05-03-2012, 07:23 PM
Hi,
Thanks Joe. Usually if a person is selling a machine and knows little about it or even how it works then they generally state this in the description. Not all do this but many do and for me it's not hard to tell by the description if the seller knows what they are on about. The Myford MF36 I bought came out of a large home workshop and there were plenty of other machines the seller was using including a big milling machine so in this case he jolly well knew just how poor the lathe was. I'm not upset about the lathe because it is turning into a splendid project as I start to restore it.
Buying brand new allows the machine to be up and running very quickly as you say ed731pdh but doing this for me takes out the pleasure of getting to know a machine as I rebuild it. Older machines don’t come with digital readouts; variable speed and lots of complicated electronics to go wrong that cost a lot of money to put right if they do break down. I liked the Colchester Triumph I owned; it had all power feeds and a 5HP main motor together with a screwcutting gearbox giving both imperial and metric threads. The downside was its large footprint and at the time I was running it through a Transwave converter which I never did like. Through the converter the lathe was slow to start and didn’t develop full power; on a deep roughing cut which this lathe would easily do the converter used to make a racket as it complained. These old lathes whilst having no frills will outlast the modern all singing all dancing lathes. It’s a case of paying your money and making your choice. I’m not in a hurry and I can spend time and money restoring a lathe gaining as much satisfaction out of so doing as in using the lathe once it’s fully restored. Whichever route is taken the main thing is to obtain a lathe and enjoy it to the full.
I remember your scope problem well David having been kept fully in the picture and what a top guy you are in doing the honourable thing by sending the seller money once you had sorted it out. If only everyone was up to your standards the world would be a great place to live in. It didn’t surprise me in the least to learn you had sent the seller the money otherwise you couldn’t have settled with yourself; well done.
Last Thursday dinner time I took the lathe beds over to Halifax; the following day the beds were done; I received a phone call at 4.15pm on Friday but I was out; when I returned the call back early this morning Robert informed me of the good news. I immediately installed the wooden platform into the Toyota Aygo and set off to collect them. I was delighted to see the gleaming beds where they had been ground; I can’t wait now until the day I can wind the saddle on each lathe full length of the bed without it binding; I still have a long way to go but so far it is looking most promising. The final cost of the grinding was a reasonable £250 for the pair. I’ve included two pictures of the re-ground beds which don’t do justice; the beds are excellent.
Re-ground Myford beds with close up.
Whilst at Slideway Grinding Services I asked the owner Robert Skinner if he would kindly allow me to take some digital images of his machines and I was given permission. The pictures show the big grinding machine and Robert in action using the medium grinding machine. Also in the works is a huge lathe or it will be once fully assembled; I took the opportunity of taking pictures of it. The main headstock is massive compared to my Myford’s and the components from inside the headstock can be seen in another picture. The tailstock chuck is equally impressive. Robert tells me the bed sections are also massive castings but I didn’t see these.Many thanks to Robert for allowing me to share the images. How about turning a goblet on this David? These truly are big boy’s toys and machines I would love to play with.
Both grinding machines showing Robert in action.
What a relief it was to finally have the beds back on the bench; it is scary transporting two of these beds in an Aygo with the beds looking unstable and weighing so much; they only just fitted into the car but saved me hiring a van for two trips. Van man who had promised to deliver and collect the beds never did get in touch with me. So far the restorations are progressing slowly but are on track.
Kind regards, Col.
This will be some lathe once fully assembled.
Thanks Joe. Usually if a person is selling a machine and knows little about it or even how it works then they generally state this in the description. Not all do this but many do and for me it's not hard to tell by the description if the seller knows what they are on about. The Myford MF36 I bought came out of a large home workshop and there were plenty of other machines the seller was using including a big milling machine so in this case he jolly well knew just how poor the lathe was. I'm not upset about the lathe because it is turning into a splendid project as I start to restore it.
Buying brand new allows the machine to be up and running very quickly as you say ed731pdh but doing this for me takes out the pleasure of getting to know a machine as I rebuild it. Older machines don’t come with digital readouts; variable speed and lots of complicated electronics to go wrong that cost a lot of money to put right if they do break down. I liked the Colchester Triumph I owned; it had all power feeds and a 5HP main motor together with a screwcutting gearbox giving both imperial and metric threads. The downside was its large footprint and at the time I was running it through a Transwave converter which I never did like. Through the converter the lathe was slow to start and didn’t develop full power; on a deep roughing cut which this lathe would easily do the converter used to make a racket as it complained. These old lathes whilst having no frills will outlast the modern all singing all dancing lathes. It’s a case of paying your money and making your choice. I’m not in a hurry and I can spend time and money restoring a lathe gaining as much satisfaction out of so doing as in using the lathe once it’s fully restored. Whichever route is taken the main thing is to obtain a lathe and enjoy it to the full.
I remember your scope problem well David having been kept fully in the picture and what a top guy you are in doing the honourable thing by sending the seller money once you had sorted it out. If only everyone was up to your standards the world would be a great place to live in. It didn’t surprise me in the least to learn you had sent the seller the money otherwise you couldn’t have settled with yourself; well done.
Last Thursday dinner time I took the lathe beds over to Halifax; the following day the beds were done; I received a phone call at 4.15pm on Friday but I was out; when I returned the call back early this morning Robert informed me of the good news. I immediately installed the wooden platform into the Toyota Aygo and set off to collect them. I was delighted to see the gleaming beds where they had been ground; I can’t wait now until the day I can wind the saddle on each lathe full length of the bed without it binding; I still have a long way to go but so far it is looking most promising. The final cost of the grinding was a reasonable £250 for the pair. I’ve included two pictures of the re-ground beds which don’t do justice; the beds are excellent.
Re-ground Myford beds with close up.
Whilst at Slideway Grinding Services I asked the owner Robert Skinner if he would kindly allow me to take some digital images of his machines and I was given permission. The pictures show the big grinding machine and Robert in action using the medium grinding machine. Also in the works is a huge lathe or it will be once fully assembled; I took the opportunity of taking pictures of it. The main headstock is massive compared to my Myford’s and the components from inside the headstock can be seen in another picture. The tailstock chuck is equally impressive. Robert tells me the bed sections are also massive castings but I didn’t see these.Many thanks to Robert for allowing me to share the images. How about turning a goblet on this David? These truly are big boy’s toys and machines I would love to play with.
Both grinding machines showing Robert in action.
What a relief it was to finally have the beds back on the bench; it is scary transporting two of these beds in an Aygo with the beds looking unstable and weighing so much; they only just fitted into the car but saved me hiring a van for two trips. Van man who had promised to deliver and collect the beds never did get in touch with me. So far the restorations are progressing slowly but are on track.
Kind regards, Col.
This will be some lathe once fully assembled.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
