06-03-2012, 12:40 PM
Hi,
Flat belt drives are problem these days Rob and I can understand your problem in needing a correct motor drive pulley; these are still available but need a bit of tracking down. Many years ago I bought a big circular saw that was driven by flat pulleys and I converted it to V belt drive. when I go into the garage I'll have a look to see if I still retain the old pulley. As I mentioned in my email; you could take your time and fully restore this excellent lathe and convert it to V drive. Once the lathe is restored it will outlast the modern variable speed lathes fitted with lots of electronics to go wrong. I like these type of lathe for their simplicity and robustness. I'm also aware of your change gear problem Rob but the lathe will produce first class work without a single change gear; it won't screw cut or have power traverse of course but I've managed without now for a number of years working on my vintage MF36. I've only ever used the leadscrew to cut threads during my apprenticeship almost 50 years ago. I get by using taps and dies. I do miss the power feed though that I had with the Colchester but it doesn't prevent me from producing top class work on the MF.
I don't know what workshop facilities you have at your disposal Rob but three step V pulleys are widely available which would help if you decide to convert the drive system. Removing the headstock mandrel is actually very straightforward on these lathes all you need to do is to make a sketch and take notes of the components as you remove them. In particular the thrust bearing and spacers. On mine the ball bearings are retained in the race so removal doesn't mean ball bearings hiding in the black hole under the bench. I think once you start the restoration you will be surprised how simple it actually is. Take plenty of time and enjoy doing it. You will then have a friend for life which will hold its value.
With hindsight I fully agree with your comments Fido and thanks for adding them. Buying unseen is always a gamble but in the end it will come right for me and had the lathe been in good condition I would have missed out on the fun of restoring it. By doing it this way the bed is returned to as new accuracy and I think it may well turn out to be a lathe to keep. With 36" between centres it actually takes up little space sitting on the bench; the motor at the moment is mounted on the garage wall so doesn't use space beneath allowing plenty of storage. The day I collected the lathe was a bit stressful. I had to hire a van so hired a Transit because I wasn't sure if the bed length would fit into a small van.
I think in total the van hire with insurance and fuel amounted to some £70 for a day's hire. I collected the van in the morning and was just settling into driving it when I ran into grid lock on the M62 west bound; I sat in the jam for well over an hour.By the time I arrived at the sellers home in North Wales it was after midday. I wanted to return the van before the hire company closed at around 5.30pm. In order to load the lathe I had to strip it down to enable two of us to lift it.. I didn't have the time to start inspecting the lathe and to be honest as I looked around the workshop I thought the description as to it's condition would be fair.
This must be the fastest travelled lathe ever on the return journey. I had to unload it on my own into the garage and at last I could return the van just in time to the hire company. It turned out to be a hard day and as I stated previously I was quite a while before I got around to re-assembling and inspecting the lathe by which time I had left positive feed back on eBay. I never go back on a deal even if I feel entitled to do so; I bought the lathe unseen. I won't buy another lathe unseen though.
Thanks Paul; Transwave static phase converters work in a fashion but don't give full 3 phase power and I found it a pest having to keep adjusting the output control for each machine I was running; at the time I had three 3 phase machines hooked up to it. My big Colchester and huge Dominion woodturning lathes and also the double ended pedestal grinder. I was happy to let the converter go with the Colchester.
Like you Paul I used to think installing 3 phase 415V into my workshop or garage would be hugely expensive. The fact is that I installed 3 phase 415V giving up to an estimated 10HP output for just under £120 and I'm not joking either. Many of my friends have seen it in action and the beauty about it is that once each 3 phase machine is phase balanced to the transformer they not only work on full power; they can be switched on and off just as though regular 3 phase is installed; I demonstrate this by switching on the big 3 phase bandsaw and whilst this is running also switch on the 3 phase dust extractor. I used to hate using the Transwave to power up the dust extractor as it used to take forever to come up to speed; with my transformer it comes up to speed almost immediately. I know of a guy in Wales who needed 3 phase installing into two large farmhouses to power heat exchangers; he was quoted by the local power company in excess of £17,000. I was one of the first in the UK to install this 3 phase system and it is brilliant. I'm a mechanical engineer so playing around with this amount of electricity was a major challenge; I'm not skilled in electrical work but hopefully I know what not to touch. I've posted the link before but here it is again;
http://unique3phase.com/
I was brought up with huge machinery and find it heartbreaking to see all our heavy machines go abroad to be replaced by fast food outlets locally.
I've just returned from buying paint for the restoration; Bron selected the dark green colour as I'm colour blind. I bought 2 litres of Synthetic Enamel which I'm assured once it cures will be up to the job; I also bought 1 litre of correct thinners plus a roll of masking tape. Not cheap these days at £43.98 for the three items but bless the government for boosting the cost due to £7.33 VAT being added. 20% VAT is sure to encourage others like me to spend on materials to create jobs.
I've never sprayed enamel before and I'm told it will take a few days to fully harden unlike the auto lacquers I usually spray which flash off very quickly indeed. I hope I don't get any runs or curtain whilst spraying.
