Boxford Size ?

I have a model A boxford lathe. I recently bought a fixed steady for it from fle bay. The steady was advertised as 4-1/2", so i thought i was OK.

When i tried it it is about 1/2" too short!!! I have never measured my lathe centre height until now and find that it's sat at 5".

The steady has not been modified, so what is the correct centre height??

Cheers

Bri

If you plug a centre into the headstock the lathe height is from the bed to the tip of the centre

There were 2 types, 4.5 and 5 inch

http://www.lathes.co.uk/boxford/index.html

(though the actual centre height was 4 5/8"

Edited By Ady1 on 17/04/2012 07:44:41

IIRC the "normal" centre height for a Boxford was nominally 4 1/2" (I seem to recall the actual centre height was 1/16" or 1/8" over 4 1/2" ). but 5" versions were also made. You would appear to have the latter. Have you tried contacting Boxford with the serial number ? They are still trading, having moved recently to a new factory in Elland, about 6 miles or so from the original Boxtrees Mill site in Halifax.

http://www.boxford.co.uk/boxford/

The later Boxfords were 5" centre height and as such require a 5" steady, looks like you may have acquired a steady for the earlier 4-1/2"

Paul

Hi

Just a thought, would it be feasable to cut the mounting block in two, fit a spacer to each side and bolt together to extend the height?

Ian

Thank you for all your responses. It would appear that it is a 5" machine.

I am not into modifying things so if anyone wants a steady for a 4-1/2" machine PM me.

Bri

You shouldn't need to modify it.

If you have a mill or milling capabilities you could create a raising block for it as it's only a "V" way on one side, it dosent have to be "aerospace" accurate either as you have some room to manouver with the steady fingers.

Paul