Looking for some "machine advice"

[TheOldHokie]

Just a heads up on where I am at in my head anyway.

I think I am looking for a lathe with the follow things:

~14-16 swing over bed, but I think a 15 would be ideal.

~40 inchs long, but might not pass on a 50 ......

Must be capable of running 240V 3 phase........(From my understanding a 480V needs a transformer set up and I don't think I want that)

Must be able to cut inch/metric threads

Would like a spindle bore as big as I can get, but I am not sure what my "absolute minimum should be?

Anything I am missing, or not thinking about, or being unrealistic, or making a rookie mistake?

Sounds like a good baseline to me.

Dont hesitate to go larger on the swing or shorter between centers.

Dan

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Sounds like a good baseline to me.

Dont hesitate to go larger on the swing or shorter between centers.

Dan

What's you idea of "too short" Dan?

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Oh and I forgot to mention that after signing up for this "facebook marketplace" thing, and looking around a little......

There is definitely a "crack smoking epidemic" going on here in America.....Some of these people are clearly "stoned out of their ever loving minds" with their prices....hahahahah

 

[TheOldHokie]

What's you idea of "too short" Dan?

We still talking about lathes

First off I dont make rifles or pool cues. I have two 36" machines and i think I might have wanted longer once maybe twice in 30 odd years. The vast majority of my work would fit on a 24" machine.

This is were through hole size comes in. If you can fit the workpiece through the spindle you can machine the ends of a long piece on a shortbed lathe. It also saves on wasted material from workholding drops.

Dan

 

[Yooper]

Just a heads up on where I am at in my head anyway.

I think I am looking for a lathe with the follow things:

~14-16 swing over bed, but I think a 15 would be ideal.

~40 inchs long, but might not pass on a 50 ......

Must be capable of running 240V 3 phase........(From my understanding a 480V needs a transformer set up and I don't think I want that)

Must be able to cut inch/metric threads

Would like a spindle bore as big as I can get, but I am not sure what my "absolute minimum should be?

Anything I am missing, or not thinking about, or being unrealistic, or making a rookie mistake?

I will say your list is solid! My 15x50 lathe (Enco) is my go to lathe for most projects plus it is accurate.

Keep in mind most motors can be run on the lower voltage also. You just have to change up the input wires per the plate instructions on the motor.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

We still talking about lathes

First off I dont make rifles or pool cues. I have two 36" machines and i think I might have wanted longer once maybe twice in 30 odd years. The vast majority of my work would fit on a 24" machine.

This is were through hole size comes in. If you can fit the workpiece through the spindle you can machine the ends of a long piece on a shortbed lathe. It also saves on wasted material from workholding drops.

Dan

I will say your list is solid! My 15x50 lathe (Enco) is my go to lathe for most projects plus it is accurate.

Keep in mind most motors can be run on the lower voltage also. You just have to change up the input wires per the plate instructions on the motor.

Thanks fellas.

Believe it or not, your years of experience and insights are very valuable to me.

For instance, I was in the past, a "long range" rifleman. So I have rifles that have 28+ inch barrels and maybe, just maybe, I would like to get back into that.

But as for pool cues........I suck at billiards, and the last time I played pool was at the E-club in 1990'ish at "Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia".

I wound up in the brig for 3 days because some sailor was very "offended " when I suggested that their mother/sister could "suck a golf ball through a garden hose".....BTW, I'm glad that pool cue was made of wood........But I digress.....

But y'all reminded me of a reason to stick to a 30"+ machine.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I will say your list is solid! My 15x50 lathe (Enco) is my go to lathe for most projects plus it is accurate.

Keep in mind most motors can be run on the lower voltage also. You just have to change up the input wires per the plate instructions on the motor.

Thank you sir.

I'm glad you mentioned it.

I have been worried about "Enco" lathes.

Due to the stigma of being "import crap"

Thanks!!!

 

[InTheWoods]

I've not bought from HGR, but have heard that they move a LOT of machinery, and you can get a decent deal there. I'm sure you can get screwed too. My understanding is they don't spend much time 'getting to know' their stock, so while they might not be trying to deceive a buyer, it could happen if you aren't aware of the condition.

Search

Used Industrial Equipment For Sale.

www.hgrinc.com

As has been mentioned already - 3-phase is a non-issue. Rotary phase converters are easily built, and VFD ('freq drives') are getting super cheap. So, that 'problem' has two good solutions.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I've not bought from HGR, but have heard that they move a LOT of machinery, and you can get a decent deal there. I'm sure you can get screwed too. My understanding is they don't spend much time 'getting to know' their stock, so while they might not be trying to deceive a buyer, it could happen if you aren't aware of the condition.

Search

Used Industrial Equipment For Sale.

www.hgrinc.com

i have never bougjt anything from HGR but I have watched their sales for a long time. Much of what HGR buys and sells is salvage - aka scrap metal. Be very careful......

Dan

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thank you sir.

I'm glad you mentioned it.

I have been worried about "Enco" lathes.

Due to the stigma of being "import crap"

Thanks!!!

Twenty years ago ENCO was one of the largest metsl c working v supply companies in the US. They were purchased by MSC and all of their customer accounts were merged with MSC's. Last time I looked MSC was still selling ENCO badged machine tools. Up until a year ago I owned a 24" ENCO vertical metal cutting bandsaw. Very solid and well built machine.

