Hello and a small gloat

[Sawdust]

This is my first post on the turning forum as until today I never had a lathe but that has now changed...

It all started with a chat with my brother who said his workshop was too full to fit in any more motorbikes and me saying that I would be happy to remove any old junk he had in there.

So I now, I have this:

A pre-war (I think) Union Jubilee lathe. It is 43" between centres, 5" over the bed and 12 over the left bed. It weighs about 200kg.

It also came with a fair selection of tools:

Including a chuck:

There are two chuck bodies, one left threaded and one right. I have a feeling there is a part missing because no matter how I try to put it together, I can't get it to work as an expansion chuck although it works fine in compression.

I haven't turned anything since I was at school so will probably pester you guys for loads of help but I'm keen to learn.

It needs a bit of work to start with as it hasn't been used for a few years. It runs and sounds as sweet as a nut and the headstock bearings have been replaced. Everything moves and locks down as it should though and it includes a saddle which runs on a rack and pinion mechanism which I forgot to take any pictures of.

I'm tempted to do a full renovation on it but will probably have a play with it as it is first.

So my first question is - where to start - anyone recommend a good book, or a good woodturning course (I'm in East Yorkshire) or any good web sites to get me started.

I took him and his wife out for a nice meal to say thanks but still feel I got a bit or a bargain!

Cheers
Mike

 

[Jenx]

Waahayy ! Excellent gloat ! That looks great !

Welcome to the 'dark side' .. 8) 8) 8)

You could do a lot worse than start with the 'Bible' ...
Keith Rowley's book ...

(eg ) --- http://www.earlswoodinteriors.co.uk/a-f ... 1491-p.asp

Its available all over the place.. Axminster certainly keep it.. Amazon etc.

And by sticking around in here, you will get loads of help and encouragement !

Nice to see you in here Sawdust, other wiser, more skilled and vastly more experienced folks will be along over the "next 24"... but for the meantime.. its just grand to see you !

All the best,

Jenx 8)[/url]

 

[Bodrighy]

Small gloat? What d'you call a big gloat? That's a lovely old lathe. Check that it's single phase/ Have a look on www.lathe.co.uk as they have loads of info on old lathes.

Pete

 

[Blister]

Hi

and welcome

glad to see you got a decent lathe to start with :wink:

If you go to this site http://hegner.co.uk/system/

they are multistar dealers

good luck :wink:

 

[PowerTool]

Welcome to the round side!(It's like the "dark side" but we have cookies )

and me saying that I would be happy to remove any old junk he had in there.

Excellent choice 8) (certainly wouldn't class it as junk,though.)

And I will second the suggestion of Keith Rowleys book as probably the best place to start.

Andrew

 

[TEP]

As said one BIG GLOAT there Mike.

One good machine there, bit of a clean up, and a paint job, you'll have a lathe that will out live you, and believe me It AIN'T junk. They don't built many like that any more.

Multistar
I think I can just see the inner ring inside the chuck with the jaws fitted? If so you also need a strong elastic band on the outside of the jaws pressed down against the base flange.

In expansion, any of the jaw sets which have jaws of a bigger dia. than the centre of the screw ring are a pain in the b*m. But here's how to go about it.

Place jaws face down on bench, fit screw ring over the base flange.

Next slide the larger of the two rings over the jaw base flange and leave it sitting inside the screw ring.

This is where you need 3 or 4 hands :lol: . Now take the small ring fitted with the black 'O' ring and fit inside the jaws. No need to get it into the slot in all jaws for now.

Now fit the elastic band over the jaws and pull up against the base flange. Fit inner 'O' ring, ring into the slot at the base of the jaws.

Last but not least slide the ring with the tapered edge, taper first into the centre of the jaw set-up. Don't push it all the way in. Now fit the chuck body.

Now if you have any patience or time left go to the lathe and get some turning done.

I use Multistar Duplex chucks all the time, but I never use the jaws that are bigger than the centre of the screw ring, simply because of all the palaver.

If my memory serves the biggest jaws that will fit through the ring when built up are the 'B' jaws. For any work that needs jaws bigger than this 'yours' I use a scroll chuck.

After all this IMO the Multistar Duplex is the best chuck I have ever used for holding small and intricate items, and reverse chucking, but if you plan on doing bigger work I would suggest you invest in a scroll chuck at some point in the future.

Good luck!

 

[wizer]

Wow what a gloat. I think I'd be tempted to strip it right down and do a full resto on it. But that's just me

 

[mark sanger]

fantastic. Well done on the bargain.

M

 

[Sawdust]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

As said one BIG GLOAT there Mike.

...
Now fit the elastic band over the jaws and pull up against the base flange. Fit inner 'O' ring, ring into the slot at the base of the jaws.

