Stuart No.1 on a Myford Super-7??

[flatlineParticipant @flatline]

Good morning all… A beginner’s question; can a Stuart No.1 be built on a Myford Super-7, using the vertical-slide for the milling operations??

Many thanks in advance 😎🇬🇧👍

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Should not be a problem, flywheel will fit the faceplate. Cylinder can be done either on a faceplate, in a 4-jaw or fixed to the cross slide. Boxbed and sole plate on a faceplate. Standard probably on the cross slide though a vertical slide could be used .

Other smaller milling operations all OK with a vertical slide.

Back in the day this is how all the common old ME designs were machined as most hobbiests did not have access to a milling machine.

The Minnie in my Avitar and a Stuart Beam were done on a similar size lathe with a vertical slide.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

To my mind, money spent on a vertical slide is better put into the “I’m saving for a milling machine” piggy bank.

A vertical slide doesn’t convert a lathe into a decent milling machine.  They’re a compromise with a long list of disadvantages.   Popular before small mills became common, but been fading away since.  Better on big lathes than small ones: I’d categorise the Super 8 as a “small big lathe”, or a “big small lathe”.

I found my vertical slide very frustrating.

Reasons for using them:

• only ever do small work that’s well within the capacity of the slide and it’s limited traverse.
• enjoy traditional methods, and don’t care more time and skill is needed
• no space for a mill
• no money for a mill

If money is the problem, save up.  Even a dinky bench-top mill is better than a vertical slide.

But a slide will do a Stuart if nothing better is available.

Dave

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I’d add another reason

• Certain jobs can still be better done on a Vertical slide, I still get mine out when needed and I’ve got three other mills to choose from. Not least working on big items that are too tall to stand up in the mill but when mounted horizontally on the Vert slide the only limit to length is where the workshop wall is. You also have the power feed of the lathe which will give a better finish than trying to use a mill’s quill if boring holes.

If you buy a half decent 2nd hand Myford vertical slide chances are you can sell it on for a similar price if you upgrade to a dedicated mill. Or like my hold onto it for when it is the best tool for the job.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I venture to suggest that Stuart designed most of their products specifically so they could be machined on small lathes. If they hadn’t then they would be killing half their market.
Perhaps not including their ‘full size’ boat engines, the Swan and Cygnet.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Quite agree, 99% of what model kits are about today are based on what can be done on a Myford, that is why so many stationary engiens have 9″ flywheels and very few any larger as then they would not fit a Myfords gap.

I think even the Swan and Cygnet would be OK as they don’t have anything much larger than a No1. The No6 would be pushing it but even that most could be done on a myford and find a friend with a big one for the other couple of parts, the disc flywheels are smaller than spoked so probably only the cylinder and bed castings are beyond the Myford

10 series can be done on a Unimat3

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

Flatline . I’ve got a brand new and unused , boxed , swivel Myford vertical slide which I would consider selling . Please PM me if of interest . Many Thanks.

[flatlineParticipant @flatline]

Many thanks for all the replies – very informative & constructive advice, as ever.. 😊

I’ve had my 1955 Super-7 for just over a year, and in learning to use it I (almost) inevitably uncovered a degree of wear, etc..

Recently I had the bed, saddle & cross-slide reground, and a strip of ‘Turcite’ utilised during conversion to the ‘wide-guide’ spec – this work done at the same time as the regrind.
I have also worked on improving the saddle-lock and will be making a cross-slide lock, all in the interests of obtaining as much rigidity as possible.

I have also dug into the (Mastercard) piggy-bank & bought a new fixed vertical slide attachment, with the larger 4-slot slide, which will take the more substantial vice from Myford.

TBH all this as I have a curiosity as to how much can be achieved with a Myford, I am still learning but already have ideas of expanding my workshop space & as I semi-retire investing in some slightly more substantial ‘tool-room’ machines.

Andrew Smith’s book ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Building the Stuart No.1 Engine’ arrived today, and in the introduction mentions that ‘the usual Myford ML7 is obviously an ideal choice’ – so probably answering my original question… ‘Portass’ was also mentioned, a close cousin to the ‘Zyto’ I believe (??).

 

Many thanks again for all the advice, I will no doubt be back soon with more questions!! 😎🇬🇧👍

 

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