15 X 50 Clausing Colchester Lathe - Fix it or replace the compound?

I look at that as a Winter project for Bronze welding. A lot of my tools are O.P.R. sometimes thought as not even good enough for scrap. Sometimes it takes surprisingly little real effort to resurrect something and make it bettera than it was.
 
Looks like there is an immediate need to fix it with that corner allowing chips to be pulled under the top slide.

I would do an immediate fix now and live with it. Keeping an eye out for a less expensive replacement

Clean out all the swarf from the triangle void that is letting the top pull in chips. Use some wax to cover the screw and gib so the glue doesn't freeze them up or permanently stick to anything. Then fill it with something like JB Weld that can be filed nice and flat and in good shape. That would solve the swarf issue and also allow the piece to be easily chipped out if adjusting the gib is needed. Not the ideal fix for sure but something that could be done today and still consider other options and allow for planning while still using the lathe now.

Or just keep it clean, mind the chips and live with it.
 
darkzero said:
I'm anal about many things too, heck I won't even buy used tools with initials engraved on them. It would probably bother me too & if it was something I could replace for a reasonable price I would but that's just me.

If it bothers it may always bother you. At least that's the way I am most of the time. Is the entire compound assy easy to find used for your lathe?
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Unfortunately I have seen one rusty compound in the last 6 months. I found a Colchester parts distributor that has the pieces I need. He said the price is as low as I'm going to find. I have found that to be true so far. I can pay $1,000 and get a new base from England or I can pay $850 for a used compound.
If it wasn't so pricey this decision would be much easier to make.
I'm leaning toward the JB weld idea for the interim.
Anyone know what I'm looking at if I buy a used base as far as fit goes? it's a tapered gib and all parts are interchangeable but each would wear differently. I do have some basic limited scraping skill.
 
This may or may not work for you, but you could mill a recess on the top and side ( 1/8" or less), and create a piece of angle to hide all of the damage on both sections. If done with a little thought it could be made to look like it was made that way. Some of the smaller dings on the saddle could be stoned or ground out. If i can repair something to my satisfaction as apposed to buying a new part, 95% of the time I will go that route. It's great to have a nice looking machine, but in the end they are tools, and tools sometimes get beat up, intended or otherwise. Cheers, Mike
 
As @Martin W said - "Battle scars". It demonstrates that the machine has been used and isn't just a show piece.

darkzero said:
I'm anal about many things too, heck I won't even buy used tools with initials engraved on them. It would probably bother me too & if it was something I could replace for a reasonable price I would but that's just me.

If it bothers it may always bother you. At least that's the way I am most of the time. Is the entire compound assy easy to find used for your lathe?
Click to expand...
Well heck, pick them up and list them in the classifieds here. :grin:
Personally I enjoy collecting tools with the maker's name on it. Especially V-Blocks, vises and such. Kind of like collecting signed art or similar.
And then there's the vain hope that the tool has more experience than me.
 
There is as you know, no right answer. It is how we individually assess form vs. function. In some areas of my life, form is important, as in aviation, where things must look correct as well as work correctly. In other areas, say my old pickup truck, it's only important that it function as needed, and not every possible function is needed. Just don't look under the hood if you value form. :-)

Machine tools can go either way.
 
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