...
Good luck!

Ahah - i got pretty close but I had no idea what the little bag of blue elastic bands were for. I'm at work now but will have another go with it again tonight.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Paul.J]

Hello Mike and welcome
Great first post,you lucky b-----

 

[dickm]

That's really gloatworthy! Now just fit a 3-phase motor and inverter for fully variable speed, and you'll be even more the envy of everyone else!

 

[Yorkie]

looks very similar to the one i'm picking up this weekend. As soon as I have it, i'll throw up the pics. The only problem with mine is the swith which is a bit iffy

goodluck and have fun

 

[Sawdust]

Tam,

Thanks for the advice about the chuck, I have it working now. I see you what you mean about it being a bit fiddly but once put together it does feel very solid and works nicely.

I put a crummy old piece of pine and had a go so now I have learnt that the tools are all blunt! As a first project I wondered about making new handles for some of the tools. What would be the best wood to use for this?

I'm wondering what to do about the motor. The one it has runs at 2850rpm which is means that all of the speeds are double what they should be. I can either fit another (1425rpm) motor which would be easy enough or, alternatively, fit a speed controller.

My worry is that with a speed controller I will not have enough torque at low speeds. I'm keen to have a go at bowl turning but the motor is only 1/2 hp. This seems a bit light to me compared to my other machines (all 3hp) but I'm not sure how much a lathe needs.

I can see this turning into a big restoration project but I quite fancy giving it a go. It would be nice to restore it to its former glory. The trouble is that then my even older and much bigger bandsaw would need restoring too!

Oh well, it seems I have found the slope for me - restoring old machines.

Cheers
Mike

 

[chipchaser]

Hi Mike,

nice lathe and often expensive to buy so a deserved gloat.

If you fit a 4 pole motor running at nominal 1500 rpm it should give you nearly twice the torque of a 2 pole motor drawing the same current. I think a 1 hp 750 watt motor would be ok. You might want a bigger motor if you go 3 phase with an inverter for speed control.

Regards

Graham

 

[Bodrighy]

1/2 hp is not particularly bad unless you are going to do big heavy stuff. A lot of the modern 'cheapo' lathes are only a third. I am surprised though that that is all this one is. You could do with a speed range of between about 400 and 2 - 3000 rpm to cover most things though if you want to do really big off centre stuff lower would be useful at times.

Torque is useful but can also be a disguise for bad turning. It is important to learn to take fine cuts and not 'cut dirty great lumps out' when turning. If the torque is lower the motor stops, with a higher torque there is a a danger of the tool going around with the wood when you get a catch and taking your arm with it.

This machine is a Landrover. It can be adapted, adjusted and modified to your hearts content so it will grow with you as your skill levels get higher. I am as envious as hell but wish you well. If you decide it's not for you give me a PM and I will happily relieve you of the burden.

Pete

 

[johnny.t.]

You jammy git :!: What a beast!! Thats proper 8) Contrary to what Pete says its not a landrover its a lathe( I know I own a lathe and a landy and have never got the two confused :lol: )

Ash is what most tool handles are made of.

JT

 

[richburrow]

What a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CHJ]

........I'm wondering what to do about the motor. The one it has runs at 2850rpm which is means that all of the speeds are double what they should be. I can either fit another (1425rpm) motor which would be easy enough or, alternatively, fit a speed controller......

Given that the very substantial hardware core has not cost you anything but the effort to move it I would save the pennies until you have enough to go for a 3PH motor and an 1Ph to 3Ph Invertor.

As for power rating, a 3PH motor will give you better torque than the equivalent wattage 1PH motor.
Despite this I would not bother fitting anything less than 1HP with 1 1/2 to 2 HP not being over the top for such a robust machine. (as you lower the frequency {speed} you do loose torque.)

Here's Some notes on the subject

Most quality invertors can be set to trip if major overload occurs, (motor stall due to serious catch etc.) invertor sees sudden current spike as fault and cuts out instantly.

 

[Bodrighy]

Contrary to what Pete says its not a landrover its a lathe( I know I own a lathe and a landy and have never got the two confused :lol: ) JT

:roll:

I tend to think of machinery in terms of landrovers, escorts and skodas. :lol:

Landrovers are robust, adaptable, easily maintained machines, escorts are run of the mill machines with easily obtained accessories and parts and skodas are not worth buying (the old type not the new volkswagen ones)

I ran Landrovers for years and still would if SWMBO didn't want a bit of comfort in her sorry, our, more mature age.

This machine is deinitely a Landrover machine.

Pete

 

[DaveL]

I think you many of put the wrong title on this thread, that is not a small gloat by any stretch of the imagination. :shock:

Nice work horse, will worth getting the motor sorted out, once you have saved enough pennies.