I got a cool new tool!!

[ronbeaux]

So we were all at work today and talking big bore airguns and such when I mentioned that the DAQ's and others were built using a lathe and other tools I don't have. One of the guys asked if I had one and I said 'no?'  You want one?? Yes!

So I followed him to his house and he GAVE me this.  Now I'm on a mission on figuring out how to use it. I spent 5 hours tinkering with it and my neighbor is coming over tomorrow to hook up a switch for power.

This is a link to a public album I made so you guys can check it out. It OLD!!!!

http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d153/ronbeaux/Ronbeaux/Lathe/

That way you can browse all you want to check it out.

[SouthernSmoked]

Nice Lathe Ron!

Did you find out when it was made?

[Mr Walleye]

Very cool Ron!  8)

Now you can make all sorts of cool smokin' gadgets!

Mike

[Keymaster]

Nice Ron, you can spin some cool stuff with that!!!

[beefmann]

very cool

[devo]

I took that in high school, running a metal lathe. We had a few old ones very similar to that but most where more modern. I do suggest you take a course if you have never done metal work before. They are lot different than wood lathes. Very unforgiving if you screw up. I saw a guy in school loose a finger just because he was taking a short cut and another time a piece of two inch stock went fying across the class so be careful. A lot of high schools run night class,s so if your not used to using one that might be a good idea.
By the way great old lathe.

[viper125]

Nice little mini lathe! Just perfect for the garage. But be careful worked over 25 years in the trade. Seen guys loose fingers,hands even seen a arm ripped of at the shoulder. Seen quite a few wearing loose clothing get sucked in so quick you can't do nothing.Be carsful and you'll have a lot of fun with it. Get careless and it may be your last fun!

[ronbeaux]

It's a first for me. I took electronics in school so I will definitely need some help getting started. My brother is a machinist but lives 400miles away so it's phone only for help with him.

Cool new hobby though!

From what I have found they quit making it in 1948???? That's as far as I have got and it ain't leaving my bench until I figure it out!

[Smokin Soon]

Hate to date myself, but that is what we used to use for rebuilding starters and generators. I remember turning the armatures and then putting them in this other thingie called a "growler" to see if was still good. Gunsmiths and fabricators still love that machine. I have one in storage that will probably be sent to my bro in law in the Philippines, as they tend to rebuild starters and generators that cannot be replaced. Do exercise some caution, as these mini lathes do not have any safety built in.

[Keymaster]

Hate to date myself, but that is what we used to use for rebuilding starters and generators. I remember turning the armatures and then putting them in this other thingie called a "growler" to see if was still good. Gunsmiths and fabricators still love that machine. I have one in storage that will probably be sent to my bro in law in the Philippines, as they tend to rebuild starters and generators that cannot be replaced. Do exercise some caution, as these mini lathes do not have any safety built in.

I rebuilt starters and alternators too. My father owned the business and I rewound solenoid coils on a lathe when i was 8 years old for 5 cents each, easy candy money back then, Cant believe I still have all my digits. I worked there on weekends until I was 16 then went full time from 16 to 18. I rebuilt all the starters and my brother did all the alternators. My dad just retired about five years ago and shut the business down and rents the building out for a 2k a month.

[ghost9mm]

Ron... I have a lathe in my garage and a real nice drill press...I don't use it as much as I used to, but I still enjoy it from time to time...and being a master watchmaker I have a few smaller lathes, I still do watch restoration for the Smithsonian Institute..

[squirtthecat]

I still do watch restoration for the Smithsonian Institute..

I'm thinking a new thread and some pictures are in order!   How cool is that?!?!

[Caneyscud]

Good score ronbeaux.  I need another lathe like I need another hole in my head ( I have 3 wood lathes), but I'm starting to do my homework on a mini/midi metal lathe and mill so I can make some fly rod accessories and fly reels for me and my buddies. 
The goal?  To catch a good sized trout on a bamboo rod I made with homemade components, a homemade reel, a homemade line and leader on a fly I tied on a hook I made myself!  Would that be considered OCD?  Not that I am mind you ;D ;D ;D

[FLBentRider]

a homemade line and leader

Really. And how does one go about making fly fishing line?

[Caneyscud]

a homemade line and leader

Really. And how does one go about making fly fishing line?

One way - First you find a horse!  Then you make it stand long enough while you pluck hairs out of it's tail.  Then you spin them together in certain specific ways to form a taper.  Easier way is to buy horse tail hair from places that sell it to the violin bow industry. 

The other way starts out with finding a bunch of silk worms cocoons......or just buy some silk fiber, and either furl, spin, or braid them, preferrable with some sort of machine, but can be done by hand.  Find your easy chair, turn on a good movie and have a couple of adult beverages handy, you've got a lot of handwork to do.