One Man and His Lathe

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

The series 'One Man and his Lathe' has been generally well received by readers. It allows a lot of different authors to contribute and covers a wide range. So far we have covered:

• EW, 2.5"
• Engineers Toolroom, BL12/24
• Myford, S7
• Hobbymat, MD65
• Atlas, 10-FV/36
• Homemade lathe
• Chester, Challenger
• Colchester, Bantam
• Harrison, 250
• Amadeal, 210VG
• Denford, Viceroy
• Grizzly, G0602
• Hardinge, Cataract
• Britan, repetition lathe
• Chester, 12×36 GH
• Drummond, M-type

I have two very obvious omissions from this list – a mini-lathe and the ML10 – lined up for future issues, and a couple of offers of write ups for more obscure lathes in hand or promised.

I would be keen to receive offers of write-ups for the following lathes, all of which seem to have their loyal users:

• Boxford AUD, BUD or CUD
• Myford 245
• Any small Denford CNC lathe (e.g. Orac) still used as a CNC lathe.
• Unimat SL bar bed.
• Sherline
• Taig/Peatol
• Cowell
• Warco 250V

Don't forget, the write ups need to profile the lathe user or at least their hobby activities.

Naturally I have no problems with spicing this list up with a sprinkling of more obscure machines (there was the chap restoring a DSG lathe…)

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Future Subjects

[Anonymous]

How about the Harrison M300? They're popular for those building larger engines and plenty of them about on the secondhand market.

There ought to be a new series entitled 'One Man and His Mill'.

Andrew

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

You forgot the Boxford ME 10, ME for model engineer Neil. There detail differs on all of their lathes. The main ones on the ME10 is back gear engagement and minor maintenance areas plus being Boxford's last bench lathe They often come with the power feeds and the gearbox due to the nature of many people who bought them.

As a bits and pieces as needed type home machinist I couldn't fit the bill. Latest maybe is part of an astro telescope mount – would an engineer do it like that – NO WAY. Milling job anyway.

John

–

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

What issue was the Bantam in ?

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

John, it was 229 June 2015, I hope you like it, I wrote it.

Chris Gunn

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

' And Emco s Maximat range. Denford small cnc trainers were Emco bed machines.

Regards Ian.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Ian, the Denford Orac is a mile away from the Emco 5 and Compact 5 cnc/pc machines in bed design and strength, also marked difference in capabilities when working. I am not knocking either as both machines are good at what they were intended to be and will do a range of lathe work to repeatable tolerances.

Emgee

Edited By Emgee on 11/01/2016 14:20:15

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Posted by Emgee on 11/01/2016 14:19:30:

Ian, the Denford Orac is a mile away from the Emco 5 and Compact 5 cnc/pc machines in bed design and strength, also marked difference in capabilities when working. I am not knocking either as both machines are good at what they were intended to be and will do a range of lathe work to repeatable tolerances.

Emgee

But, isn't the Orac based on the EMCO Compact-8 lathe, not the Compact-5?

John.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

And the Compact 8 was based on the Ecomat 8.6 without the geared head.

[Ralph HParticipant @ralphh]

Neil, just to let you know that I still have full intentions of writing up the restoration of my two c. 1900 large Britannia lathes, as I emailed you about a few months ago. Things have got a little held up but I will be progressing with them within the month, at last. I could also do, for this section specifically, a write up on my large 1916 Drummond lathe? It is the double-height bed type and is 6" x 48", long bed, and I have neither seen nor read about another quite like it, all being smaller.

Edited By Ralph H on 11/01/2016 19:16:13

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

John

The Compact 8 had straight cross bracing to the bed rails, Orac has diagonal bracing but heavier than shown for the Emco V10P on Tony's site . It seems the Orac and Emcomat 8.6 were both introduced in the late 70's and have many similar visual design features, not surprising as they were both chasing the same market.

Doesn't the same apply now to a greater extent with different badges on the same castings ?

Emgee

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ralph H on 11/01/2016 19:10:16:

Neil, just to let you know that I still have full intentions of writing up the restoration of my two c. 1900 large Britannia lathes, as I emailed you about a few months ago. Things have got a little held up but I will be progressing with them within the month, at last. I could also do, for this section specifically, a write up on my large 1916 Drummond lathe? It is the double-height bed type and is 6" x 48", long bed, and I have neither seen nor read about another quite like it, all being smaller.

Edited By Ralph H on 11/01/2016 19:16:13

Thanks Ralph, let's go for the Brit. first (1) I want to read it so don't get distracted and (2) I'm trying to stick with one owner, one lathe.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Emgee on 11/01/2016 19:14:06:

The Compact 8 had straight cross bracing to the bed rails, Orac has diagonal bracing but heavier than shown for the Emco V10P on Tony's site . It seems the Orac and Emcomat 8.6 were both introduced in the late 70's and have many similar visual design features, not surprising as they were both chasing the same market.

Doesn't the same apply now to a greater extent with different badges on the same castings ?

I read Steven Jay Gould's criticism of the way horse evolution has been presented over the years in the bath this morning.

Trying to draw an evolutionary 'bush' for lathes would be far, far more complex!

Neil

[garyParticipant @gary44937]

any one know which issue the harrison 250 was in ?

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

May I offer the CL500, it serves me will with my jobs I give it.

Martin P

[Ralph HParticipant @ralphh]

Yes Neil, thank you There is a lot of work to do on the lathe but I shall send it to you in the first instance.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 11/01/2016 20:15:10:

I read Steven Jay Gould's criticism of the way horse evolution has been presented over the years in the bath this morning.

Trying to draw an evolutionary 'bush' for lathes would be far, far more complex!

Neil

A major part of the work for UK and some other manufacturers has been done by Tony at Lathes UK, no doubt some manufacturing history will never be known.

Emgee

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Posted by Emgee on 11/01/2016 19:14:06:

John

The Compact 8 had straight cross bracing to the bed rails, Orac has diagonal bracing but heavier than shown for the Emco V10P on Tony's site . It seems the Orac and Emcomat 8.6 were both introduced in the late 70's and have many similar visual design features, not surprising as they were both chasing the same market.

Ah – ok. I have two Compact-8 lathes, but have never seen an Orac CNC lathe in the flesh so to speak, only in pictures, and the family resemblance is obvious. (Two Compact-8 lathes? One to CNC – one of these years; chucks, etc will fit both lathes, and #2 was less expensive than purchasing an Asian 7x lathe)

Thanks – John.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Emgee on 11/01/2016 21:22:43:

A major part of the work for UK and some other manufacturers has been done by Tony at Lathes UK, no doubt some manufacturing history will never be known.

Emgee

Tony's website is an excellent resource, but I was think more along the lines of something resembling one of Pete Frame's 'Rock Family Trees' which will be of fond memory to those of us of a particular vintage.

Neil

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