Spindle re-chroming and grinding.

This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 25 September 2025 at 17:30 by old mart.

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23 September 2025 at 11:25 #817134
stew 1
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@stew
Has anyone had a small lathe spindle hard chromed and re-ground? Who did you use? And what was the cost?

Many thanks

Stew.
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23 September 2025 at 12:47 #817144
Howard Lewis
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@howardlewis46836
Done properly, should be quite effective.

On buses, we always had worn shackle pins hard chromed and ground back to standard size.

It was claimed by some that hard chroming actually improved lubrication qualities (coefficient of friction?) of the bearing assembly.

Howard
23 September 2025 at 13:12 #817145
DC31k
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@dc31k
Old Bike Mart, produced by someone called Mortons Media Group, would have details of rechroming services aimed at telescopic forks (AM Philpot is one such). They would be similar conceptually to a lathe spindle where the outside requires work, and the inside needs some protection from the plating.

Does the spindle have an internal taper? How will you assure it is concentric with the new outer bearing surface?

Does it specifically have to be chrome plating? Alternative metals (e.g. nickel) could be more economic as the H&S and environmental issues surrounding chrome make it an expensive process.
23 September 2025 at 13:41 #817148
David George 1
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@davidgeorge1
What size spindle and for what machine. I made a new spindle for my M Type Drummond lathe and turned it from EN24T steel and never looked back.

David
23 September 2025 at 14:48 #817150
stew 1
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@stew
It’s for a 1908 Drummond pre-B type.

I’m going to be making new bearings, (or attempting to do so) so I thought having the spindle re-done would be a good idea.

It is bored through, so im assuming at the moment that a company that re-works spindles is used to dealing with such things regarding concentricity? I’m not sure though, and it hadn’t occurred to me so thanks for bringing that to mind.

David, I’m not sure either my C2 mini lathe or Hobbymat MD65 would have the capacity to make a new spindle sadly. The C2 is in bits awaiting better bearings.

Howard, I’ve not had chance to use that little Adept shaper I got from you by the way…my garage is still in bits! I’m working off one bench in much diminished surroundings, but at least I can do a bit.

Building work should be starting soon so things are looking up.

Stew.
23 September 2025 at 14:54 #817151
old mart
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@oldmart
Asking any local machine shops would be the best bet, they would know chrome platers and how to prepare the surface for hard chroming. You may not know that chrome and bronze bearings are not recommended, cast iron or white metal will be a better bet.
23 September 2025 at 16:25 #817157
Andrew Crow
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@andrewcrow91475
On 23 September 2025 at 14:48 stew 1 Said:

It’s for a 1908 Drummond pre-B type.

I’m going to be making new bearings, (or attempting to do so) so I thought having the spindle re-done would be a good idea.

If you are going to make new bearings, why not just get your existing spindle re-ground to true it up and then make your bearings to suit.

Andy
23 September 2025 at 16:47 #817162
stew 1
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@stew
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Hmm. I guess I just wanted it returned as close to original spec as possible. There’s still a little life in the old bearings and spindle, so I may yet get the machine to make its own spindle once it’s rebuilt. Just exploring options really. I’m always swayed by an easy option, so if someone said ‘oh yeah, just take it to Bert at business X, and it would cost you Y amount of money, I’d probably do that. As long as they were experienced in such work and came with a recommendation from someone who had a similar job done for a similar lathe.</p>
Stew.
25 September 2025 at 17:30 #817401
old mart
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@oldmart
Having the existing spindle ground would only result in very little metal removal, only noticable if actually measured. No need for the chrome plating. If you were careful measuring the spindle as is, you could make a drawing for the grinding shop to follow and make some bearings that would be ready to fit in advance. You have to remember that is an old lathe which will never be worth a fortune except to use and enjoy for its original purpose.
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