Author Topic: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608  (Read 12806 times)

Offline 90LX_Notch

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My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« on: February 02, 2015, 07:15:14 PM »
Dave asked for pictures.

I have wanted a nice lathe for a long time and things just never lined up for me.  This time they did.  I am so happy.  I still have some hurdles to overcome.  The lathe is in our living room and the cabinet and speedbox are covered in the garage tent.  Snow is preventing me from getting it into the shop.  My wife is beyond awsome.  She is okay with it being in the living room for "awhile".  The other hurdle to clear is space in the shop.  That's a major project.  I'll be selling off some small lathes here shortly if any one is interested. 2 Atlas 618s and a Seig 7x12.

-Bob
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Offline steamer

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2015, 07:24:50 PM »
THAT looks SAWEEEEEEET!    Doesn't appear to be abused...and only lightly worn!   

NICE! :ThumbsUp:

Dave
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Offline steamer

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2015, 07:27:34 PM »
Having the steadies is like finding hens teeth!     DON"T EVER LET THOSE GO!

I see what looks like original flaking on the bed....that means it wasn't beaten to death during the war.....you found something really special there bud!




Dave
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Offline philjoe5

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2015, 07:29:38 PM »
Very nice old iron and the extras are a big bonus.  Have fun with it

Cheers,
Phil
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.  - Mark Twain

Offline steamer

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2015, 07:31:02 PM »
Most people completely misunderstand the tool post.   It was intended for carbon steel or HSS tools in round shank form....the tool post allows you to get the tool on center with the work by rotating the eccentric mount.

Dave
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Damned ijjit!

Offline ths

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2015, 07:31:13 PM »
That looks like a very special machine. Lucky man! Cheers, Hugh.

Offline steamer

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"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline Roger B

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2015, 08:04:42 PM »
That looks to be a nice piece of kit  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp: Dave (Steamer) is certainly impressed and he knows his machine tools (thanks for all your help and advice in the past).
Best regards

Roger

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2015, 10:14:26 PM »
Thanks guys.  Dave knows how long I've been longing for a nice lathe.

Dave what's cool is it has tool holders that go into the Rivett tool post that hold square tool bits.  In the pictures they are under the Starrett box.  One is straight and one is goose neck.  It does have some pretty heavy wear near the head stock.  The PO said it came from an instrument mfg.  They must of used it to produce parts.  It's setup for 50 tpi.  Absent in the photos are the other gears for the QCGB.  The cabinet is beautiful and the Speed box and motor must weigh as much as the lathe.  The cabinet is the same as this; not as nice though:
http://www.deprecision.com/RivettLathe.com/images/cummins_608m.jpg

I feel very fortunate to have been able to get this lathe.  I consider it a once in a lifetime opportunity.

-Bob

Edit- Fixed misspelled word.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2015, 01:28:08 AM by 90LX_Notch »
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Offline Don1966

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2015, 12:19:14 AM »
Good for you Bob, it looks to be in great shape, enjoy bud.   :ThumbsUp:


Don

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2015, 12:22:41 AM »
Nice find Bob...looks rock solid too!!

Bill

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2015, 01:24:05 AM »
That's a sweet heart! looking forward to seeing it all together and cleaned up.

Nice find.
Dave
« Last Edit: February 03, 2015, 02:15:28 AM by Dave Otto »

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2015, 03:24:03 AM »
Thanks gentlemen.

Dave it's going to be awhile before it's making chips; however, I will update this thread when it happens.

-Bob
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Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2015, 09:41:00 PM »
Well, after 8 months she is up and running. 

Picture d shows the cover down exposing the sliding gear.  This gear is what determines carriage feed direction.  This lathe does not have reverse tumbler gears.

Picture f shows the adjustable carriage stop. The feed disengages when the carriage makes contact with it.  Also shown is the fork that is used to disable the feed clutch while threading.  When it is slid to the left, only the lead screw can be thrown.  When it is slid to the right, only the carriage feed clutch can be thrown.  The knurled knob located towards the bottom of the carriage allows the crank handle for the carriage to be disengaged.

Picture g shows the sliding gear for the leadscrew.  The lead screw is disengaged when not in use to save wear.

Picture j shows the cross feed and compound removed.  This is to allow for other Rivett tooling to be attached to the carriage.

Picture l shows the trap door for the crossfeed drive gear open.  This is done with the long slender handle in the front.

