new member

Hello from new member in Wiltshire, UK. I am a lapsed fitter/machinist, having not worked in engineering for 30 years, but had a hankering to get my hands dirty and make some swarf again after too long sitting at a desk. I have interests in full size steam and industrial archaeology in general although not actively involved in either. I bought a Hobbymat lathe on a whim a few years ago while restoring a 1962 Lambretta scooter (another interest). This was a great little machine, but I have now upgraded, if that is the word, to a vintage Myford M type. Also a good bit of kit to which I have fitted a 3 phase motor and inverter package which works well. If I can work out how to post photos, I will perhaps put up some of the lathe for other members interest.

Hello Phil,

Welcome aboard the forum for 2018!

Neil

Welcome! The inverter/motor setup works very well on both my machines too.

Theres a thread somewhere about doing photos, check the search function on under forums

Michael W

Welcome to the forum from Shaftesbury.

Hi Phil Welcome to the forum I also have an M type. Lots of information and help on the forum.

David

Thanks for all welcome comments. As promised, a few photos of my M type. Have just wired in a NV stop button - and yes, I will tidy up wiring at some point. Inverter can also be seen. This is connected to a new 3 phase motor via original mounting plate. All electrical components from Drives Direct who were very helpful. Lathe runs beautifully, although I am intending to strip and repaint it at some point this year. At the moment though, just making swarf with it, including a test bar as seen in second shot which I used to help align the tailstock. Taper is now .002 inch over 10 inch length when turning, which I reckon is close enough for a 70 year old machine - certainly close enough for my needs at the moment!

Also shows my Mark 1 slideway wipers and leadscrew cover, just bent up from some scrap sheet. I didn't want to drill any holes in components at this point, so slideway cover is attached to the cross slide and has felts attached underneath. This works to an extent, but both need to be extended/improved, so a Mark 2 version is on the cards.

Hi Phil

M type looks good, original specification and has apparently had some careful owners.

There are a lot of M's out there that have had some serious misuse, but not yours it looks like a good 'un to me.

Are you planning any mods for it or will you leave it much as standard.

I've done a lot of mods on mine many of which are "duplex" designs. Most of these were by one half of the duplex team, Ian Bradley and were published in Model Engineer magazine in the early 1950's. I can recommend buying a late copy of his book (circa 1972) the amateurs workshop which has many references to the M type and useful accessories.

Hope you enjoy using it they're a great machine

geoff

Hello Phil,

If I I add my welcome to the Forum as well and make a suggestion that you might like to adopt.

Move your Emergency stop switch to the front of the swarf tray and activate it with a length of angle iron or Dexion slung over the lip of the tray. That way you can use your hip to knock off the lathe in case you can't [or daren't] let go of whatever is in crisis on the machine.

I've had a 'crash' rail like that serving my machine bench for years, one move kills all machines

Nicely cared for lathe by the way

Regards

Brian

Thanks for comments from fellow M type owners. Point taken about stop switch position. Present set up was a quick fix to check wiring worked ok. Position isn't actually too bad, being at 'punch' height for right hand, but will be moved down to chip tray level where it can be leant on as Brian says. I will also be moving the on/off/reverse switch which is on the original mounting for the old Dewhurst switch - not a good position being a bit of a stretch and in line with the chuck.

Lathe is very original as regards condition, hence my initial reluctance to drill any additional holes for switches, covers etc. It has been badly repainted at least once though, not quite 50 shades of grey, but a good half dozen, so I am planning a cosmetic makeover with a new coat of machinery enamel. As regards other mods, I will be fitting a spindle thrust bearing as shown on the forums here - it seems like a worthwhile and fairly simple upgrade. A quick change toolpost would be nice, but not essential. I also want to have a go at making a fixed steady for it which would be very useful. If any of this goes ahead, I'll post up in appropriate forum.

The spindle will probably also be coming out to check headstock bearings - it runs very true, but oil runs straight through front bearing and hardly moves through rear one, suggesting a slight adjustment/clean up is needed. Previous owners included a clock repairer and a woodworker, and there was a certain amount of old sawdust hidden in nooks and crannies.