- Joined
- Oct 18, 2016
- Messages
- 2,852
Looking great! I love it when old machines are brought back from the dead.
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Early Rhodes Shaper restoration
- Thread starter RCPDesigns
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2020
- Messages
- 12
So next up is the handles. These guys were in pretty tough shape. I started with aggressive wire wheel just to see where things were. From there the big handle had to start at 60 grit then 80 and 120. The others I was able to start at 150, then 240, 400 and 600 before moving to the buffer for a pass on the course wheel and then the two finishing wheels. It takes a fair amount of time and with two of the handles being so small it was a bit tedious. I needed to split my belts down to 3/8" which, fortunately, still tracked well on my sander. I kinda hate doing this process because it takes awhile and is tough on the back, but boy does it look good when you're done!
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- Joined
- Nov 26, 2020
- Messages
- 12
Making good progress. One of the fun parts of taking a machine all the way down and cleaning each individual part is you find some interesting stampings in some odd places. Machines like these were generally a bunch of parts that individual machinist would collect one of everything from and then machine them as a group. Typically you see a number on each of these parts. My machine was '70'. With exception on the ram and the ways (which were '8') everything on my machine is stamped '70'.
The rarity on this machine though was L E R stamped on the back of the saddle casting. I don't know if Mr Rhodes himself was working on this machine and stamped his initials. It is very faint and once the dirt was cleaned out it became difficult to see again. Definitely got a bit of chills thinking that at some point this was his future hopes and dreams as he introduced a new product after Finney had left the company and he was personally building some of the initial units.
I'm ready to mount the table now which involves a bit of "hope" as the nut for the lead screw pushes in from the back as you drop the table down onto the saddle. Or so the theory goes.
I think the rest of it goes together pretty quick after that. Probably get a temporary cabinet for it so I can wheel it out of the way and get back to work on the MG.
The rarity on this machine though was L E R stamped on the back of the saddle casting. I don't know if Mr Rhodes himself was working on this machine and stamped his initials. It is very faint and once the dirt was cleaned out it became difficult to see again. Definitely got a bit of chills thinking that at some point this was his future hopes and dreams as he introduced a new product after Finney had left the company and he was personally building some of the initial units.
I'm ready to mount the table now which involves a bit of "hope" as the nut for the lead screw pushes in from the back as you drop the table down onto the saddle. Or so the theory goes.
I think the rest of it goes together pretty quick after that. Probably get a temporary cabinet for it so I can wheel it out of the way and get back to work on the MG.
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- Joined
- Nov 26, 2020
- Messages
- 12
Getting closer! I've gotten a pretty good look at the whole machine now. The wear is acceptable and a good bit better than I thought it would be. The ram is in great shape, the x-axis leadscrew will need to be replaced at some point and needs some new gib screws in a lot of places. It does seem, however, that our little guy took a tumble at some point. The shaft that the step pulley and hand wheel ride on is bent at the far end where the hand wheel rides. I'll have to see how it looks under power to know how big an issue it is. The end of the x-axis lead screen is also bent but since that turns rather slowly it shouldn't be a problem. It was really only noticeable after I realized the rear shaft was bent and I theorized it must have fallen on its side. I don't think it will be a problem but even if it is, I can either bend it back or make a replacement.
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Wow nice looking machine! I also have a Rhodes shaper and love having it. I think mine has been on the side also. On mine the hand wheel and step pulley are one piece. I made up a mandrel and chunked it in the lathe the pulleys ran straight but the hand wheel was bent. I managed to true it up on the sides and face. I also checked the shaft but on a lucky note it was straight.