Picture n shows the two speed transmission and brake.

Pictures o-r show Rivett'e unique three point pedestal mounting system.  The balls are located in the bottom of the bed at the headstock end.  The tailstock pedestal has a bevel washer.  The pedestals act as jackscrews to level the lathe once it is in position.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2015, 09:51:55 PM by 90LX_Notch »
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Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2015, 09:42:52 PM »
More pics
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Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #15 on: October 17, 2015, 09:43:38 PM »
Last ones
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Offline b.lindsey

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2015, 10:26:20 PM »
That's a fine looking piece of iron Bob!!  I love the wood cabinet too and both look to be in great shape. Must have been taken well care of over the last 77 years.

Bill

Offline bp

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2015, 10:52:00 PM »
Beautiful!!!  THAT'S a lathe
cheers
Bill

Offline Don1966

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #18 on: October 17, 2015, 11:15:27 PM »
Gee Bob! That lathe don't look to have many miles on it to be that old. Beautiful buddy just beautiful.

Don

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #19 on: October 18, 2015, 12:40:41 AM »
Beautiful piece of machinery!

Dave

Offline Mosey

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #20 on: October 18, 2015, 12:50:42 AM »
Damn fine piece of machinery! Congratulations to you and enjoy it!
Funny how it has all of those curvy scratches all over it!!
Mosey
« Last Edit: October 18, 2015, 12:54:21 AM by Mosey »

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2015, 01:34:20 AM »
Gentlemen-

Thank you very much for the comments.  This lathe is so nice to use.  I wish that all the nifty attachments that they made for it were still available.  Dave (steamer) posted the link above to Tony's site that shows some of them.  It is almost impossible to find any of the accessories.

These were true toolroom lathes that were also found in R&D labs.  Thomas Edison had them as well as major universities.

As I stated earlier; I wanted a nice lathe for along time.  Finances and timing always prevented me from buying other nice lathes that came up for sale.  I was extremely fortunate to get this lathe and will always cherish it.  I got it for a lot less then what South Bends go for around here.

I have to make a bunch of tooling.  Rivett used their own taper of 2*55' in the tailstock so I need to make an arbor to mount a drill chuck.  Then I need to make a faceplate.  I bought an unthreaded backing plate that is close to Rivett's listed dimensions.  That is going to be a challenging project.   The lathe's nose thread is 2 1/4-10.  I am going to have to make a gage for that project. 

-Bob
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Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #22 on: October 18, 2015, 01:37:34 AM »
Mosey-

You just have to love all of those "curvey scratches all over it".  The men at the factory put a lot of work into these.

-Bob

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Online Kim

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #23 on: October 18, 2015, 02:57:43 AM »
Wow Bob, this is a very nice looking piece of equipment!
I'm sure you will enjoy it!
Kim

Offline ths

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #24 on: October 18, 2015, 10:34:57 AM »
That's art, that is. Hugh.

Offline steamer

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #25 on: October 18, 2015, 03:03:26 PM »
The flaking looks great!    If its original, it was not used much and was well taken care of!
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
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Offline Mosey

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #26 on: October 18, 2015, 03:26:30 PM »
Bob,
The big question is what is her name going to be??? Curvy?
Mosey

Maybe an halucination, but do I correctly recall seeing a small aluminum round bed Rivett lathe in David Sobel's emporium about 12 years ago?
« Last Edit: October 18, 2015, 03:41:54 PM by Mosey »

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #27 on: October 18, 2015, 06:57:10 PM »
Thanks guys.

Dave- I think it is original flaking.  The rest of the lathe is in excellent shape.  The gears have little wear.  Originally I thought it had heavy wear near the head stock but the ridge was old oil.  The flaking is worn there, but still very visible.

Mosey- I just call it Rivett.  Rivett started by making watchmaker's lathes.  More then likely that is what you would have seen 12 years ago. Check out this link:  http://www.lathes.co.uk/rivett-watchmakers/

-Bob
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Offline steamer

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #28 on: October 18, 2015, 07:35:07 PM »
That's a treasure Notch....I mean really.
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Offline steamer

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Re: My "new" lathe, Rivett 608
« Reply #29 on: October 28, 2015, 02:59:19 AM »
My last count, the saddle is scraped to fit 10 different surfaces on the bed.....10!!!

They are known as a right royal PITA to scrape!.....they were brutal!...

But it's typical of Rivett.    Quality and performance and cost be damned.

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

 

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