Boxford AUD

Hi Folks

I have been enjoying the magazines and web site for a few years in a passive capacity. When I retired (from an IT career) I had planned to go to some evening classes to learn something about engineering (Model or just machinery restoration) but that plan was foiled when I found that schools don't teach kids anything useful anymore. All to dangerous I suppose.

At best I can only claim to be a bodger but I've worked on farms and had repair various bit of machinery by using common sense, angle grinder and welder. I did manage to attend a short introduction course to ME a few years ago and have "played with a bit of lathe turning.

I have acquired a Boxford AUD lathe model number AUD10544 and played with it a little bit. I want to explore and learn about the screw cutting capabilities.

I have 2 questions please.

With regard to the gearbox the right hand gear selector moves between the various threads per inch quite easily but i cannot move the left hand lever to select the ranges A B C D or E. I haven't used any force. It may just be stuck but before I stick a lever in the works has anyone got any advice.

Secondly ( and I feel foolish asking this) but I cannot see how to adjust the compound rest for screw cutting. Firstly I expected a couple of bolts somewhere around the base securing the rest at the desired angle, then I took off the tool post expecting their to be a securing nut on the point at which it would swivel and theres nothing there. I haven't managed to feel if there a securing nut on the underside - hidden up in the body of the cross slide - but I doubt that. Can someone enlighten me please?

PS - I have just ordered a manual on-line and hope that it will also help me when it arrives.

Thanks

Pete

Hello Peter, not sure about the reason why the left hand lever should be stuck. I wouldn't advise force, it should just move but can be difficult if the gears aren't in mesh; turning the chuck by hand a small amount until the lever moves is usually all that is required.

Thw compound slide is fixed by a couple of hex socket grub screws and can be hard to see. If you cannot find them I can send a picture.

Brian

Edited By BDH on 13/02/2018 20:50:09

Pete

Compound - there are 2 socket grub screws in the sides of the cross-slide where there is a little "hump" in the casting, these lock the compound, which has a cone base which fits inside the cross-slide.

Selector levers can be a bit sticky. Try jiggling the leadscrew to and fro as sometimes the gears in the box get a bit locked. I assume the spring loaded plunger pulls out OK?

PG. Down load this - its all you need to know for free. Strange place to find the info, but its the original manual for your lathe.

**LINK**

BobH (Boxford AUD / Southbend owner 45 odd years)

Hi Peter,

I would look at joining the Yahoo Boxford owners group as well. There is a wealth of information on there and plenty of files you can view or download including manuals.

As Robbo said, Make sure the spring loaded knob pulls all the way out. On my AUD it sometimes sticks. Another thing is when you oil the gearbox don't just put oil in the holes. Make sure you squirt oil up into and onto the gear train.

Have a look at mrpete on YouTube he has some good videos on the Southbend versions of the Boxford including a complete gearbox strip & rebuild.

Hope this helps. regards

It's quite easy on a long neglected bit of machinery for the oil to turn to varnish / glue. Could easily see this happening to the gearbox, out of sight out of mind.

A spray with decent penetrating fluid / degreasing fluid / WD40 or similar might not go amiss on the shaft the levers pivot upon

View from below.

Edited By Martin 100 on 13/02/2018 23:23:50

Peter,

You could do worse than have a look at John ( Doubleboost ) Mills' very early YouTube videos. He ran a Boxford - an AUD I think it was - around seven years ago and posted a number of videos using the machine. Even if you don't find them useful, they can be relatively amusing, so long as you're not easily offended by a little "ripe" language when things don't go quite right!

I'm assuming that you've had a look at the Boxford section of www.lathes.co.uk? I joined the Yahoo! Boxford group some while ago when I was considering a Boxford AUD purchase, but could never find a way off the home page, so gave up on it.

Enjoy your lathe and keep us informed how you get on.

John H.

Folks a big thank you to you all. I replied to the first few replies last night but as I have has several more I thought a generic reply may be best (I am still leaning how these groups work).

Thanks to the various suggestions and offers of encouragement confirming its likely to just be "glued" up with dust and old congealed gunk I gave it a good squirt of wd40 and a bit of jiggling about and sure enough it moved. Having slid it back and forth I shall follow it up with a bit more cleaning and oiling until I can slide this gear easily.

As for the compound rest I can now see the grub screws and have moved it around and oiled it up a bit. That will need more cleaning as well.

I had downloaded the boxford pdf before posting the questions but the descriptions and pictures had not given me the insight you guys offered very quickly.

I will take a look at the Yahoo site and see if I can join in and find useful tips.

I will also take a look at the youtube clips submitted by MrPete and John Doubleboost Mills. I find the YouTube clips quite useful and as a training source of information as well.

I expect I shall be back with more questions in the future but many thanks again to you all.

Pete

Hello Peter,

There will maybe come a time when you want to try screwcutting on the lathe beyond the imperial, metric and BA pitches, for which tables exist.

I can help with the more obscure pitches you might find the need for such as Diametral Pitch (DP) Module and even watch threads

Regards

Brian

Edited By Brian Wood on 16/02/2018 10:52:56

Hi Brian, I don't wish to hyjack Peters thread so whould it be OK to pm you regarding your offer to Peter?

I'm particularly intrested in cutting DP and Module worms on my metric Boxford AUD.

Steve.

Hello Steve,

By all means do but it is all in my book 'Gearing of Lathes for Screwcutting' On sale via Amazon but also by ArcEuro at the colossal price of £12.50. Nicer I think to support the local supplier

The watch threads are later thinking which came after publication and I will happily make those available to you by email---incompatability issues prevent me from adding such stuff and photos to postings

I can be reached at wood_y(at)btinternet(dot)com

Kind regards

Brian

Thanks for the reply Brian.

I'll get myself a copy and get back to you if I need more help.

Thanks,

Steve.

Peter Stephens,

Thank you, I got your PM but the sent box seems to think it is for incoming mail. I've tried twice to reply without knowing if you have got them so a more reliable method is to use my email instead

wood_y(at)btinternet(dot)com

Quite exhausted now by the repeated attempts!!

Kind regards

Brian