Value of lathe?

[Scrit]

Can anyone tell me if my lathe has any value? I do very little turning and I really need the space, so I think it will have to go when we next move. It's a solid cast-iron (250kg+) Dominion patternmaker's lathe, approx 32in between centres, solid cast-iron headstock and bed/legs, with outboard bowl turning and has a carriage rather like that found on metalworking lathes to allow the turning of circular cross section spindles, either parallel or taper in addition to the usual set of two tool rests for conventional hand tools. The motor is 2HP (single phase) and it has a mechanical variable speed mechanism (variable pulleys). I am trying to judge whether this sort of machine is suitable for use by a keen woodworker or if it is just too specialised.

The only picture I've been able to find of this type of lathe (and this is it's big brother) is here. Similar design, just a lot larger.

Scrit

 

[Oldflyer2]

Hi Scrit

Sounds like what you have there could be useful to someone doing lots of spindles, porch railings ect. where they all had to be the same size. Baring that it should work for someone as a regular lathe. It certainly seams solid enough.

Tom

 

[dickm]

Sounds like a super piece of kit. If you can remove the cross slide so you can get full access to spindles, you've got the best of all worlds with it - bowl turning, spindles and limited metal turning.
What is the headstock thread? And what taper on the head and tailstock? (I'm guessing it would be at least Morse No 2)
If I had the space for it, I'd be round like a shot to buy, but I'm sure there ought to be others really keen too. All that cast iron .... lovely!

 

[Scrit]

Hi Dick

Yes, the cross slide just comes off at the tailstock end and can be replaced by a quick-set tool rest holder, which in turn takes one of a pair of too rests - long and short. It has an outboard threaded arbor for face plate bowl turning complete with a short bed. Not sure what the thread is, though, but I do know that the tailstock is MT2. The nicest feature to my mind is the infinitely variable speed drive system. Pity is I don't do a lot of turning and I do need the space

Scrit