- Joined
- Nov 10, 2013
- Messages
- 837
This summer I bought several machines as a package deal. One of the machines is an Atlas TH54 that needs someone to take the time to go through it and put it back in working order. Originally I was going to do it myself (not my first time rebuilding an Atlas from the ground up) but really don't have the time or inclination to do it right. (I'm getting rid of machinery as it is to make room for a much larger lathe!)
When I bought the lathe it was in a tiny basement and I had to disassemble it in "chunks" to lift them up through a hatch in the mud room floor. I've got the iron legs cleaned up and spray painted, and the wood (top and shelf) sanded and mounted to the legs. Today I started the cleanup - degreasing of the bed and took a good look at the carriage parts.
The lead screw is shot and I assume the half nuts are too (based on the leadscrew condition). The little gear attached to the hand wheel has a broken tooth and if I were doing it, I'd scrape the ways in immediately. I think the forward /reverse gear lever handle might be missing too, It was pretty dim in the basement where I found it.
My question to the Atlas crowd is this: Should I (Would you?)
A) Advertise it as-is and hope someone with the skills (or wants a learning challenge) comes along?
B) Make a new lead screw, half nuts and replacement gear first then advertise at a much higher price? (my thought is that someone wanting a lathe kit won't be able to make those things for themselves)
C) start parting it out? (I've never done that before, it seems wrong and I don't want to get stuck with parts no one wants)
D) Bite the bullet and do everything to get it running (but not painted) and hope to make enough money to cover the materials and time invested? (That sounds kind of cold but I have to turn down paying or at least more enjoyable work to have the time to do this.
When I bought the lathe it was in a tiny basement and I had to disassemble it in "chunks" to lift them up through a hatch in the mud room floor. I've got the iron legs cleaned up and spray painted, and the wood (top and shelf) sanded and mounted to the legs. Today I started the cleanup - degreasing of the bed and took a good look at the carriage parts.
The lead screw is shot and I assume the half nuts are too (based on the leadscrew condition). The little gear attached to the hand wheel has a broken tooth and if I were doing it, I'd scrape the ways in immediately. I think the forward /reverse gear lever handle might be missing too, It was pretty dim in the basement where I found it.
My question to the Atlas crowd is this: Should I (Would you?)
A) Advertise it as-is and hope someone with the skills (or wants a learning challenge) comes along?
B) Make a new lead screw, half nuts and replacement gear first then advertise at a much higher price? (my thought is that someone wanting a lathe kit won't be able to make those things for themselves)
C) start parting it out? (I've never done that before, it seems wrong and I don't want to get stuck with parts no one wants)
D) Bite the bullet and do everything to get it running (but not painted) and hope to make enough money to cover the materials and time invested? (That sounds kind of cold but I have to turn down paying or at least more enjoyable work to have the time to do this.
