Rebuilding a cheap lathe

[SouthernChap]

To be fair, I think you should watch that content, there are some interesting set-ups, information and tips mixed in there.

@Eric S Dunn I'd echo that. Some of the setups and order of operations decisions Quinn shows are very instructive...

Also, I originally had little interest in steam engines, and to be fair, I'm still not that interested in models/replicas of locomotives, but watching her (and others') videos has made me want to make stationary steam engine models.

Never worn gloves, never will. I find them highly distracting and they cause exacerbation of pre-existing skin issues (Eczema / dermatitis).

Luckily, I've never suffered from any particular reoccurring skin problems. In any case, these days, barrier cream is enough for me.

 

[VicHobbyGuy]

Depends on the list and depends on the particular needs / desires of the person

Exactly.
You did generalize: "There are a few members on here with 7x lathes, all will say roughly the same thing about headstock bearings, spindle and bedway length."

I swapped headstock bearings 'for fun', but it was completely unnecessary.
I think the spindle with the 80mm flange is fine unless the 10mm or so for a 100mm/125mm chuck adapter makes your working envelope too short.
A longer bed is a plus, for sure - I'm accustomed to my 7x14; anything shorter would have been a problem for some work.

 

[GrifterGuru]

Exactly.
You did generalize: "There are a few members on here with 7x lathes, all will say roughly the same thing about headstock bearings, spindle and bedway length."

I swapped headstock bearings 'for fun', but it was completely unnecessary.
I think the spindle with the 80mm flange is fine unless the 10mm or so for a 100mm/125mm chuck adapter makes your working envelope too short.
A longer bed is a plus, for sure - I'm accustomed to my 7x14; anything shorter would have been a problem for some work.

To be fair, I found the 80mm chuck of the SC3 rather limiting due to the max size stock it could hold as well as the chuck bore being restrictive for what I generally machine, stock-size wise at least. As soon as I found a 4"/100mm spindle, I ordered and fitted it. Made one heck of a difference.

True, I did generalise, but that is don to my own, personal, observation of 7x owners either complaining about the spindle, bed length or headstock bearings. To be fair though, the stock bearings are somewhat lacking and the simple swap to A/C bearings makes a big difference.

As for bed length, the 16" bed gives me much of what I need, though I still find myself cussing about "needing more room" when working with longer stock that will not go through the spindle. Just another reason I went with the shorter Hi/Lo head on the 7x I am rebuilding (and close to finishing thank goodness!)

 

[Eric S Dunn]

@Eric S Dunn

To be fair, I think you should watch that content, there are some interesting set-ups, information and tips mixed in there.

Thanks. Perhaps I'll check it out.

 

[GrifterGuru]

Thanks. Perhaps I'll check it out.

With the information you take away, you will thank yourself for taking the time to watch them.

 

[VicHobbyGuy]

With the information you take away, you will thank yourself for taking the time to watch them.

I deleted my first thought on this ....

 

[GrifterGuru]

I deleted my first thought on this ....

@VicHobbyGuy

Not sure why you would delete your initial thoughts on Quinn's video's. It was an honest observation made from your own, personal, viewpoint. We can't all like everything, although sometimes what we miss by not watching can actually prove valuable information to "have in the pocket" hshould we need it at a later date.

I would also suggest you take a look at Joe Pie's videos if you have not done so already. Some very useful information and setup tips within his video archives from a talented machinist who is well established within the industry.

His channel is located at

Joe Pie

My channel is intended to share a lifetime of insider tips and tricks designed to help tradesman and hobby machinists get the job done without spending money or wasting time. I have been in industry, full time, since 1976 and have learned from some very talented people. Chet, George...

www.youtube.com

 

[VicHobbyGuy]

I learned quite a lot from Toms Techniques (Tom Lipton). Though his projects were too advanced for my beginner skills, there were always a lot of useful things to learn just watching him working, and listening to his comments.
https://www.youtube.com/@TomsTechniques

I often referred other beginners to his website where he had some good resources, like his cutting speeds table.

 

[SouthernChap]

I swapped headstock bearings 'for fun', but it was completely unnecessary.

You must have had better bearings than most other 7x owners did. The bearings in all the 7xs I'm aware of, are single race, deep groove ball bearings; not really suitable for the forces on any lathe that's potentially going to be turning anything harder than aluminium or free machining brass.

I had my original bearings in place for not that long and they developed axial and radial play.

Arc Euro Trade, for all their faults, have pictorial PDF guides to replacing the bearings on a C3 or an SC3 with tapered roller bearings and angular contact bearings respectively.

It's hard to think of anything more critical to the 'health' of a lathe than the bearings the spindle runs in, so whilst I might differ with @GrifterGuru regarding the priority of some things on his list, I'd agree with him about getting good bearings around the spindle.

 

[cooper1203]

Arc Euro Trade, for all their faults, have pictorial PDF guides to replacing the bearings on a C3 or an SC3 with tapered roller bearings and angular contact bearings respectively.

Im wondering if they have changed hands. it used to be they had two prices. one was the machine as is from the factory and the other was after they had sorted it out by putting proper bearings in and truing up all the appropriate surfaces etc. However when i rang them the other week the person i spoke to told me they hadn't done that for at least 10 years as there was no need anymore however if i insisted they sold various kits.