Colchester Student 1800

I should be very grateful if someone with one of these lathes could tell me the dimension from the back of the splash guard to the front of the swarf tray, in other words the depth of the machine excluding the bits sticking out beyond the body comprising various handles.

I am still trying to make up my mind whether to buy Harrison or Colchester and dimensions are one of the keys to this.

I have a Student 1500 square-head, circa 1969, and I don't know if Colchester modified the dimensions of the 'footprint' for any later 1800 model. However, from the foundation plan given in the manual for my lathe the overall dimensions are as follows:

a. Total length of machine, including drip-tray overhang is 61".

b. The diagram suggests an additional 18" clearance is given to the left of the machine to facilitate the removal of the change-wheel guard. This will be required regardless of the machine having a gearbox or not as certain threads and feeds rely on change-wheel configurations as input to the gear-box.

c. From the centre-line of the lathe to the rear motor guard, which protrudes from the rear of the machine, is 20".

d. From the centre-line of the lathe to the extreme end of the cross-slide hand-wheel is given as 14".

e. From the above it can be seen that the total 'depth' of the lathe is 34" as the splash-guard does not protrude beyond the lower motor guard.

Therefore if you work on a total minimum footprint of 79" x 34" for the actual lathe plus you should give yourself a practical work-space in front of it, of course. However, you should allow as much room as you possibly can to the left of the lathe to facilitate the loading of long stock through the head-stock spindle.

Trust this helps.

Edited By Chris Crew on 24/07/2021 03:39:45

Edited By Chris Crew on 24/07/2021 04:03:04

Correction:

c. From the centre-line of the lathe to the rear of the splash-guard, which protrudes beyond the rear of the machine, is 20"

e. From the above it can be seen that the total 'depth' of the lathe is 34" as the splash-guard protrudes beyond the lower motor guard.

My apologies for reversing the 'splash' and 'motor' guards and for any confusion caused.

Thanks for your help Chris. I suspect, however, that the 1800 has slightly different dimensions. I am seeing if it would fit in. spot with rather odd constraints, the ends not being a problem, merely the depth.

My (older) Colchester has a sheet metal panel along the back, held by a couple of bolts and a clip. It sticks out about 30 degrees from vertical, and it would be very easy to modify to make it wider or narrower - or even taller - to suit a tight fitting shed. This would need a bity of sheet metal bending, and any joint could be done with strip and rivets - or even 1BA bolts at nine barleycorn centres.

Cheers, Tim

My (older) Colchester has a sheet metal panel along the back, held by a couple of bolts and a clip. It sticks out about 30 degrees from vertical, and it would be very easy to modify to make it wider or narrower - or even taller - to suit a tight fitting shed. This would need a bity of sheet metal bending, and any joint could be done with strip and rivets - or even 1BA bolts at nine barleycorn centres.

Cheers, Tim

Martin

I've just measured the Colchester Student 1800 I have at work and it is 725mm wide, from the top front edge of the cabinate/swarf tray to level with the top edge of the rear splash guard. These are the widest points across the main body of the machine.

Edited By Lathejack on 27/07/2021 18:21:11

Thanks Lathejack. That is exactly the information I needed and is very helpful indeed.