Peter Gilliland

Hello,

I am a hobbyist machinist making parts for motorcycles based in Northern Ireland. At the minute using a Halifax 524 lathe and would love to own a milling machine. Would anyone else use a Halifax would be good to hear good points and faults with this machine. Keep it simple as I am just learning please.

Welcome Peter

I don't have a Halifax lathe, but more than likely someone on here will know of them.

Rob

Hi Peter,

The Halifax lathe is very similar to the Atlas 10" lathe, see lathes.co.uk website.. **LINK**

I have got the Atlas lathe which I have completely modified with an electronic gearbox, these lathes unless very well looked after will most definately need attention to the bedways which will most likely be worn on all sides causing the saddle to stck when positioned along the bed to the tailstock.

There have been quite a number of Atlas lathes on Ebay recently, these lathes have not had a good press which is a shame as they are quite capable of good work if set up correctly, some people claim as good as any Myford which is similar in build.

I was virtually given the lathe and at first I was perplexed to find that the bed was worn and I was not prepared to pay for a proper re-grind so decided to take the unorthodox method of doing it myself which will no doubt cause shock and horror to proper engineers...using a small-ish surface plate and emery paper, even worse shock and horror..!

I had to make a jig to grind the bedway edges and I have recently checked the wear on the bed surface with a larger surface plate and was pleased to find very little difference along the bed, however screwing down the bed supports can cause bedway distortion and needs to be checked whilst tightening down.

Another problem I found was that the oiler hole for the headstock was never designed to deliver oil to the bearings and was blocked by the outer ring of the bearing itself, how it survived I don't know.

Well it may not be the right way of doing but the results I get are pretty accurate, certainly accurate enough for model engineering.

Bob.

Welcome!

Reading about another lathe is always of interest, and often answers a question yet unasked about a feature or problem.

This is where we share experiences, good or bad, to help each other.

Enjoy the company!

Howard

Thank you to everyone for the great information. I am hoping someone has a Halifax 524 or an Acorn lathe as some parts are needed for mine. Here is hoping.

Peter, you mentioned you are looking for a milling machine, although it may seem obvious to more experienced model engineer types, milling can be done on the lathe itself although a fixture is needed to hold the work.

Initially when I was beginning to have an interest in machining I fabricated my own fixture which was just an L shaped welded steel bracket with screw holes for mounting the work, it worked quite well so long as the depth of cut was not excessive, which you will only find by experience depending on material.

I have got some extra parts for the Atlas lathe some of which might be interchangeable for the Halifax, let me know with a pm or you can put it on this forum posting for all to see.

Rgds...Bob.

Once upon a time there was trader selling Atlas spares. I got a pair of half nuts and some change gears from him I recall but I can't remember any contact details. Anybody had contact with him in the recent past?

Bob D.

Welcome along to the forum Peter, from another motorcycle nut. (Pre-war stuff for me). I do get over to Northern Ireland a few times a year when covid regulations allow. Wife's family and the road racing are the prime reasons as well as the countryside.