What Did You Buy Today?

[SouthernChap]

That kind of "scrap" is really great to have on hand.
A shocking way to have a motor cap hang out!
Nice little sander. A little body work on the cabinet and fresh paint would be a nice addition to any shop.
Nice haul.

That start cap is emblematic of the general state of that workshop (and a probable clue as to why the two lads running the workshop are currently just shy of a couple of hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt, thus the closing of the business). There were three XYZ knee mills (from about 2018), absolutely filthy with cutting oil, chips and general dirt.

The linisher and a couple of bench grinders were located on a bench far too close to one of those mills and a Colchester Triumph lathe (itself a filthy mess of grime and a massive rats nest of chips, underneath and behind the bed). The workshop had three separate areas and either of the other two areas would have accommodated the grinding kit.

The cabinet's paint is mostly good. I haven't properly cleaned it yet, just wiped off the worst of the grime with some wipes I had around. Will need to get some 'percussive amendments' done to the body though.

The linisher needs properly cleaning too. Also need to take a look at the motor fan as it's got a few bits broken off. It's a Brook Crompton motor though, so decent enough unit.

 

[woodchucker]

Do you think it would be any advantage putting one of these under my chip tray? I always wanted a nice thick steel bench to set the lathe on but the cost kept me from doing it. These pieces are about 2" shorter than my lathe mounting feet.

Current setup.

View attachment 513339

John

So what your saying is you know there's a problem. The length is too short to handle the feet properly.
On the other hand, if you can weld onto the length a scrap piece will it be straight?
My opinion, is if the legs are not sitting on it, it's too short.What you didn't say is can you cut that plate. And will skewing the lathe give you the length? If so, create a new rectangle out of the plate if skewing it will fully support it.

Just my opinion.. I'm sure you will get others.

 

[matthewsx]

So what your saying is you know there's a problem. The length is too short to handle the feet properly.
On the other hand, if you can weld onto the length a scrap piece will it be straight?
My opinion, is if the legs are not sitting on it, it's too short.What you didn't say is can you cut that plate. And will skewing the lathe give you the length? If so, create a new rectangle out of the plate if skewing it will fully support it.

Just my opinion.. I'm sure you will get others.

Interesting thought. If it didn’t have the big hole I could probably cut it on a diagonal and get two more inches length and still be wide enough.

As is it probably gets made into a welding table. Or maybe sold to fund other things. Not sure it’s flat enough to be much help anyway.

John

 

[SouthernChap]

Interesting thought. If it didn’t have the big hole I could probably cut it on a diagonal and get two more inches length and still be wide enough.

As is it probably gets made into a welding table. Or maybe sold to fund other things. Not sure it’s flat enough to be much help anyway.

John

Thinking about this, if you really want to put that rather sexy looking lathe (there is something about those Taiwanese mid-size lathes that I just really find aesthetically pleasing; don't ask me why, I don't know why) on something in addition to the chip tray, I'd reckon a suitably sized (sized so the plate would cover the tops of both left and right units and bridge the gap) 3/8" steel plate and on top of that (so sandwiched between the steel plate and the chip trap) an offcut of granite kitchen worktop, as thick as you can get.

Apparently the US granite kitchen worktop cutting companies are a lot more friendly and generous than the UK ones and they give offcuts away free! I had to pay for my 1000 mm x 500 mm x 30 mm piece!

Anyway, the point being is that my granite countertop definitely seems to damp vibration and I can see the difference in less chatter, fewer visits from the RSPCA because they think I'm torturing a cow in my workshop, and better surface finish.

Now okay, that's on a 7x14 Chinese mini lathe, so you may have less headroom for improvement so to speak but eh, can't hurt...and, assuming you don't go with pink granite (that stuff is an abomination to aesthetics wherever it's put; sorry Starrett!), it'll make your lathe look even sexier.

 

[bulgie]

A shocking way to have a motor cap hang out!

Nah, a little duct tape'll fix that.

I see the work rest is almost halfway up the platen. If the height is adjustable, lowering it will increase the length of part you can grind in one go.

 

[matthewsx]

I’m a sucker for old Rockwell stuff. I had one like this at my old shop and couldn’t pass it up for $200.



John

 

[coolidge]

Thought I'd give this toolset a shout out. Purchased for replacing boat trailer wheel bearings and races. After I got rid of the money pit boat I never thought I'd use it again and almost got rid of it. Turns out it's a perfect partner for the HF puller. Saves having to custom turn plugs on the lathe for removing/pressing things off/on. It had every size I needed for yanking the bearings from the mill head.

 

[extropic]

I don't know why people rarely include a link with such posts. One example that looks the same to me:

https://www.amazon.com/DASBET-Custom-Bushing-Bearing-Driver/dp/B06ZYH34JZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39FIFY9K3VHDW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RPG_c8wLW7wedVE_uV8nnKYVNpewdsb0VCHtugjzftJOWts-LlAB-S87w1dH5IgF9fejLb44EADrkqg47Y5b5jg0Wo4KnWY1n-4uiiKzSeLY_L-4LKWE7DNg_kRNBdPWmQ_sO27L1OCCdNRmmfiHw9klqeck4VlIh65fGb88aX3d73MMdowRdIOGy8z2kRO8TlsTj-vQYkfyzEsuTFhxpmXrt9tUju2JEZuvZxyJgONW_w5oSOvOFcTd226G0y5oRvhJmNoulAh61e0n3aLHC9ytC2wtk-ScHZVTLQQX6jo.y4ja-e7e1q34y-YXq_myoFVvgxWdQ7yabGVm5HyySZg&dib_tag=se&keywords=vevor+52+piece+bearing+and+seal+driver&qid=1733973218&sprefix=52+piece+seal+%2Caps%2C629&sr=8-1

 

[extropic]

@matthewsx
Nice find, at a very nice price. Is the top cover damaged? People often let the belt track so far off the top roller that the belt edge eats through the cover.
I like the old Rockwell machines also, and own maybe 10.
I'm wondering about what looks like an aluminum addition to the table top. Is that fixed to the table or a sled?
If fixed, I'm wondering what they were trying to fix/improve? Any idea?

 

[matthewsx]

@matthewsx
Nice find, at a very nice price. Is the top cover damaged? People often let the belt track so far off the top roller that the belt edge eats through the cover.
I like the old Rockwell machines also, and own maybe 10.
I'm wondering about what looks like an aluminum addition to the table top. Is that fixed to the table or a sled?
If fixed, I'm wondering what they were trying to fix/improve? Any idea?

Yes, the top covers are almost always cut there, might even call it a design flaw. Don't think it will bother me though , or the side cover missing.

Table appears to be aluminum plate maybe glued down. Haven't decided if I'm going to try removing it or not, don't ever remember using a miter gauge on my old one but do remember having to clean the slot plenty.

I have a 2x48 Rockwell belt grinder that may have to go but I hate to part with it. Need a bigger shop since I definitely have to sell the Hardinge BB4 for space to put this sander.

John