Kind regards, Col.
Flat belt drives are problem these days Rob and I can understand your problem in needing a correct motor drive pulley; these are still available but need a bit of tracking down. Many years ago I bought a big circular saw that was driven by flat pulleys and I converted it to V belt drive. when I go into the garage I'll have a look to see if I still retain the old pulley. As I mentioned in my email; you could take your time and fully restore this excellent lathe and convert it to V drive. Once the lathe is restored it will outlast the modern variable speed lathes fitted with lots of electronics to go wrong. I like these type of lathe for their simplicity and robustness. I'm also aware of your change gear problem Rob but the lathe will produce first class work without a single change gear; it won't screw cut or have power traverse of course but I've managed without now for a number of years working on my vintage MF36. I've only ever used the leadscrew to cut threads during my apprenticeship almost 50 years ago. I get by using taps and dies. I do miss the power feed though that I had with the Colchester but it doesn't prevent me from producing top class work on the MF.
I don't know what workshop facilities you have at your disposal Rob but three step V pulleys are widely available which would help if you decide to convert the drive system. Removing the headstock mandrel is actually very straightforward on these lathes all you need to do is to make a sketch and take notes of the components as you remove them. In particular the thrust bearing and spacers. On mine the ball bearings are retained in the race so removal doesn't mean ball bearings hiding in the black hole under the bench. I think once you start the restoration you will be surprised how simple it actually is. Take plenty of time and enjoy doing it. You will then have a friend for life which will hold its value.
With hindsight I fully agree with your comments Fido and thanks for adding them. Buying unseen is always a gamble but in the end it will come right for me and had the lathe been in good condition I would have missed out on the fun of restoring it. By doing it this way the bed is returned to as new accuracy and I think it may well turn out to be a lathe to keep. With 36" between centres it actually takes up little space sitting on the bench; the motor at the moment is mounted on the garage wall so doesn't use space beneath allowing plenty of storage. The day I collected the lathe was a bit stressful. I had to hire a van so hired a Transit because I wasn't sure if the bed length would fit into a small van.
I think in total the van hire with insurance and fuel amounted to some £70 for a day's hire. I collected the van in the morning and was just settling into driving it when I ran into grid lock on the M62 west bound; I sat in the jam for well over an hour.By the time I arrived at the sellers home in North Wales it was after midday. I wanted to return the van before the hire company closed at around 5.30pm. In order to load the lathe I had to strip it down to enable two of us to lift it.. I didn't have the time to start inspecting the lathe and to be honest as I looked around the workshop I thought the description as to it's condition would be fair.
This must be the fastest travelled lathe ever on the return journey. I had to unload it on my own into the garage and at last I could return the van just in time to the hire company. It turned out to be a hard day and as I stated previously I was quite a while before I got around to re-assembling and inspecting the lathe by which time I had left positive feed back on eBay. I never go back on a deal even if I feel entitled to do so; I bought the lathe unseen. I won't buy another lathe unseen though.
Thanks Paul; Transwave static phase converters work in a fashion but don't give full 3 phase power and I found it a pest having to keep adjusting the output control for each machine I was running; at the time I had three 3 phase machines hooked up to it. My big Colchester and huge Dominion woodturning lathes and also the double ended pedestal grinder. I was happy to let the converter go with the Colchester.
Like you Paul I used to think installing 3 phase 415V into my workshop or garage would be hugely expensive. The fact is that I installed 3 phase 415V giving up to an estimated 10HP output for just under £120 and I'm not joking either. Many of my friends have seen it in action and the beauty about it is that once each 3 phase machine is phase balanced to the transformer they not only work on full power; they can be switched on and off just as though regular 3 phase is installed; I demonstrate this by switching on the big 3 phase bandsaw and whilst this is running also switch on the 3 phase dust extractor. I used to hate using the Transwave to power up the dust extractor as it used to take forever to come up to speed; with my transformer it comes up to speed almost immediately. I know of a guy in Wales who needed 3 phase installing into two large farmhouses to power heat exchangers; he was quoted by the local power company in excess of £17,000. I was one of the first in the UK to install this 3 phase system and it is brilliant. I'm a mechanical engineer so playing around with this amount of electricity was a major challenge; I'm not skilled in electrical work but hopefully I know what not to touch. I've posted the link before but here it is again;
http://unique3phase.com/
I was brought up with huge machinery and find it heartbreaking to see all our heavy machines go abroad to be replaced by fast food outlets locally.
I've just returned from buying paint for the restoration; Bron selected the dark green colour as I'm colour blind. I bought 2 litres of Synthetic Enamel which I'm assured once it cures will be up to the job; I also bought 1 litre of correct thinners plus a roll of masking tape. Not cheap these days at £43.98 for the three items but bless the government for boosting the cost due to £7.33 VAT being added. 20% VAT is sure to encourage others like me to spend on materials to create jobs.
I've never sprayed enamel before and I'm told it will take a few days to fully harden unlike the auto lacquers I usually spray which flash off very quickly indeed. I hope I don't get any runs or curtain whilst spraying.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
