I ‘Want’ a bigger lathe. :)

This topic has 12 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 20 March 2017 at 13:18 by simondavies3.

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13 March 2017 at 16:55 #288655
Nick_G
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@nick_g
.

I may 'want' one but the reality is I don't have the room or the money.!

Went to my mates today to get some keyways slotted into the hubs of some flywheels. I also asked him could I use one of his lathes that would take a piece of cast iron I have for the cylinder liner up its spindle bore so I could drill it out to something that I could later fit a bar through when it come time to line bore it.

He pointed to a Colchester Triumph 2000 half hidden under a mountain of swarf and said that ain't being used at the moment so go ahead.

Now this lathe has seen better days. But it was a dream to use. Solid, smooth and drilled a 38mm hole through this 200mm length of cast iron like a hot knife through butter. Not a single kick or flinch and did not make a single noise higher than when it was just turning over. – I suppose the quality of his drill bits, the edge he grinds on them and that cast iron is not the hardest of materials contributes. ………… But still I was impressed.!

On departing I said to him that next time I had a free day I was going to come down with a gallon of paraffin and give the thing a damn good cleaning. He replied. "Will you heck as like. Clean them and they go rusty."

Anyway, I guess the saying that 'the heavier a machine is the better' carries some. …………. weight.

Nick
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13 March 2017 at 16:55 #18449
Nick_G
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@nick_g
13 March 2017 at 16:57 #288656
JasonB
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@jasonb
Did you not ask him if it had a 4-jaw big enough to take your hopper
13 March 2017 at 17:02 #288658
Nick_G
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@nick_g
Posted by JasonB on 13/03/2017 16:57:33:

Did you not ask him if it had a 4-jaw big enough to take your hopper

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Yeahh, he has. – Why what would your plan be.?

Nick
13 March 2017 at 17:18 #288660
JasonB
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@jasonb
Well assuming he has a big boring bar to match you could just bore it in the lathe
13 March 2017 at 17:47 #288673
Nick_G
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@nick_g
Posted by JasonB on 13/03/2017 17:18:12:

Well assuming he has a big boring bar to match you could just bore it in the lathe

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He did tell me he had some very big boring bars with some kind of special damping on the heads. ???

But I also liberated him of a couple of meters of steel to make a line boring bar out of. – Never done that so really would like to give it a go. (although I may regret it)

Nick
13 March 2017 at 19:46 #288693
Allan B
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@allanb
I do like the big Colchester lathe's, dream to work on, and as you said heavy enough to not move no matter what you put in it

I have to admit to keep looking at them on ebay, as for space, I would make the space

Allan
13 March 2017 at 20:15 #288700
Chris Evans 6
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@chrisevans6
I used a Triumph 2000 at work before I retired, I was not a full time turner as it was a jobbing shop most of my time was on a mill or spark erosion machine. The Triumph was a nice machine to use, worn when I started there and completely knackered 15 years later when I left. Typical of a lot of companies they would not spend any money on the machines to keep them in good order.
13 March 2017 at 22:07 #288720
Tony Ray
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@tonyray65007
The Triumph 2000 is a serious bit of kit; my dad used one as a toolmaker 7.5 horsepower if I remember correctly. He was a watchmaker so used to working to tight limits. he said it was his favourite machine in the workshop.
19 March 2017 at 17:11 #289514
larry Phelan
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@larryphelan54019
I also would like a bigger and better lathe,so, why dont I buy one? Simple,I dont think I,d know how to use it !

I have a small 6" Chinese job [ex Chester ] which does all I know how to do,no point in buying something better and maybe wreck it. 7.5 HP is a fair load for a home workshop,not sure your nabours would love you when you switch that on !
19 March 2017 at 23:59 #289565
Nick_G
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@nick_g
Posted by larry Phelan on 19/03/2017 17:11:03:

not sure your nabours would love you when you switch that on !

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If they are in good order a big lathe is virtually silent.

Nick
20 March 2017 at 01:29 #289567
Nick Hulme
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@nickhulme30114
Bigger lathes are for bigger work, if you upgrade to something too big you will lose top end speed and will find your capability for smaller work degraded,

– Nick
20 March 2017 at 13:18 #289623
simondavies3
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@simondavies3
Nick,

Maybe this one would be suitable for you – Dean, Smith and Grace, one careful owner (and a number of very careless ones). I am sure that the working surfaces are pristine under the coating of what looks like emulsion paint…..

(more photos in my album, sorry one is upside down but I can't see a way to invert it using the site software)

Spotted last year in a place that recycles building materials, so somewhat out of place in the sets of railing, shutters and second hand windows. Located on the outskirts of Aix en Provence – goodness knows what n°191 was doing here in the first place, but I suspect I can see its eventual destination.

Simon

Edited By Simon0362 on 20/03/2017 13:20:36
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