Looking for a lathe...

[Tekno_Cowboy]

I got my lathe today 😀
It's in the basement ready to be cleaned up and set up. All that's left to do is make a bench to put it on.

There will be loads of pics!

 

[choffman]

I don't know how many of you guys have a mill or if you use edge finders or not, but here's a deal.

http://www.newark.com/starrett/827a/no-827-827m-series-edge-finders/dp/85K7140?_requestid=79820

They are $6.25 regularly 21 Bucks. Right around 20 Bucks everywhere else I looked on the net. Shipping to me was about 5 bucks. I couldn't help myself, I bought four of them. They only have 16 left.

Here's another deal I found, at amazon no less....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CSBNY/?tag=cpf0b6-20

60 Bucks

Good news from the doc. They don't need to operate on my arm. They said that this is a common injury in "middle aged" people and the operation risks aren't worth it. I think the "middle aged" comment hurt more than ripping the bicep from my shoulder. They said I'll be back inaction in 3 to 4 weeks, instead of 7 to 8 weeks with surgery. Arm looks weird with the muscle out of place but they said it will reattach itself and I probably wont even see 5% loss of strength in only one range of motion. It's called "popeye displacement" or something like that. I looked it up on the net because I thought the doc was full of sh!t. Seems like it's legit. Weird.

So... I ran over to HF and bought the engine lift I've been threatening to buy for years and now the lathe is up on the work bench and getting cleaned off. Oh, here's another deal for you fellas.

Get a 20% off any single item by signing up for email. This works even if you are currently signed up. The following URL printed on my receipt the other day as well as the guy in front of me. It's good until May 31 09. You can use it over and over again just by making return trips.

http://www.harborfreight22.com/save/

Lastly, I was wrong about the current (amps) my lathe pulls. I don't know where I got 16A from, pain killers from the ER I reckon. I got a look at the nameplate on the motor and it says 8.8A. You could easily run this off of a 15A breaker with 14AWG wire. The cost difference is so small though that it's really not worth it if you are going through the trouble of adding a circuit.

C-


EDIT:
Oops, sorry. I just paid 60 Bucks with free shipping on that level. It looks like someone caught it and it's gone back up to 104. Dang I knew I should have bought two of them at that price.

 

[precisionworks]

They are $6.25 regularly 21 Bucks

When using collets in the mill, they are the preferred edge finder because of the single end design. If you try to use a double end model, the collet will stretch the spring when withdrawing the edgefinder.

Nobody discounts Starrett😀

16 still left in stock.

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

Those look like some really nice deals, but that particular post might be better in the Good Deals sticky in this subforum. Edit: Never mind, the tread got closed due to ebay coupons. 🙁

Glad to hear your recovery will be speedier than originally thought :Happy14:

I already have a 20A circuit run, so I won't worry about running another one. I almost forgot GFCI protection, but a quick run to the toolbox fixed that 😀

If anyone who has one of these gets a chance, could you look and see if the motor has built-in protection?

I don't know how many of you guys have a mill or if you use edge finders or not, but here's a deal.

http://www.newark.com/starrett/827a/no-827-827m-series-edge-finders/dp/85K7140?_requestid=79820

They are $6.25 regularly 21 Bucks. Right around 20 Bucks everywhere else I looked on the net. Shipping to me was about 5 bucks. I couldn't help myself, I bought four of them. They only have 16 left.

Here's another deal I found, at amazon no less....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CSBNY/?tag=cpf0b6-20

60 Bucks

Good news from the doc. They don't need to operate on my arm. They said that this is a common injury in "middle aged" people and the operation risks aren't worth it. I think the "middle aged" comment hurt more than ripping the bicep from my shoulder. They said I'll be back inaction in 3 to 4 weeks, instead of 7 to 8 weeks with surgery. Arm looks weird with the muscle out of place but they said it will reattach itself and I probably wont even see 5% loss of strength in only one range of motion. It's called "popeye displacement" or something like that. I looked it up on the net because I thought the doc was full of sh!t. Seems like it's legit. Weird.

So... I ran over to HF and bought the engine lift I've been threatening to buy for years and now the lathe is up on the work bench and getting cleaned off. Oh, here's another deal for you fellas.

Get a 20% off any single item by signing up for email. This works even if you are currently signed up. The following URL printed on my receipt the other day as well as the guy in front of me. It's good until May 31 09. You can use it over and over again just by making return trips.

http://www.harborfreight22.com/save/

Lastly, I was wrong about the current (amps) my lathe pulls. I don't know where I got 16A from, pain killers from the ER I reckon. I got a look at the nameplate on the motor and it says 8.8A. You could easily run this off of a 15A breaker with 14AWG wire. The cost difference is so small though that it's really not worth it if you are going through the trouble of adding a circuit.

