Member postings for Jack Foreman 1

I shall await the final verdict, with interest. In the meantime, i will remain resolutely quiet.
It was only a very simple question. And certainly not intended to create diversity

Thank you John.
I've spotted that sort of arrangement on my tiny Myford. So I take it that such an adjustment arrangement is common to most, if not all, movable/sliding parts of machinery.

Nick, I can remember them when they were about the same age as your avatar photo
They were better looking then, too.

This will probably be rated as my 1st silly question, but ...........

I have read about 'gibs'. They appear to be accessories, and adjustable.
But I have no idea what they are.
Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks
Jack

Ahhh. Thank you Norman. The voice of the experienced to the mind of the novice.
Much appreciated. I didn't consider the grinding residue, and its effect upon the lathe.
I'll position it appropriately and with regard to direction too.

Only a mile from where I live is a company called Shoebridge. Who specialize in rewinding and repairing all manner of industrial electric motors. They have several Colchester Master lathes in their workshop to enable them to carry out their work. So they will obvioiusly know lathes per se, and Colchesters, particularly.
I may have a chat with them. They may undertake to provide and fit an appropriate converter/inverter to enable the motor to perform with all of its functions present.
I'm sure that it won't be an insurmountable problem. Someone will be able to sort it for me.

It is certainly a 2 speed motor. [it is the 1600 max. speed ~ the 800 is a single speed motor.]
That really is all I know at present. Until it arrives I'm going to assume that it is a 2HP motor, and work on the pricing figure for that.

Re the grinder:
The problem with grinding wood-turning chisels, as large as some of mine are - and conversely, as small as some are too, is that it is almost impossible to keep the edge of the wheel perfectly flat. I know thay can be diamond dressed, but that is cutting into the wheel on each occasion. I have room in the workshop for a dedicated tool-steel grinder, beside the lathe.
Yes the tool rests are manufactured from toilet paper these days - so I anticipate manufacturing some more robust ones.

I received a parcel through the post this morning, which initially had me scratching my head to try to remember what I had ordered, which would result in the size of package in my hand.

Upon opening it I found that I had received a vertical vernier gauge, from ME - a free gift, no less.
Certainly no less appreciated because it was free.
So, to the subscription team - thank you very much

Jack

Thank you Bob.
Until the M/C arrives and I can have a proper look at the motor, I don't even know if this is 1HP or 2HP.
If I'm unsure about any of the procedures, I'll engage a qualified electrician to come in and wire the M/C up for me.

Richard, quite openly and honestly, preferred not to advise on inverter/converter, as he admitted to not being familiar with what is currently available on the market. [I prefer that approach to waffle and bluffing]
He's a splendid chap to do business with.
He's going to look out for a suitable grinder for me to sharpen my tool-steel on too.
I have a grinder for my wood lathe chisels. But it won't be suitable for tool steel.

Thank you Bazyle.
You suggested several good reliable sources of machinery.
Today, following some telephone discussion, I went to High Wycombe, and spent a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile hour with Richard Brown of Project Machinery www.projectmachinery.co.uk
And I am now the proud owner of a 3 phase Colchester Bantam 1600 lathe, which is in very good condition with a whole host of accessories - even including the original manual/handbook, which the machine was issued with. (Oh, I also bought a single phase bandsaw, for my wood-turning activities whilst I was there too)

Thank you each, and all, for your advice, encouragement and suggestions, during the course of my search.
Very much appreciated.
Once the machine has been delivered and I have it positioned and set up, I'll be back to seek your advice again on the type and source of an inverter/converter to enable it to run off the domestic main.
Then all I'll need to do is learn how to drive it.

I'll put some photos up, once I have everything sorted

Jack

Thank you Pete.
It is all being 'inwardly digested and stored away'. Plus copious notes are being made on what I feel are particularly salient points, of many posts. Plus, I'm researching and storing, on my PC desktop [in a folder mkd Lathe] , all of the contact names which have been provided.

My great temptation is to rush out and buy.
But I've committed to having a new lathe by the end of July, so I have plenty of time to look around - see what looks good - what I feel comfortable with and what works for me. Then make some definitive moves by the end of the month. I can stretch the budget a little, if necessary, and I'm not entirely restricted by the 5'-0" length either.

I must confess that I am drawn toward something like a Harrison 140 or a Colchester Bantam.
But you have provided some names that I have not heard of - so I'll be researching those out too.

Raymond, I've sent you an Email.

Jack

Thanks, both.
Much appreciated.

Bob / Graham.

Would a Colchester Bantam 2000 3phase machine run off an invertor which would run on a domestic circuit?
Or indeed, any other 3 phase powered machine of similar capacity?

