made of the make, but because I recognised it as a Flexispeed I went for it. looking around I could have bought an unmarked Simat for even less. I am not complaining though, mine is in good nick.

It just annoys me that names are so important to people. I have seen really grotty Flexispeed lathes at astounding prices.

It wit be up and running soon. Just waiting for drive belts.

Rob

My Lathe is exactly as in the picture you posted.

Rob

My Lathe is exactly as in the picture you posted.

Rob

Hi Friends, Just to let you all know, I haven't been ignoring your replies. I have had one of these supercolds that are going around, and had to go to bed early last night. Much better today .

I am following up one or two suggestions at the moment, but I would like to say a big Thank you for all your advice so far. It has all been very useful. I feel confident I shall have my lathe the way I want it soon.

It was suggested it is a Simat 101, made by Cowells, and I believe that to be so. I had at first thought I would sell the 4 jaw Burnerd chuck when get a 3 jaw, but have now decided I will keep it. It's too nice a piece of kit to get rid of and I am sure I will use it.

I will keep in touch and tell how I get on...

Rob

Hi Neil,

I think mine must be a Simat 101 , The lead screw is indeed a thread, and it does have a Burnerd 4 jaw chuck, made for Cowells.

Just checked , it's not 1.25, but does appear to be 14x1.5. I think chucks have now standardised at 14x1. I think that Cowells when they took over manufacture of Flexispeed used 1x 1.5 . I wonder if they have any knocking about their stores....

We have an old 18mm spark plug here. That matches the spindle thread. I looked up the thread pitch and they were 1x1.5 so that sorta confirms it for me..

Rob

I am just going to check, but in my searching I think I have discovered that 14mm spark plugs have the same thread.If this so I have something to compare with.

Adapting a chuck would be great if I can find someone to do it for me. There was a series of posts on here that described how it can be done. It's beyond my capabilities, but I would happily pay someone to do it.

Rob

Hi All, I checked the internal thread on an old Unimat chuck and it is very fine. I have since removed the chuck from the Unimat I use and checked. It is indeed a very fine thread not like the thread on the Flexispeed. Is it possible there is a coarse metric thread it could be ???? I will check it with a m6 screw.

Duncan, I live in Madeley, Shropshire, near to Ironbridge, so a bit of a distance really..

Thank you everyone for all your help so far, but the mystery isn't solved yet ......

Rob.

As a matter of interest, I have just checked the Unimat thread with a 6mm  screw and the pitch matches perfectly.

Now I will have to go through the bolts and set screws and compare with the Flexispeed thread.

Edited By Robert Holton on 12/10/2021 19:34:35

Hi All, I checked the internal thread on an old Unimat chuck and it is very fine. I have since removed the chuck from the Unimat I use and checked. It is indeed a very fine thread not like the thread on the Flexispeed. Is it possible there is a coarse metric thread it could be ???? I will check it with a m6 screw.

Duncan, I live in Madeley, Shropshire, near to Ironbridge, so a bit of a distance really..

Thank you everyone for all your help so far, but the mystery isn't solved yet ......

Rob.

I have a knackered Unimat chuck it is 14mm but the thread looks very fine. I also have what is I think a 1/2" BSF arbour . it will screw in to the $ jaw chuck that fits the lathe spindle. it's a very sloppy fit. So obviously not right. The thread pitch looks similar, but is not exactly the same. Quite course though. Nothing like the Unimat thread. Would it be any use me phoning speaking to somebody at Cowells ?

The drawing for the spindle is useful, but my spindle is not quite same. Mine is not bored right the way through for instance. On my previous Flexispeed it was.

It is quite mystifying at this stage, but as an engineer I worked with years ago said to me. ' There is not an engineering problem that can't be solved'.

Rob

Edited By Robert Holton on 12/10/2021 15:11:22

Cheers Dave ,

I certainly will try to get to grips with the 4 jaw, but in reality I don't need that sort of accuracy for the work that I do. I know of course there are times I could need the 4 jaw, and I certainly use it then.

Re the Flexispeed threads.. I am a bit puzzled by the measurements I have taken. The spindle nose is said to be 1/2" x 16 tpi BSF, but my measurements are imperial 0.545" thread diameter and 0.550 register. Metric are 13.87 thread 13.97 register. Can anyone make sense of that ?

It seems more like it might be M14x1 than BSF

Yours Puzzled

Rob

Thank you your comments. I do have good 4 jaw, and dial gauge. I will give it a try when I have the lathe set up.

At the moment I am sorting out drive belts.

Looking at what I can find on the history of Flexispeed lathes. I think this one is early to mid 60s. No later than that I reckon.

I understand what you say re the threads, and am cautious of that.

Your comments are much apprieciated.

Rob..

Thank you your comments. I do have good 4 jaw, and dial gauge. I will give it a try when I have the lathe set up.

At the moment I am sorting out drive belts.

Looking at what I can find on the history of Flexispeed lathes. I think this one is early to mid 60s. No later than that I reckon.

I understand what you say re the threads, and am cautious of that.

Your comments are much apprieciated.

Rob..

Thank you Harry

Thank you Harry

Thank you Harry

I haven't, but I am not sure I like the idea, and there might be a bit much overhang.

I will give it some thought. Cheers Dave.

Rob

Hi I'm Rob,

I'm a model railway enthusiast, and new member. I build 4mm scale locos and stock.

I use my Unimat 3 lathe a lot. I now have a Flexispeed Meteor which I hope to start using when I find a 3 jaw chuck.

I will then sell the Unimat. I had a Flexispeed years ago and found it to be a very useful machine. I even made parts for my classic car on it.

So if anyone has a Flexispeed Burnerd 3 jaw chuck they want to part with or can modify a modern chuck for me, I would be more than pleased...

Rob

I have just bought a 60s Flexispeed Meteor 2 lathe. It's in excellent condition having been owned by an engineer.

The problem I have is I don't have a 3 jaw chuck for it . It has a very nice Burnerd 65mm 4 jaw chuck , a faceplate and tailstock chuck.

I need to find a chuck to fit the 1/2" BSF spindle or can I find someone to modify a modern 65mm 14x1 modern 3 jaw chuck ?

I did read an article here from 2015 where a person named Roderick turned a bush with the correct internal thread , and pressed it into a modern chuck.

Is this person still able to do this, or is there anyone else who could ?

I would be most grateful for any help, and of course happy to pay for such a job

Regards

Rob