Lathe grease gun advice

Tell us what 15% of the product that goes into your manufactured item must be purchased from Asia.
Cast alloy parts with tri-chrome decorative plating. The delivered defect rate from our US supplier was around 1 in 200, and they said repeatedly that was as good as they could get. We currently get about 1 defective part in 1000 from our supplier in Taiwan. I am not on the manufacturing or procurement side so I don't know the details, but I suspect they manufacture just as many defects; I think they simply are simply willing do a more thorough final inspection and eat more scrap.
 
I think it shameful when the founding company has to sell out to another, and the new company uses the original name on its own products. It doesn't seem right that a once proud name is now attached to second rate products.
Am I allowed to say this, or is this turning political?

I totally agree, I refuse to be politically correct, and as an Aussie it's not in my nature. I've never had anything to do with a Southbend, but I understand they were a quality product. I've also never had anything to do with a Grizzly product, but from the comments I've read, I'm rather glad.. I Can only admire all the dedicated owners who have had to virtually rebuild their new machines to finally get a decent product.
 
Welcome Bob, just noticed we're in the same neighbourhood, The Southbends have been in this country for many years. In fact if you did metalwork at school there's a good chance you learnt on either a Southbend or a Hercus (and a Hercus is actually a Southbend copy). Since Hercus closed shop its a case of buy asian or fork out the dollars for the good stuff. I own a Workman 250 x 550 (aka Grizzly G0602) see them in Paramount browns under their brand name or get them from Ozmestore on ebay (based at Pt Adelaide). I've hacked the daylights out of mine and still haven't finished. Been having a spell lately, but its a lot better than when I first got it. You'll find it here on this site detailing some of what I've done to it. There's a lot of guys here with the same unit and others. Love reading about their tribulations too. Been a very interesting journey.
regards Alby
 
Welcome Bob, just noticed we're in the same neighbourhood, The Southbends have been in this country for many years. In fact if you did metalwork at school there's a good chance you learnt on either a Southbend or a Hercus (and a Hercus is actually a Southbend copy). Since Hercus closed shop its a case of buy asian or fork out the dollars for the good stuff. I own a Workman 250 x 550 (aka Grizzly G0602) see them in Paramount browns under their brand name or get them from Ozmestore on ebay (based at Pt Adelaide). I've hacked the daylights out of mine and still haven't finished. Been having a spell lately, but its a lot better than when I first got it. You'll find it here on this site detailing some of what I've done to it. There's a lot of guys here with the same unit and others. Love reading about their tribulations too. Been a very interesting journey.
regards Alby

G'day Alby,
We have actually spoken indirectly on this forum before, During my apprenticeship I only recall using Colchester lathes, the proper English made ones, at trade school, they may have had Southbends, I don't recall. We did have a small Hercus at the factory, but mostly larger machines, I spent a lot of time on a Macson with a 14" 4 jaw and 8" 3 jaw plus all the regular stuff. the bed was about 4ft long. top speed was 350 RPM. driven by a 15hp motor

The only carbide tools we had were flat rectangular bits of carbide silver soldered to steel shanks and hand ground. Almost all of our machines were produced before or during WW2 many of them having "wartime finish" on their name plates. No DRO's or CNC then. I still have my original Moore & Write 1" micrometer, my parents bought me for my birthday a few weeks after starting the apprenticeship in 1961. I still have a few boxes of HSS tool bits from then and various special tools that I made over the years like a step drill for drilling counter bores for SHCS


I was in the happy position of being able to afford a decent Taiwanese lathe when I decided the time had come. I did look at all the offerings of the firms you mentioned plus a few others but they just didn't do it for me, and I decided that I wasn't going to spend my few remaining years rebuilding some else's sloppy work, I've been doing that all my life, but at least I got paid for it.

What part of Adelaide you in? I'm at Eden Hills.

Cheers Bob.
 
Cast alloy parts with tri-chrome decorative plating. The delivered defect rate from our US supplier was around 1 in 200, and they said repeatedly that was as good as they could get. We currently get about 1 defective part in 1000 from our supplier in Taiwan. I am not on the manufacturing or procurement side so I don't know the details, but I suspect they manufacture just as many defects; I think they simply are simply willing do a more thorough final inspection and eat more scrap.

They can afford too, there wages are so low, and they have a very high pride in the quality of their products.
 
Cast alloy parts with tri-chrome decorative plating. The delivered defect rate from our US supplier was around 1 in 200, and they said repeatedly that was as good as they could get. We currently get about 1 defective part in 1000 from our supplier in Taiwan. I am not on the manufacturing or procurement side so I don't know the details, but I suspect they manufacture just as many defects; I think they simply are simply willing do a more thorough final inspection and eat more scrap.


An interesting fact, Australia with our high wages, average 50% higher than US, we still produce the cast alloy wheels for Harley Davidson motorcycles. they have tried every where else but no one else can deliver the quality.
 
If that's what the manual specifies then so be it. I hate using grease on a lathe, it creates more work for me and collects a lot of swarf and crud.
Also it has a higher friction factor than if straight oil is used. Just my preference.

I tend to agree, Headstock oil as spec. ditto feed box and saddle. I use whatever oil is handy on the bed ways, usually just plain SAE 30. The change gears I use chain saw bar oil, runs the quietest of every thing I've tried and it stays put. not as messy as grease Just a few drops on the top most gear when its running and soon it's all done.
 
Hi Bob, I'm at Para Vista near TTP.
I think in your quote above that when Tanshanomi mentions "Cast Alloy parts", he's not talking about our Castalloy foundry here in Adelaide.
I think he's generalising about something or place maybe closer to him in the U.S.
Don't ROH use Castalloy as a subcontractor for those Harley wheels? I'm not sure now.
Anyway hello from me.
cheers Alby
 
Hi Bob, I'm at Para Vista near TTP.
I think in your quote above that when Tanshanomi mentions "Cast Alloy parts", he's not talking about our Castalloy foundry here in Adelaide.
I think he's generalising about something or place maybe closer to him in the U.S.
Don't ROH use Castalloy as a subcontractor for those Harley wheels? I'm not sure now.
Anyway hello from me.
cheers Alby

Yes I realise he was not talking about the Castalloy here in Adelaide, which incidentally has been bought by HD, well at least the wheel division has been, and they've called something else. A mate of mine works there has done for years, spends most of his time in US. Must be due for retirement soon. BTW as far as I know it's not connected with ROH wheels.
 
Yes I realise he was not talking about the Castalloy here in Adelaide, which incidentally has been bought by HD, well at least the wheel division has been, and they've called something else. A mate of mine works there has done for years, spends most of his time in US. Must be due for retirement soon. BTW as far as I know it's not connected with ROH wheels.
Alby what's it like up on top of those wind turbine towers, not sure if I'd be happy up there.
 
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