Now as to lathe sizes my fantasy machines fall into two categories.

This is my old iron, super precision, and absolutely gorgeous machine that I would use when making parts for my top secret nuclear bomb project.....

This is my old iron "enforcer" that I would use when I needed to make piles of big blue chips and clouds of steam. I almost snagged one a few years ago....

 

[Yooper]

Twenty years ago ENCO was one of the largest metsl c working v supply companies in the US. They were purchased by MSC and all of their customer accounts were merged with MSC's. Last time I looked MSC was still selling ENCO badged machine tools. Up until a year ago I owned a 24" ENCO vertical metal cutting bandsaw. Very solid and well built machine.

Now as to lathe sizes my fantasy machines fall into two categories.

This is my old iron, super precision, and absolutely gorgeous machine that I would use when making parts for my top secret nuclear bomb project.....

View attachment 139732

This is my old iron "enforcer" that I would use when I needed to make piles of big blue chips and clouds of steam. I almost snagged one a few years ago....

View attachment 139733

Is that a Monarch 10EE? That in my book is top prize of lathes! Offered to buy one from a local machine shop but the owner knew what he had. Pestered him from time to time but he wasn’t having any of it. Can’t say I blame him.

Dan, you have had the pleasure of working on some exquisite machine tools!

 

[Yooper]

Thank you sir.

I'm glad you mentioned it.

I have been worried about "Enco" lathes.

Due to the stigma of being "import crap"

Thanks!!!

My lathe was made in Taiwan in the late seventies. For us hobby guys they are decent machines that are accurate and will last if not abused. That last statement is important! Going from a Monarch to one of these it won’t take you long to feel the difference when you start hogging away on heavy cuts. Taiwanese machine tools versus Chinese ones are night and day.

That being said, I believe Precision Mathews lathes are Chinese but they replace the headstock bearings with top quality Japanese ones. Interesting concept. Time will tell

 

[TheOldHokie]

Is that a Monarch 10EE? That in my book is top prize of lathes! Offered to buy one from a local machine shop but the owner knew what he had. Pestered him from time to time but he wasn’t having any of it. Can’t say I blame him.

Dan, you have had the pleasure of working on some exquisite machine tools!

Unfortunstely I gave not had the pleasure of getting hands on with either of those two machines. Just pinups pulled off the web.

The 10EE was a super advanced lathe for its time but most of what you find these days have problems. The typical wear from 60+ years of use and the old electronics are a nightmare. The one inbthat picture was a very expensive restoration project by a collector with deep pockets.

The Anerican Pacemaker was a much more robust machine. The 14 × 30 Style B was the smallest in the lineup and clocked in for work at a biscuit under 8,000#. You can still find Anericans in good shapw and very reasonably priced. Most HSMs cant figure out how to get it down the basement steps and c run it off yhe dryer hookup. I located one in Pittsburgh but @hagrid said it was just slightly too big to tow with his scooterr Here is some lustful reading.

Dan

American Tool Works Co. - Publication Reprints - American Tool Works "Pacemaker" Lathe Bulletin No. 10 | VintageMachinery.org

 

[RCW]

I readily admit I know nothing about this type of equipment but really enjoy learning about it from threads like this and you folks that have worked with the equipment for many decades.

Much appreciated.

 

[InTheWoods]

This one sits in my shop. It came from the US navy, who bought it new in 1962. It had some electrical issues when I bought it, but wasn't too hard to get working. The spindle is driven by a 5HP DC motor, controlled by a set of giant thyratron tubes.

 

[Yooper]

This one sits in my shop. It came from the US navy, who bought it new in 1962. It had some electrical issues when I bought it, but wasn't too hard to get working. The spindle is driven by a 5HP DC motor, controlled by a set of giant thyratron tubes.

This is a 10 x 20 lathe but weighs close to 3000 lbs!

View attachment 139749

 

[TheOldHokie]

This one sits in my shop. It came from the US navy, who bought it new in 1962. It had some electrical issues when I bought it, but wasn't too hard to get working. The spindle is driven by a 5HP DC motor, controlled by a set of giant thyratron tubes.

View attachment 139749

Dan

Thats a beaut - I am jealous. Is that original paint? As nice as it looks did it come out of a lab?

Dan

 

[InTheWoods]

Thanks! It came from a Navy 'facility', rather than a 'lab'. When I got it, the paint was hideous - many, many coats of various pastel colors (green and orange!) over the years. It all got striped off and I painted it grey.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thanks! It came from a Navy 'facility', rather than a 'lab'. When I got it, the paint was hideous - many, many coats of various pastel colors (green and orange!) over the years. It all got striped off and I painted it grey.

The Navy mantra:

"If it moves salute it, if it doesnt move paint it."

You did good and the Navy would approve of your color choice.

 

[TheOldHokie]

This one sits in my shop. It came from the US navy, who bought it new in 1962. It had some electrical issues when I bought it, but wasn't too hard to get working. The spindle is driven by a 5HP DC motor, controlled by a set of giant thyratron tubes.

View attachment 139749

Are you familiar with these?

https://scissiocontrols.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/C16J_DataSheet_07.pdf