Craftsman 109/atlas 618

Not a show stopper but it could be a bargaining chip when haggling over price. :D
 
Only two more remarks-- I f you can buy a real junker with gears, do so. $60.00>.
Also, the # 0 taper isn't really -- consult Lathe City. .......BLJHB
 
I would like to find a 109 cheap doesn't need to be complete. It would be the base for a bench center. That said the pen turners crowd like the 109 as it is a better option than the small wood lathes out there.
 
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The Liberal Arts Garage said:
109 (AA Manufacture) lathes are pretty, and can do most any within ifs small
compass, but the Atlas will do real Work.........BLJHB.
Click to expand...
Just a short note-- think of the AA series as pleasing Models of real lathes.
They can be greatly improved with carefull work,following the literature , Fun!.
But they will still be what they are. ..........BLJHB.
 
yes the 109 gears will fit the 618/3950/1012100/101100 and other 6x18 atlas craftsman lathes. The only difference that I can remember is the 1/2 bushing is a tad narrower but will work fine. I have had the 109 and the 6x18 atlas lathes and have used the gears interchangeably. The 109 lathe may be small but is a fun little lathe to use and very capable of making quality parts. it is a light duty lathe, so yes you can bend the 1/2 spindle if not careful. The 109 came in a 6x12 an 6x18 bed and either a 1/2 or 5/8 spindle tumbler reverse and a planetary back gear. The tailstock is a #0 taper, But it is different than the #0 on other lathes.
I would buy it!
 
The 6x18 versions were the 109.0702 (for wood turning, no lead screw) and 109.0703. Made 1941-43, and has a 1/2"=24 spindle nose threads. The 6x12 models are the 109.020630 (made 1947-48) and 109.021021270 (made 1949-61), both of which have 1/2"-20 spindle nose threads.

All that I have on the 0MT sockets in the spindle and tailstock ram are those on the reverse-engineered drawings done by Lionell Weightman 22 years ago. His drawing of the spindle shows a big-end diameter of 0.339". Machinery's Handbook say 0.356". So a 0MT dead center will not fully seat. If I were making a new spindle, I think that I would make it solid and instead make a short dead center that screwed onto the spindle. However, his drawing of the tailstock spindle (ram) shows a big end of 0.356" whereas M-H shows 0.3561". Numerous people have said that the tailstock taper on the 109's was under sized. I've no way of determining whether Weightman corrected it or whether that's just Internet Disinformation like on the 618 spindle nose threads.
 
wa5cab said:
Jester,

Please let us know what if any difference there is between the AA gears and the Atlas gears. The only thing that ever seems to get posted on this subject is that someone will write that he "thinks" that the gears are interchangeable.

The drill chuck will have to have the arbor changed as if it fits the AA, it is #0 MT. As Rich wrote, the 618 tailstock taper is #1 MT. There probably isn't any practical or economical way to use the 4-jaw chuck on the 618 if it fits the AA.

If the AA is a Dunlap without lead screw it is a 109.0702. If it has a lead screw (since it has change gears, it must), it is a 109.0703. In either case, the spindle nose threads are 1/2"-24.
Otherwise, it is either a 109.20630 or 109.21270 and has 1/2"-20 threads.
The Atlas 618 has 1"-10 nose threads. The only Atlas built metal lathe with 1"-8 threads is the 101.07301. The 101.07300 (only built for one year 1938), had 3/4"-16 threads.
Click to expand...
. The earliest AA series - 702/703 - ( narrow bed) have a
1/2 - 24 spindle. Later wider bed, 1/2- 20 .........BLJHB
 
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