Lathe Milling Attachment – Disadvantages?

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

My first lathe was a Boxford CUD, for which I had the Boxford Vertical slide which was attached by replacing the top-slide. I used it very gingerly at first, but started taking bigger cuts as I got used to it, until one day it was wrenched right out of the dove-tailed hole. I used it very carefully after that but seldom with confidence.

One day I got the opportunity to buy a Centec 2B which, with its vertical head, is a small but very sturdy horizontal and vertical mill. I fully agree with the advice to find room for a proper mill.

Regards, Gary

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Nick T on 20/04/2015 11:55:46:

(ii) I would be very grateful Nick_G if you could let me have the dimensions of your VM30. I have done some more homework and the overall foot print of the VM30 is considerably less than a Tom Senior.

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Here you go Nick. **LINK** to a video of what you require.

Nick

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Nick_T

I would echo John Stevensons comment about reorganising. My workshop is 12 foot by 10 foot and I have two lathes (one considerably longer than your Boxford) a Mill, degreasing station, Anvil – with room to swing a hammer in earnest, a large Progress No1 Drill Press and a great many other tools including a Donkey Saw. My Mill right now is big but I take delivery of a bigger one in July.

I would look at rearranging some of your tools and looking at your layout. If it means just biting the bullet – taking everything outside and putting it back in a different order, we have the weather to do this with impunity right now.

I would be the first to admit I am "more than a bit" OCD when it comes to tidyness, my missus loves it so there is an upside. Though I have been known to lose my keys for hours at a time.

graham.

[Nick ThorpeParticipant @nickthorpe64546]

Afternoon All. I just wanted to say a big thank you for all the advice above. Five months on and the workshop is completed and a delightful refurbished (by me) Tom Senior Vertical Light is now milling frames for a Sweet Pea loco.

My colleague (plumber) suggested putting cardboard cut outs on the floor to represent the drill, mill, lathe and bench which was a great tip when I was fretting about squeezing it all in.

Regards, Nick

PS: Won't mention names but the large dealer I bought it from insisted that the grey Hammerite it was covered in was the original manufacturer's colour.

Edited By Nick Thorpe on 27/09/2015 17:34:45

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Congratulations! Your vistas will really open up now. Wish my shop was 14 feet long! Mine is 6'9" x 10'9" EXTERNAL with 19mm cladding on 50mm frame with 12mm internal cladding, so smaller than yours, but has room for a RF25 Mill/Drill and a BH600/Craftsman lathe and all the other stuff, (No one claustrophobic should enter).

Go to it, You are ready for a lot more tasks now.

Howard

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

The boxford vertical slide is a bit different to others as is the boring table. Both fit in place of the compound slide which I feel limits their use more than you might suspect. They did it this way because most of their lathes apart from an ME10 don't have a T Slotted cross slide.

It is possible to fit a T slotted cross slide to all of them via this man who is so busy it can be hard to get hold of him.

**LINK**

He will also make T slotted cross slides for some other lathes.

This still leaves the vertical slide as a bit of a problem. The best option is probably a Myford one that might benefit from packing up to account for the difference in centre height over the cross slide.

I'd go along with others. A separate miller is the best option really. In general the only use I make of the T slotted cross slide on my ME10 is for a slotting attachment. Mainly for keyways. It's based on castings intended for Myfords as many things are. Easily remedied by fitting an aluminium plate under the casting to increase the centre height.

I feel you have made a good choice in lathes. If you need help understanding it, parts and etc I would suggest you join the yahoo boxford group. There are plenty of people on there with detailed knowledge of the lathe. Also parts lists and other bits and pieces.

I've owned a number of makes of lathe and to be honest the Boxford has been the least trouble of the lot. I might be lucky in terms of lack of bed wear but they are a well put together piece of kit.

John

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