Jack

Thanks for your kind and wise words David.
For me, the redeeming feature is that I am in no rush and under no pressure whatsoever
I do, however want to be sure that this forthcoming purchase is a good one.

Jack

Thank you Bob. I'll save this for reference.
There are quite a number of 3 phase machines out there - which I confess to having, so far, largely disregarded.
I'll amend my approach.

Thanks, David and Bob. Interesting observations.
It may be because I am an old skeptic, but I have come across a lot of photos of machines, apparently from schools [or scools and in one case scoles] or colleges [or colages] which have been so badly maintained and are coated with so much rust that the the principals of the institutions must have been taken out and shot. I assume that the sellers are trusting that the school/college tag will ensure them a sale.

Thanks for the Boxford link too Bob. Transformations indeed.

What is your view on the Boxford 5" x 22" for sale by gandmtools in ME issue 4488, vol 213?

David, I have a confession to make:
In my ignorance, some time ago, I did exactly as several of you have warned me not to.
I bought, what I thought was a nice little machine, from a gentleman on the south coast. I think he spotted me coming. I got it home and discovered it to be an ML1 Myford, circa 1948, with lots of slop in everything which had the capability to slop. Back gears which didn't and couldn't work because there was no facility to enable them to. So they were removed. A 3 jaw chuck on a backplate, which was even more eccentric than me. The following day I went to the far reaches of eastern Kent to pick up an ML4 stand, with counterbalanced motor. Over the following week I managed, by trial and error to remove all of the slop & end float out of every component and assembly. And I have subsequently learned the art of sharpening and setting up tooling so that I can now turn, what for me are, creditable pieces of work - to a reasonable degree of beginners accuracy.

Given that the whole rig cost me less than £300 including fuel costs to collect, and I have had some great fun and frustration learning the rudiments of metal lathe turning, I don't consider the exercise or the expenditure to be a great waste.
The primary problem now, is that the ML1 has a very narrow speed band. I would estimate 300-1300RPM.
I've looked at fitting a second larger drive pulley with a different belt, which will reduce the min. speed by 43%, but have come to the conclusion that I will, in the long term, be better employed investing in a suitable machine and bringing what I've learned to it. My concern with this one is that I will acquire the practice of 'make-do-and-mend' and subsequently pick up all manner of bad habits.

I'll probably keep the Myford for now and see if I can modify it to enable the backgears to work, in the future.

That's it. It's all out in the open now. No more sins to declare. [not lathe related anyway]

I have subscribed to receive the Model Engineer (P&D), so will in time, have a source of established advice instruction. And access to the Archive.

Thank you all - sincerely. For the advice, extent, and obvious experiential wisdom it contains.
Very much appreciated.
Transport and weight are not a particular problem, as I have a 1Tonne+ trailer and a 2 Tonne engine hoist [for collection and transport of tree trunks/root boles etc.] And I live in Northampton, which is fairly central, so making travel a viable option in any direction. [with the possible exception of to Orkney, of course]
I have spotted the Boxford in Minehead. I believe that has a Norton gearbox
I have also, this evening, been referred [by a friend, but not an engineer] to a Harrison L5a, which from the photos available looks a very nicely maintained machine. Located in Lancs, and well within budget. Quite a few goodies with it too.

I've looked at a few Colchesters - my only concern being that many of them look worn out, or at least, to have had a fairly hard commercial life.

" .... you get a copy of Sparey's 'Amateur's Lathe' - excellent beginners book" Thank you. I'll look out for that.

Once again, many thanks.
If anyone has any observations on the Harrison L5a, I would be interested to hear your views.

Jack

I appreciate that this may initiate a 'storm' of opinion, and for that I apologize in advance ~ however, I would like to purchase a single phase metal turning lathe.
I am a woodturner, so understand 'turning' as a to the physics of the matter, but as to metal turning, I am a relative ignoramus.

The reason:
I want to be able to turn metal components for many applications, including parts for my wood-turning lathes. [I can't imagine that I will ever be proficient enough to enter the world of model making]

The Question:
What do I buy? New or S/H? Make? Capacity? Home or foreign manufacturer? Gearbox or change-wheels?
I have an anticipated budget of approx £2.5K [but can be reasonably flexible]
I would prefer a free standing unit rather than bench mounted. Due to space available in my workshop, I would have to restrict unit length to 5'-0" max.

I am unlikely to ever want to produce anything longer that approx 1'-6", nor a greater diameter than 9".
I want to be able to bore. And screw-cut [once I have learned how to do it]
As well as all of the conventional turning procedures.

All/any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Jack