Something exciting on its way…

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Posted by not done it yet on 30/08/2017 17:54:00:

What would Neil do with two boxes of fork handles?

Could he have some 'ose' in there too?

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'm down-sizing to a 'micro lathe'

Or at least that's what the instruction book calls an SC4, Ketan's been looking after it for me at Arc while I've been excavating my workshop.

You lot are on form!

It's very big and heavy, three times the weight of a mini-lathe and rather bigger than a S7 (but no gap).

Advantage of MT3 at the front and Mt2 at the back so will suit lots of my existing bits.

Very exciting looking around the machine. It seems very well thought out, separate V-ways for head and tailstock, hardened bed. Covered in oiling points… it will take an hour to lube it!

More power!

I think I'd better take a little lie down now… then I have to screw the stand together. No more 3D printing for a while

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well looking at the pics on twitter it certainly seems like a good quality crate

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Bikepete on 30/08/2017 17:04:05:

On Twitter Neil says it's "well wicked".

Four candles?.

Perhaps he's referring to wicking properties; ability to absorb moisture?

I wish I could get another micro lathe but then I would be neglecting the sherline ;'(

Michael W

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Well the stand is in one piece. The last screw took as long as all the rest!

Impressed at how robust it is for pressed steel.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Is it a keeper or on review?

I’ve had one for a very long time. I’d recommend the wedge tool post “000” size fits and still allows 12mm tooling to be used.

Jim

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

So…………

………. how will you be levelling the new toy ?

Nigel B

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by Nigel B on 31/08/2017 09:09:52:

………. how will you be levelling the new toy ?

Nigel B

Russell

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Nigel B on 31/08/2017 09:09:52:

So…………

………. how will you be levelling the new toy ?

Nigel B

.

He is going to get JS to come round and glare at it.! – Lathe will then be in fear and stand perfectly to attention and true for evermore.

Nick

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

If it's wobbly he can wedge a sooper adept under one corner

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by Nigel B on 31/08/2017 09:09:52:

So…………

………. how will you be levelling the new toy ?

Nigel B

… by astronomical observation…

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Put a copy of that Mini Lathe book under one corner or 3D print out some custom packers

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

I have no experience of this range of lathes so I am perhaps talking broken biscuits here.

But it is no secret that increasing the mass and lowering the balance point of any machine tool is a good thing. Even more so the smaller they are.

As such I would be tempted not to store tools etc in the base cabinet cupboards but to take a trip to B&Q (or similar) and buy a few bags of sand or pea gravel and house them in the cabinet base cupboards. Perhaps even decanting them into smaller bags so one could get more in.

Just an idea. Perhaps a misguided one though.?

Nick

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Good point about sand in the base. Would give weight and potentially reduce vibrations.

Jim

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

3ft long (910mm) so you could use a paving slab if you can get a good old 2in thick one between drip tray and stand.

250lbs. How you going to lift it? Some pictures of that operation might be helpful for others getting this size.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I'v got half a dozen 7.62 mm Ammo boxes full of lead, that's the stuff for ballast.

Ian S C

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Bazyle on 31/08/2017 12:25:52:

250lbs. How you going to lift it? Some pictures of that operation might be helpful for others getting this size.

.

2 people. Strongest one at the headstock end. Any more than that on a small machine and they would get in each others way.

Nick

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by jimmy b on 31/08/2017 12:05:08:

Good point about sand in the base. Would give weight and potentially reduce vibrations.

Jim

Those half moon shaped weights they put in washing machines 'aint arf heavy' and they have a couple of flat surfaces.

No idea what they are made of though!

 

How about some photos of all these goings on for this forum?

Edited By V8Eng on 31/08/2017 13:23:05

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

According to the Twitter posts you need "Wes" to pick up the heavy end. Some pics there too.

I can (just)pick up the headstock end of my 280 when still fixed to the stand so I should think Neil can manage the tailstock end of an SC4.

I just keep faceplate, steadies, etc in the stand and have draws with tooling in between and it does not seem to jump about even with some large out of balance castings on it

[Dave MartinParticipant @davemartin29320]

Posted by Ian S C on 31/08/2017 12:28:07:

I'v got half a dozen 7.62 mm Ammo boxes full of lead, that's the stuff for ballast.

Ian S C

Just lead – or propellant as well? (guess that would then be blast not ballast though!)

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 31/08/2017 13:35:37:

I can (just)pick up the headstock end of my 280 when still fixed to the stand so I should think Neil can manage the tailstock end of an SC4.

I can just lift the headstock end of the SC4, but as Wes (one of my steplads) now drives and unloads HGVs and previously used to carry granite kitchen worktops about in one hand I thought I would let him do the hard work. We managed to go from front drive, through the house and into the workshop in one, but I think we were both glad to get it down

We still have to lift it on the stand tonight, I've made a downpayment in Foster's.

The SO is wondering how we managed to move the lathe within a couple of hours but the old washing machine is still in the garden…

I'm not worried about the stand going anywhere, but I might screw it down if I can figure out a way of doing so!

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machines-Accessories/Lathes/SIEG-SC4-Lathe/SIEG-SC4-and-C4-Lathe-Accessories/Deluxe-Stand-for-SC4-510-Lathe

Neil

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I might screw it down if I can figure out a way of doing so!

It does say it is designed to be bolted to the floor. Nothing about screws, mind

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

And you can see the bolt holes in the photo you linked to. If its a wooden floor then couple of coach screws would do

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I can see the holes, but how do I push bolts up through the floor from underneath without ripping it up?

There's only about 1 1/4 inches of headroom over the holes so no way to get a coach screw in.

Methinks two wooden strips overlapping the base and screwed to the floor will do the job.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

mark hole positions with a pencil through the holes, move stand so you can pilot drill the floor. Pack stand up off the floor 3", poke a 4" coach screw through teh hole (should fit at an angle) then wind it 1" into the hole, lower stand 1" and screw another inch, etc.

However if it is only going to screw into a floorboard then 1" screws will do.

Alternatively don't bother screwing it down, mine is not and stand is almost identical design.

[Author]

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