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Member postings for Graeme Whitfield

Here is a list of all the postings Graeme Whitfield has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

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Thread: making new lathe spindle
23/02/2015 17:42:18
No, verticaly. Its not in too halfs either, just a slot under the bearing.
Silly design really, I guess thats why they changed it to a properly engineered bronze bearing within 6 months. Hoping ill find one of those headatocks for sale one day.

Ill measure it later, see if its still round when not compressed by the adjuster.
23/02/2015 17:23:40
A bit of searching shows you can get guides with a taper sleeve to help a reamed hole line up with a second hole.

Maybe there is life in the idea, but im concentrating on either replacement or getting someone else to do it as a proper job would be difficult with what I have available.
23/02/2015 16:22:37
I have an idea, probably a stupid idea, but....
Do hand reamers have centers drilled in the ends?

Make a 3/4" diameter parallel shaft center that I can put through the small bearing. I can snug the headstock down so its a good fit. The reamer locates on this center point. The other end of the reamer locates on a center in the tailstock which is adjusted so it can JUST slide along the bed. So, slidibg tailstock, center, reamer, center that slides through small headstock bearing.
Use a long sash clamp to hold it all together tight enough to hold it all stable but still able to rotate reamer. Should be able to guide the whole lot along the bed as reamer cuts the worn bearing journal. Both bearings should be parallel to each other and the bed.

Mad? Stupid? Or 'might just work'
23/02/2015 15:55:49
No idea if I could add them to thread or not, but I put the photos I sent the engineer in an album on here if anyone is interested.
I dont know how youd view them though, this forum works different to any others ive used.
23/02/2015 15:46:35
Had crossed my mind.
I wasnt sure how good it would be, how big a gap would be needed for it to be stable and not peel, and I guess the scores (not too bad) on the spindle would need filling or you'd never get it out again.

I spoke to a couple of 'pro's'. One was too busy but suggested measure the bore and if its concentric get spindle plated and ground. One couldnt do it as he didnt have the right boring machine but suggested 2 more companies. I only phoned one but he was friendly, helpfull, seemed interestes and asked for photo's so ill see what he says. Got a feeling its going to be spendy though
23/02/2015 14:41:18
Been thinking more about this reaming. The play was measured with the adjustment as tight as I dared without cracking the headstock. The play is nearly all up and down as the bore doesnt compress evenly. I assume I have, in reality, probably twice as much wear. I can think of ways it could be kept parallel when reamed, but not with the tooling available to me.
I guess its time to find out what it would cost to fix (too much I guess).
Im in chesterfield. Can anyone recomend any companies in chesterfield/sheffield areas who would even take on a small (but accurate) job like this?
23/02/2015 14:06:53
Roger, I see you predicted my parting troubles
23/02/2015 14:05:29
Replacement headstocks are thin on the ground. They do sometimes come up though. Thing is, they made these from 1902 to 1912 but this style of headstock is onle on early 1902 models.

I can turn on it, it behaves well if I cut light, doesnt like parting though. With my inexperience , when I get to about 1cm diameter left it tries to dig in and ride over the tool and it all jams up.
I can make a few parts though, but nothing too serious untill this issue is sorted.
23/02/2015 14:01:35
Yes, was me looking for a headstock.
As for the reamed holes being parallel, I guess I was going to be relying on luck I think I have equal wear in spindle and bore, about 0.002" on each. I was hoping I would get away with just cleaning that up with a reamer. I have no real experience of how that would go though. I sort of assumed it would be ok.Only one bearing NEEDS doing.
Getting the whole lot sorted by other people would be great but Im assuming it would cost quite alot to give someone the headstock and spindle and get it all sorted.

I was trying to come up with a way of fixing it with what I have available.

Do you think attempting this myself is likely to end in dissapointment and a ruined lathe?
23/02/2015 13:03:45
As a new member, ive just realises you have a help and assistance catagory. I guess I should have put this there?
23/02/2015 12:38:55
Hello, ive just registered. Im a complete beginner and have just purchased my first lathe. Its a 1902 drummond. It has a split bearing type headstock with the spindle running in the cast iron. It has a bit too much play to adjust out. Both the spindle and the headstock have worn. I have about 0.12mm of lift in the spindle at the chuck.
My plan, maybe ambitious for a beginner, is to make a new spindle and ream the headstock to fit. I know this may not be super accurate, but would be better that it flopping about. The headstock adjusts to get it running paralell with the bed so vertical alignment is the main concern.
Would be easier to turn down and sleeve the old spindle but this is my only lathe. Would be better to bore the headstock and fit bushes but thats alot more likely to go wrong as ive not done anything like that before.
So im left with new spindle and reaming.
I assume you should ream hole first then make spindle to fit but as I say, this is my only lathe so new spindle first. Also means if I cant make a spindle i still have a lathe that is usable.
So, my question is, what do I make the spindle from? The steel needs to be machinable by a beginner with hss tooling. Does it need hardening? If so, that also needs to be doable by a beginner (I dont think original is hardened, would it be if running in cast iron?).
Ive had a bit of a search on the internet, I think I saw suggestions for en8?

Thanks.
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