C-


EDIT:
Oops, sorry. I just paid 60 Bucks with free shipping on that level. It looks like someone caught it and it's gone back up to 104. Dang I knew I should have bought two of them at that price.

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

Well, I got the outside parts of my lathe cleaned up using Stoddard Solvent. The solvent took the grease right off 😀

I put a light coat of Vactra 2 on all surfaces, and gave a shot to all the oil points. The lathe controls work much smoother now.

I know the gears and pulleys will need cleaning and the gears will need some gear oil, but what else should be cleaned? Should anything else be taken apart, cleaned, and oiled?

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

I made the mistake of picking up 1/4" cutters, to find that they don't quite fit in the tool post.

What size tooling should I be using with the stock tool post?

Is there a "starter kit" of some sort that works well with the HF 8x12?

 

[LLCoolBeans]

I made the mistake of picking up 1/4" cutters, to find that they don't quite fit in the tool post.

What size tooling should I be using with the stock tool post?

Is there a "starter kit" of some sort that works well with the HF 8x12?

You should be able to get 1/4" bits to work. It's not easy using any size bits in that medieval torture device. You should be able to shim around to get it to work though. Did you try foul language?

Seriously though, you need this...
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2713&category=-139540609

It's worth every penny and then some. The day you get it home and install it, is the day you will be kicking yourself for not ordering it sooner. Guaranteed.

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

Foul language just made it laugh at me.

I plan to get one, once I've got steady income again. (aka: a job) I need something to hold me over til then...

 

[darkzero]

Is there a "starter kit" of some sort that works well with the HF 8x12?

Don't listen to me cause I don't know jack in this area but LMS does sell a starter kit that includes the QCTP tha LLCoolBeans mentioned. Great price for the kit too. http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3534&category=1070498684

I took Will's advice & ordered the QCTP Set from Lathemasters which was $169 alone. So the kit from LMS for $160 is an awsome price!

 

[LLCoolBeans]

I plan to get one, once I've got steady income again. (aka: a job) I need something to hold me over til then...

Understood.

In that case, I'm sure we can get you up and running with the iron maiden and your 1/4" tool bits.

What exactly is the trouble you are having with those bits?

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

That looks like a great kit, my problem is that I don't have $160 to spend right now, though I suppose I could sell a couple of lights if I had to.

I'm hoping to find a slightly cheaper kit to hold me over for a month or two right now.

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

Understood.

In that case, I'm sure we can get you up and running with the iron maiden and your 1/4" tool bits.

What exactly is the trouble you are having with those bits?

They fit inside the set screws, making it impossible to properly tighten them down. I still have the receipts, so I'll be returning them to get funds for better tooling.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

They fit inside the set screws, making it impossible to properly tighten them down.

That shouldn't be too much of an issue. Have you tried stacking another bit next to the one you are trying to use? You need to find a way take up the space and get the bit you want to use directly under the clamp screws. Another 1/4" tool bit or two should do the job, but if that doesn't quite work, find something else that is the right size.

You will also need to shim underneath the bit to achieve center. This is the tricky part as you will need varying thicknesses of shim stock to adjust for center with different tool bits. Luckily, I have an old rusty set of long feeler gauges that I found discarded in an alley, while walking home from work one day. Those worked nicely for this purpose and I didn't have to worry about damaging my nice set of precision ones.

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

I might have to give that a try, as I tend to be impatient. I'm trying to free up some funding now, I'll have to see how I fare.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

I might have to give that a try, as I tend to be impatient. I'm trying to free up some funding now, I'll have to see how I fare.

Believe it or not, that's how this thing "works". Now you understand why I speak about it the way I do.

Patience is the only way to get anything done with the iron maiden.

 

[wquiles]

Don't listen to me cause I don't know jack in this area but LMS does sell a starter kit that includes the QCTP tha LLCoolBeans mentioned. Great price for the kit too. http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3534&category=1070498684

I took Will's advice & ordered the QCTP Set from Lathemasters which was $169 alone. So the kit from LMS for $160 is an awsome price!

Good move. Only the set from Lathemaster fits the 8x14 lathe without any mods. Not only that, their "modified" AXA holders (more on this below) are the only ones that have the right height for the 8x14 lathe as normal AXA holders might have to be milled to work properly in the 8x14 lathe 😉

I made the mistake of picking up 1/4" cutters, to find that they don't quite fit in the tool post.

