What to do with a pile of bits?

This topic has 15 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 11 February 2014 at 22:17 by Steve Withnell.

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10 February 2014 at 19:26 #23141
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
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10 February 2014 at 19:26 #143440
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
So, I am now the proud owner of this pile of bits. Once upon a time it was a Seig C3 lathe, it's now a collection of parts.

I had originally thought to make a tool and cutter grinder – I have a nice quarter horse motor with a VFD – and mill the top side flush and the bottom carriage flush which would give me an X/Y table and attach a collet chuck to the top slide for the cutters.

Then I thought I might buy one of the X2 column and bases from Ketan and make a small Mill. Then I thought of taking the little DRO's off the topslide and trying to adapt them for my Chester Lathe.

THEN I thought it might be a good idea to do NONE of the above and save myself a load of time and aggravation. But that's no fun now is it?
10 February 2014 at 20:21 #143452
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Gear hobber

or

Headstock + tailstock + stepper for computerised dividing head.

Cross-slide etc for rose engine.
10 February 2014 at 20:39 #143453
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Bargain-Basement equivalent of the Quick-Step ?

MichaelG.
10 February 2014 at 21:00 #143456
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 10/02/2014 20:39:58:

Bargain-Basement equivalent of the Quick-Step ?

MichaelG.

I don't think so Michael. The headstock casting is no lightweight and add a motor……….

I'll give that one a miss I think.
10 February 2014 at 21:02 #143458
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
Posted by Bazyle on 10/02/2014 20:21:42:

Cross-slide etc for rose engine.

So what is a rose engine? Excuse my ignorance.

graham.
11 February 2014 at 00:25 #143477
I.M. OUTAHERE
Participant
@i-m-outahere
T&C grinder , camshaft grinder , dividing head or small cylindrical grinder are some of the things I would want to make if I had these items at hand .

Ian
11 February 2014 at 07:47 #143483
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Oompa Lumpa on 10/02/2014 21:00:19:

… I don't think so Michael. The headstock casting is no lightweight …

I'll give that one a miss I think.

.

My error, Graham …

You did say the bits were from a C3 but, just looking at the photo, I mistook them for something much smaller.

I would still consider using the Headstock as a Milling Attachment of some sort … but it's unlikely to be toolpost-mounted !!

For my education; could you please give the approximate outside dimensions of that Headstock casting, and also remind me which model of Chester Lathe you have.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: I see, from another thread, that you have the DB7VS.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 11/02/2014 07:54:31
11 February 2014 at 09:29 #143488
old Al
Participant
@oldal
Bin it and move on to a project you want to do.

Don't put it in a corner so you think you will find a use for it later, you will run out of corners
11 February 2014 at 11:16 #143499
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by old Al on 11/02/2014 09:29:01:

Don't put it in a corner so you think you will find a use for it later, you will run out of corners

.

Wise words, old Al … as I know to my cost.

Currently wishing that I had a spherical workshop

[so there would be an infinity of corners]

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 11/02/2014 11:17:08
11 February 2014 at 11:26 #143501
Gordon W
Participant
@gordonw
You could always give it to me, no use for it at the moment but have sheds and lots of corners.
11 February 2014 at 12:10 #143509
IanT
Participant
@iant
It has been some time since I've been able to get into any of my corners Al – but I've always known why.

'Head' says "just get rid of all this junk" but 'Heart' says "you might need it some day"

So whilst I would really like one of those lovely (tidy & well laid out) workshops that I so often envy online, the truth is that I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. Stupid I know….

IanT
11 February 2014 at 13:34 #143521
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
As always, the thread has been an education.

I now know what a Rose Engine is though I have long since seen the Holzapfel lathes, fascinating.

I am really ruthless when it comes to "corners", my workshop is one of those 'organised' ones. I can't be doing with disorganised catastrophe. My memory isn't good enough, I need everything to have a place so I can remember where I put it, whatever IT is

My first thoughts were a Tool and Cutter grinder, more specifically, something to sharpen drill bits with. I have all the components, including the material for the table and bracketry/adaptors so it would cost me nothing other than time so the consensus seems to be that route.

old Al is right though, I have a sort of rule of thumb: If I haven't used it in the last six months it is time to move it on. Tailstock and a few of the other bits are Bin Bound though, the Controller board I will sell and put the money to good use, IF it sells. The covers and boxing are also bin bound.

Michael, the headstock casting is 15.5 x 9 x 14 cm approx increasing to 22cm long if you take into account the shaft and gearing.

graham.
11 February 2014 at 13:44 #143525
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Oompa Lumpa on 11/02/2014 13:34:27:

Michael, the headstock casting is 15.5 x 9 x 14 cm approx increasing to 22cm long if you take into account the shaft and gearing.

.

Thanks Graham,

Thinking-Cap is on …

[Although in fact it's usually a matter of letting things simmer at the back of the mind.]

Next question: Does the profile on the bottom of that Headstock match your lathe bed ?

MichaelG.
11 February 2014 at 13:45 #143526
Another JohnS
Participant
@anotherjohns
My first thoughts were a Tool and Cutter grinder, more specifically, something to sharpen drill bits with. I have all the components, including the material for the table and bracketry/adaptors so it would cost me nothing other than time so the consensus seems to be that route.

Graham – I finally bit the bullet and got a Worden from Kirk @Hemingways and threw all the old "this is going to be a drill sharpener someday" bits in the bin.

Best move I've made in a decade.

My thoughts, anyway.

John.
11 February 2014 at 22:17 #143606
Steve Withnell
Participant
@stevewithnell34426
Order a lathe bed of Ketan and put it back together
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