Rollie's Dad's Method?

[daved20319b]

How are you measuring the 0.025" of twist, is this with a precision level with shims? Are you measuring off original surfaces that have no wear? One of my lathes had so much wear on the bed that the top of the V was also worn.

Precision level and shims, with the lathe on top of the carriage, so no, not on unworn surfaces. But I have checked for bed wear, I'm sure my technique wasn't super accurate, but I'm fairly confident that bed wear is there, but pretty insignificant.

But all that was a couple of days ago, I made some changes yesterday. Moved the lathe a a couple of feet, and also changed out the feet. In place of the small steel feet, I reinstalled some large anti-vibration feet I bought years ago. I tried them back then, but due to not having a clue what I was doing, they didn't really work the way I though they should. But setup correctly, they work well, give a much more solid stance, and they don't slide if you happen to bump into the lathe. For adjusting, rather than use the screws for jacking, I'd just lever the corner that needed adjusting with a pry bar so they could turn freely. Put the precision level on the carriage and zeroed in across the ways at the HS, then along the ways end to end, just making tiny adjustments, basically splitting the difference until I had it within half a thou or so. Did the same with the TS end, the level still says the front is high, but I got it closer than I have in the past. After that, I did the turn, measure for taper, adjust, then repeat. Got it down to >.0015" in 6", so called it good enough for now. I'm going to let it sit for a week or so, then check it again, see if anything has moved. If it seems to be holding, I may try to chase that last thou plus with a headstock adjustment, but for now, I'm just going to focus on making some chips for awhile. Later.

Dave