To Grind or Not to Grind – that is the question

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 20 February 2013 at 21:24 by Anna Jablonska.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

Author

Posts
19 February 2013 at 15:33 #22476
Anna Jablonska
Participant
@annajablonska79888
Should I regrind the bed ??
Advert

19 February 2013 at 15:33 #112579
Anna Jablonska
Participant
@annajablonska79888
Apologies to Shakespeare for using a part of his literary talents, but in fact this is my quandry – re-grind the bed, or not….

Why ?

1. Lathe is disassembled.

2. Needs a new paint job anyway.

3. It has wear of 0.20mm (8 thou's or thereabouts) vs nominal shear height at the chuck end….0.07mm (2thou and a bit) at the tailstock end.

4. Top of ways are worn by 1 1/2 thou vs headstock….ie they are that much lower….

5 Shear widths are within 1 thou of nominal….

So my dear friends and colleagues – what would you do in my shoes…?

Hugs from a snowy Poland…

A
19 February 2013 at 16:53 #112590
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
You should also look at the underside of the carriage, if the tops of the shears are worn so the carriage will be worn also.
19 February 2013 at 17:07 #112591
Anna Jablonska
Participant
@annajablonska79888
Thanks Graham & Kwil.,

Saddle and gibs will all be looked at – they don't look bad – but if I'm re-grinding the bed then I will most probably gring & scrape these parts in as well….

I'll post pics soon….

Kindest Anna
19 February 2013 at 17:36 #112593
Paul Barrett
Participant
@paulbarrett57424
I had the saddle and cross slide reground on my lathe. I was lucky the bed was hardly worn. The shears were ok and very little wear along the 'v's. However the 'v's in the saddle were worn quite a lot and so that was reground as was were the front apron attaches to keep the apron the same height and the leadscrew in line. The cross slide was badly worn on the bottom so that was reground as well as the gib. Brian at Slideway Services did the job for £250 which I thought was brilliant. The lathe is an Ajax badged Universal C8C which is still made to this day. 6 1/2 inch swing x 30 inch between centres. A really well made Bulgarian lathe.
19 February 2013 at 19:24 #112603
Takeaway
Participant
@takeaway
Hello – Thirty years ago I aquired an old 3.5" Grayson lathe which was quite worn all round. The lathe was not a great pleasure to use. I was at the time able to take advantage of a a pro toolroom setup. Because the bed was not hardened, I had it skimmed all over on a jig borer. The headstock bearings renewed, a new spindle turned, hardened and ground etc. etc. Result was a smashing piece of kit which I could rely on to do anything I threw at it. So my advice for what it's worth is do it – and if you can manage it for the price of a bottle of scotch – like what I did – then so much the better! ATB – Stuart
20 February 2013 at 15:25 #112669
Anna Jablonska
Participant
@annajablonska79888
Thanx Paul and Stuart.,

Seems that the way to go is forward…..which I will most definitely analyze a bit more before I commit….

Don't have Scotch in Poland – obviously Vodka will haveto do – but after the grinding has finished…

Anyways – I'll keep you posted on the outcomes…I wish I had a Brian here – but alas I guess I'll just have to find one….

Kindest from an even more snowy Poland…..

Anna
20 February 2013 at 17:12 #112673
Martin Kyte
Participant
@martinkyte99762
If you intend to keep the lathe get it reground. You are not going to wear it out and have to do it again are you, and this way you get all the benifit rather than waiting for it to get worse.

Martin
20 February 2013 at 19:34 #112682
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Anna,

Keep your damn snow.
20 February 2013 at 19:52 #112687
Wolfie
Participant
@wolfie
I like snow! Good job really considering where I live.
20 February 2013 at 21:24 #112699
Anna Jablonska
Participant
@annajablonska79888
more snow promised tomorrow….

I'm now off to clear some to the workshop…..

kindest Anna

Edited By Anna Jablonska on 20/02/2013 21:24:49
Author

Posts