Help me identify my lathe

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

Hey guys,

I’ve just bought my first proper lathe, and I wonder if anyone could help me identify the exact model so I can lay my hands on a manual.

It’s a Denham and the plate says built in 48. It looks very similar to a Junior Mk2, but with a slightly different tail (4 bolts into the leg instead of 2 and a cabinet-style leg)

[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1127520729898958869/1364495513671434310/86.avif?ex=68112139&is=680fcfb9&hm=498170b77c5c5c7aaa4bc9f820c39fd3c11822a3b7bff7ad5b45861af607b948&[/img]

[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1127520729898958869/1366284774318014464/WhatsApp_Image_2025-04-27_at_16.36.45_54be5bbd.jpg?ex=68110c1a&is=680fba9a&hm=abc928ee20d97ee2f7aea5b2cfdfc8b27563b6fed2b1fb54dcf7bc16f521f425&[/img]

 

[Mark EasingwoodParticipant @markeasingwood33578]

Welcome Nefarious.

I have copied your photo here, (you can only upload jpegs, I think),

Look like it might be a long bed version of the Denham Mk11/Junior.

See also this thread. LINK

Mark.

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

Aha! Thank you. I knew the Mk2 was close! I assume it’s functionally identical to the mk2?

Sadly, I got precisely zero info with it, as it was from a garage clearance sale.

I will have a scoot around on here for some more info, as obviously at least one other is running the same kit.

I don’t suppose anyone might have a pdf manual kicking about?

Oh, and thanks for the tip on posting pics!

[Mark EasingwoodParticipant @markeasingwood33578]

Some info on Lathes.co.uk if you haven’t already found it.

Mark.

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

Lathes is a fantastic resource, but is it just me that thinks £48 for a PDF is a bit steep? That’s well on the way to what I paid for the lathe!

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

If you want to save some money, try downloading this manual and compare it with your lathe.

John

The link goes straight to a download from the archive site.

 

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

Wow! Thank you so much!

A quick look says it’s pretty damn close. I’ll print it out and go and give it a mk1 eyeball!

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

I should add that I am in no way contributing to the stereotype of Scottish folks being tight 😉

 

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

As I amuse a Scots friend.

“Not tight; just careful, y’ken!”

Glad that the Forum members are already helping you.

Howard

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

Well. I managed to get a tune out of it

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

It wants a bit of cleaning, lubing and general TLC, but it works!

I also need to seriously up my skills, and learn the techniques properly rather than just making it up!

But I’m moderately happy with my first piece (well, strictly, my second piece, but we’ll brush that under the carpet). For the curious – it’s a shotgun magazine follower in acetal with a tolerance of about 2 thou, and it works a treat (much smoother than the aluminium original)!

My first job, once I’ve given the machine a bit more love, will be to redo it in carbon-filled PTFE for even more slipperiness 🙂

[halfnutParticipant @halfnut]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Good to see the old girl put to good use. Some other interesting projects in the background there too.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>There are quite a few general lathe skills ‘how to’ books from your lathes era still in print and more reasonably priced than the pdf manual! Tee Publishing website is worth a look. The Amateur’s Lathe by LH Sparey is very popular. And the Workshop Practice Series is like a complete homeshop engineering course in small increments. For more advanced stuff, anything by GH Thomas is regarded by many as the Bible.</p>

[nefariousParticipant @nefarious]

Thanks for the tips.

I’ve got “Metal Lathe for Home Machinists” by Harold Hall that I was planning to work through, but yeah, maybe something more period to the equipment might be a better idea.

[Author]

Posts