Just some little things I did today

[ltlvt]

I finally finished up the saddle rebuild/repair of my Clausing 5913 lathe today. Very very time consuming. With, it sliding freely from headstock to tailstock I have less than .002 upward lift on the front side of the lathe. Very enjoyable work doing the final hand fitting/shimming but also time consuming. Next job it to re install the apron to the saddle. I still need to paint it and put a new spring in the anti half nut part of the engagement arm but no biggy. While I was at it I put the cross slide and lead screw and nut on the saddle and measured the backlash between the nut and the screw. I will be making a new screw and more than likely a new nut. I took some pictures jst to doccument the before and after on the lead screw. I used to have a memory like an elephant but took a shower around 4 am this morning and took a nap afternoon and when I woke up from the nap, I realized I had put my boxers on backwards. So, the more I document things the better chance I have of them being right when I finish. I also checked the runout in the spindle bearings and found a little bruise on the nose of the spindle and cleaned it off with a stone. For an old machine that was made in 1964 the spindle is dead nuts except for the very small nick I marked with the white paint.

Also finished making the 2 speed nuts for my Harbor Freight Drill press clamps. It was a pain in the A$$ using the nuts that came with the clamps from under the bottom of the drill press table. So here are a few pictures of what I accomplished today. The indicator that I am using on the lead screw measurement is a very sensitive Starrett .0005. Total travel is .025. I've got a couple that Starrett made especially for Pratt and Whitney that are .0001. I love having good tools.