What size tooling should I be using with the stock tool post?

Is there a "starter kit" of some sort that works well with the HF 8x12?

I never used the built-in tool holder that comes with the lathe - complete waste of time. The thing you "need" to have, is a quick change tool post, and of course tool holders. Specifically, for the 8x14, you need this one from Lathemaster since it is already modified to simply drop-in to your lathe:
http://lathemaster.com/QUICK%20CHANGE%20TOOL%20POST%20SET.htm

Those tool holders are basically AXA size, which means they will take smaller tool bits like the 1/4" that you already got, all the way to 1/2" thick. You can get additional AXA holders cheaper at CDCO Tools, but read my post with mods to my now-gone 8x14 so that you can see how those holders from Lathemaster have been already modified to "fit" the 8x14 lathe 😉

Note on the Lathemaster side that they list their tool bit holders as either "STANDARD AXA TYPE" or "LATHEMASTER CUSTOM TYPE"
STANDARD AXA TYPE (these are the same ones you can get cheaper at CDCO Tools)
ITEM: 250-101

LATHEMASTER CUSTOM TYPE
ITEM: T250-101


I actually have several cutting tools that would fit those AXA holders (and that would be priced "very" reasonably), so if you or anyone else with the 8x14 want them, let me know by email 😉

Will

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

Don't listen to me cause I don't know jack in this area but LMS does sell a starter kit that includes the QCTP tha LLCoolBeans mentioned. Great price for the kit too. http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3534&category=1070498684

I took Will's advice & ordered the QCTP Set from Lathemasters which was $169 alone. So the kit from LMS for $160 is an awsome price!

Good move. Only the set from Lathemaster fits the 8x14 lathe without any mods. Not only that, their "modified" AXA holders (more on this below) are the only ones that have the right height for the 8x14 lathe as normal AXA holders might have to be milled to work properly in the 8x14 lathe 😉





I never used the built-in tool holder that comes with the lathe - complete waste of time. The thing you "need" to have, is a quick change tool post, and of course tool holders. Specifically, for the 8x14, you need this one from Lathemaster since it is already modified to simply drop-in to your lathe:
http://lathemaster.com/QUICK CHANGE TOOL POST SET.htm

Those tool holders are basically AXA size, which means they will take smaller tool bits like the 1/4" that you already got, all the way to 1/2" thick. You can get additional AXA holders cheaper at CDCO Tools, but read my post with mods to my now-gone 8x14 so that you can see how those holders from Lathemaster have been already modified to "fit" the 8x14 lathe 😉

Note on the Lathemaster side that they list their tool bit holders as either "STANDARD AXA TYPE" or "LATHEMASTER CUSTOM TYPE"
STANDARD AXA TYPE (these are the same ones you can get cheaper at CDCO Tools)
ITEM: 250-101

LATHEMASTER CUSTOM TYPE
ITEM: T250-101


I actually have several cutting tools that would fit those AXA holders (and that would be priced "very" reasonably), so if you or anyone else with the 8x14 want them, let me know by email 😉

Will

Has anyone used the LittleMachineShop QTCP linked to above?

 

[LLCoolBeans]

Has anyone used the LittleMachineShop QTCP linked to above?

I have one, it works great. You do need to modify the compound slightly to get it to fit. This was easy for me as I have a small milling machine, but could be done with a hacksaw and file. In fact, the instructions say to use a hacksaw.

I've never seen the lathemaster offering before, that looks like it could be even better. It' looks more like a real Aloris.

Either one will be a vast improvement over what you've got.

How is lathemaster on shipping? Do they ship right away, or is there a wait? I know for sure that littlemachineshop, ships lightning fast. Orders ship out the same day the order is placed. I've placed several orders with them now and I am very pleased with their customer service. They are happy to answer questions too, call and speak to Chris or Roger, they'll get you what you need, and fast.

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

What did you need to modify on the compound?

 

[LLCoolBeans]

What did you need to modify on the compound?

1. Remove it from cross slide.
2. Disassemble it.
3. Press out threaded post, be careful not to bend it or damage the threads. (like I did. Dang. If you do damage the post, you will have to make a new one, like I had to.)
4. There is a cylindrical portion of the compound that surrounds the hole for the threaded post. That thing needs to be cut down a bit, I think about 1/4" if I remember correctly. Find a way to do that, this is easy with a mill, but could be done a lot of ways, even a hacksaw and file would work, just be careful.
5. Re-insert threaded post and press into place.
6. Re-assemble compound.
7. Re-attach compound to cross slide
8. Install QCTP.