A hello from Darlington England

Hi all I've just joined up, I have been hankering after a lathe to build steam engines and parts for the last 2years, recently I was looking at the offerings from sieg and amadeal, basically a Chinese modern 7x14 lathe. I visited a friend recently that offered a lot of advice and pointed me in the direction of a Myford ML4, after a couple of days searching on eBay I landed a great deal, a Myford ML4 lathe which has seen little use, comes with a 3" 3 jaw chuck, a 4" 3jaw chuck and a 4" 4jaw independent chuck, dead centres, cutting tools, tailstock drills with an MT1 taper, also a lot of other bits and pieces

I landed a real good deal with this lathe but unlike the Chinese lathes it won't be plug and play, so I'm hoping you guys will be able to steer me in set up of the lathe on the yet to be constructed bench in the old outhouse??? (Yes setting up a workshop in an old toilet)

I am probably the maddest guy in Britain right now, I was laid off from work only two weeks ago, and I spent £300 of my tax return two days ago, on a second hand lathe with some tooling, I have a small brick built outhouse to work in that doesn't have power yet, but I am determined to get on with this machining lark Am I mad??? I'll let you decide, but I have already sold 55 of my designs and work, to a close nit community, upgrading the humble mamod scuttle. This was when I had access to a laser cutter, large industrial press break and welding equipment in my last job. That idea and production was marketed across a band of only 2500 people. (Sorry still in job hunting mode and selling myself ).

Anyhow I've already been asked if I'd like to make some bits which would cover the cost of the lathe, (if my work is up to scratch), so lathe very well may already be paid for. So I'm looking for some advice and tips from you guys that may help progress my venture into this moneypit I've finally stepped into.

Hello Jon,

​Welcome to the Forum, I think you will find much of use to you here.

​I am not far away from you in Thirsk, my first lathe was my father's ML4 after he passed on and it did a great deal of the machining work on the parts that make up my Dore Westbury miller.

​I have an original handbook which you may care to copy and some helpful thoughts on setting the lathe up properly, especially the tailstock which is a fiendish thing to get right. a new bull wheel for sale should you need it and so on.

​You would be welcome to come down to visit should you wish to, send me a PM if that appeals to you

​Regards
Brian

Are you mad? I think not. I find using a lathe theraputic. It's good fun, has plenty of challenge, and even I get it right some of the time. Much better than alcohol and chocolate in front of the telly, especially if you get paid.

Dave

Hi Brian, I may take you up on that offer, its always interesting to see the layout of other peoples shops. Also how they work, as every person has his or her own way of doing things.

Hi Dave, I've got to prove I can machine first, especially to the missus, who's not a happy bunny right now. Then hopefully I can earn a few Bob to keep me going

I applied for a job yesterday morning, at a manufacturing company, I happened to mention that I'd bought this Myford lathe in the application, along with my other skills more pertaining to the job role, and received a call back a few hours later, So this lathe is already opening doors for me

Hello Jon,

Welcome to the forum, sounds like you will be busy

Neil

Welcome to the forum Jon. My first lathe was an ML4 and it served me very well until a larger one came along. Being paid for the odd job is ok but you have to watch that you don't get involved with deadlines and budgets which can take away the enjoyment, especially if you are itching to get on with modelling.

Having said that, I hope you have hours of fun as I and many others did with our first lathes, and that you will come back to let us all know how you are getting on.

Brian

Thank you Niel and Brian for the welcome

For an update, I've just secured myself a job, which will pay for the bills, hopefully my lathe can pay for itself and my hobby

I did really well, ie I was lucky!! I set off this morning at 6am, later than I hoped, and due to some unfortunate incident at spaghetti junction, traffic was a nightmare around Birmingham. So eventually arrived at the gentleman's house collected inspected and he even ticked off every thing on the copy of the eBay advert he printed. I loaded up and spent about an hour at his place, discussing the lathe and machining on it. He reworks motors, so the motor had just been serviced two weeks ago apparently

The round journey along with a two hour pitstop with a friend which I'll come onto in a little while, after ive had some food, was a total of 643miles, which was done in three blocks, one down there a total of 313miles, one to Davids, which was 245miles and the remainder home, I now have sat on the kitchen table a big lump of cast iron and twirly

bits, which I need to get set up in the shed, (after its been cleared out. I don't want to twirl anything now because coming inside the metal is warming up, and the GiB adjusters have gone almost solid, due to expansion. So I've put it in a folded down state ready to install very soon in its final location. So I got around to tinkering and I've got my head around it all now I think and which lever does what, for instance.

1. The back gears wouldn't engage and they were very stiff to operate the lever, looked closer, and found that there was a bolt on top which wasn't related to the headstock bearing, I thought it was so didn't want to upset the bearings. Quick spanner and the back gears engage.

2. The slides were very very stiff, so I backed off the gib adjuster and crosslide from its mount, and also took it off its mounting, cleaned and oiled the thread and sliders, and put that back on, along with the same for the crosslide, and I tightened the GiB adjusters to allow its full travel, without binding, these will have to be readjusted in the shed, (cooler).

