New To Me Atlas 3996 12 X 36 Lathe

[TLW]

Hi
I'm new to the forum so I thought I'd at least introduce myself first. My name is Tim. I'm what you'd call an old fart, being over the age of sixty. My shop is pretty well equipped for the things I have been doing, but as everyone knows there's always room for improvement.
My thirty year career as the fabricator for our school district started in 1980. In the 1990's the School districts eliminated "Shop Class" so I had opportunities to pick up a few pieces of machinery as the district closed the Industrial Arts shops. I would have liked to buy more but raising three kids has a way of depleting your extra spending money. I never could afford one of the South Bend lathes that were sold.

Your probably bored by now and thinking "get on with it already!".

After searching for a few months, I settled on what I hope to be an old "Gem in the rough". Atlas Model 3996, Ser. Number 104697. I know for sure it was used in in a school shop as I found a tag inside the drive side of the cabinet stating: "Metamora High School, 367-4151, Joe (scratched out) or Roger, 1/7/82 (scratched out) then 3/8/84". Maybe a service tag? I'm planning on doing some investigating as I fix up the old girl and get her ready for service once again. Posting pictures will be a new adventure for me as well so have patience and they will come.
Thanks for taking the time to read an old mans rambling.

 

[TLW]

This was the picture posted on Craigs list. I took the sellers word that it was in working order. Three days later I packed up the pick-up truck and headed 3 1/2 hours South to pick it up. When I arrived it had already been broken down enough to get it out of the owners basement shop. I have not seen it run yet...Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[ch2co]

Hi TL, welcome aboard! I'd probably consider you more of a young fart. This is a great place to learn, ask questions, BS about stuff, and we do like pictures of your equipment, shop, and projects. The only problem is that you have to write several (5?) posts before you can send photos.
Hope to hear more from you.

CHuck the grumpy old guy

 

[TLW]

Chuck,
I have been reading this forum for a while now and must have made enough minor posts to qualify to upload photos. The last post I made I was told to start a thread on this machine and add LOTS of pic.'s....I think the folks here are just into "Cast Iron porn" so I'll try to oblige as best I can.After talking to the seller on the phone I asked him to take a few more pictures so I could get a feel of what I was getting for my money. These are the pictures I based my purchase on.

 

[TLW]

Two weeks later... The weather has been below 0 and its tuff to get out to the pole barn where I am cleaning things up. Basically I have used two gallons of mineral spirits, some fine steel wool various paint brushes and A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE! The last pic is of the tag I found inside the base. I have already contacted the school Industrial Arts Dept. in hopes to get a little history on her.

 

[TLW]

I decided to leave her unpainted, in all of her original glory, scratches, gouges, worn spots and all. The following pictures were taken today. I have to handle this stuff on my own so sometimes it ain't pretty but I'm careful not to hurt myself or the equipment.

So here she is coming in from the cold and into the nice heated shop where she will eventually rest in a place of honor.



Whooo, Hooo! She's even sporting the new name tag. Lots of work left to do but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.Thanks for following along so far. More to come in a few days (I hope)

 

[David VanNorman]

I'am on old fart too. Still haveing fun get the most out of it. The lathe looks good enjoy.

 

[Mondo]

I guess at 63 I qualify for the O-F Club.

Here is a pic of my Craftsman Commercial 101-28990, along with some of the spare parts I have picked up over the years.

The cabinet is barely visible in lower right and the bed similarly exposed on lower shelf.

I purchased this lathe in 2010 then moved to MA. Maybe this will be the year I get it assembled. Meanwhile, I have a '35 vintage Craftsman Frankenlathe that I use almost daily.

Spiral_Chips

 

[TLW]

I managed to talk my brother into lending a hand today so the lathe has been shimmed and mounted. We didn't want to do much lifting so I took a pair of steel saw horses and slid the machine from one end to the other. Re-positioned the horses and repeat. It worked pretty well.



After leveling the base and mounting it to the floor it was time to set the lathe in place, shim and fasten it down.


Here she is in place. Now for the belts and electrical.

 

[TLW]

I have run into a bit of a snag. I'm trying to put the belts back onto the jack shaft and I just cant seem to get enough slack to make it onto the pullys. Is there a trick to this? I struggled for over an hour and no luck.