3. I couldn't get the half nuts to engage the leads crew, gave a squirt of WD40 and brushed some of the crud off there. Put some oil on the leads screw, and by turning the chuck by hand, got the half nuts to engage and move the saddle. Which leads onto no4.

4. While messing with the above, I heard a grinding sound from the gears, when I looked there was a gap between the two gears near the top of the change gears, so just the edges of the teeth were engaging, creating a horrible noise. Back to the spanner, slackened off the gear adjustor from the back of the bracket and moved it tight up against it, I then fed paper through the gears to leave a small clearance. Tightened it all back up and jobs a good one

5. When I was looking at the lathe, and the motor on the table I thought to myself, that's a really wide set up, it'll take away a lot of bench space, so I moved the motor nearer and thought I'll look for a shorter belt, then I just happened to push it backwards to pick something that was trapped under it. Eureka moment, build a pivot table for the motor mount to rest on, it will decrease the profile free up space on the bench and to boot it'll be a belt tentioner, this will be built into the bench I'm making for the lathe, and will simply be a 18mm ply double laminated, with a 16mm threaded bar, as its pivot, and two adjusting screws, basically a bolt turned upside down and a but either side of the plywood. It should give reasonable amount of adjustment to belt tension as well as holding the motor firm. I'm still on the kitchen table.at the moment the missus ain't happy, so need to get myself a bench built pronto!

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If it's any help-- I was born in Darlo, my first lathe was an ML4 lookaike. We had a coalhouse and next door bog. These knocked easily into one shed, just the right size.

Thanks Gordon, I was thinking the shed might be better place for it to get it up and running, maybe building onto the side of the outhouse, and getting rid of the rickety shed all together. Most importantly I need it up and running now, so that I can make a start on bits that I want to do. first project will be a small scriber, which ill be making a few of, if anyone fancy's buying one off me, Got to pay for the lathe somehow :lol:

If you were born in Darlington, it will be in your genes to make steam engines, 5" gauge I hope, nothing is impossible

if you have the will , wish you the best of luck, it is a brilliant hobby

I wasn't born in Darlington, originally I was from West Yorkshire. Though I do have a long interest in steam engines, trains, and machinery. 5" gauge is a little large at the moment, as I haven't a garden to run them in, but a 16mm wild rose, or Idris may be on the cards. I have been over the last year and Hal been messing around with Mamods, which I used to sell a scuttle for the mobiles. Will share a pic when I'm home.

Hi Jon, I only live 9 miles from darlo I'm giong there tomorrow to the presentation on the p2 project at the hopetown works,I usually go to the pumping station with my engine every year [a fantastic place,victorian engineering at its best!] there's model engineering club in the grounds & also one in hurworth .

Graham.

Hi Graham, I'd be interested in seeing some pics if you can, of the P2, on another forum an american member was asking for info on how the project was progressing, he's just bought and sent something over to me, that an american eBay seller wouldn't post to the UK. So I'd like to repay the favour by supplying him some pics with your permission of course.

What engine have you got as I probably saw you last October when they were holding their big end of year spectacular

For those that are interested this was a scuttle that I produced for a short while, it was designed in Solidworks , and laser cut from 0.9mm steel, and folded on a press break before before been welded up. These fit onto the back of the mamod firebox in place of the normal mamod ones. I sold around x50 of these in total on the mamod forums and still get requests for them now

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae6/JONBOB1/wp_ss_20170419_0002_zpsqlm5kvmb.png

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae6/JONBOB1/WP_20170419_23_58_28_Pro_zpsezpdrewi.jpg

Edited By Jon Cameron on 12/05/2017 21:42:54

Edited By Jon Cameron on 12/05/2017 21:46:14

Hi Jon & welcome; I'm not far from you either, live at Marton, other side of the Boro'. My machines consist of the WM250V-F lathe & a WM16 mill with all the other accoutrements for a workshop.In the process of constructing the S50 stationary at the moment, have built the S10V, Stuart progress, a couple of simple oscillators plus a simplified 'Educational model' of a paddle steamer engine. As with Artful codger have been to Darlo' pumping station a couple of times for a look see the Victorian machinery steaming up.

​George.

Hi Jon, I've got a 4" foster T E, we usually go on the saturday of the car exhibition [they're not keen on us on the sunday!!] if you go to the top floor Dennis has his models working there, he's a really good engineer, unfortunately I only took a couple of pictures of the large bronze nameplate [prince of wales] mounted on the back wall, as I'm making a pattern & going to cast a miniature plate for a friends workshop, it's a surprise [& one for me for my personal gratification!! he he] no particular scale as I didn't measure it but it'll be about 14"x2" & go on the workshop door with the others i've made,I did get a glossy leaflet with pictures and details about progress to date,if you personal message me with your address I'll send it to you.[F O C ]

Graham.

Thanks Graham ill send you a PM, Is your engine called "King of the road" by chance, I have a photo of that engine from last year

Hi Jon,no that belongs to a friend of mine Richard, my engines called "albert" after my late father, I couldn't go last yr as I was in ozz perth at my daughters but should be there this yr.

Graham.

I'll make a note and come look for you this year

Hi Jon, I'll let you know when, you can have a drive of"albert" , letter posted today

Graham.