Model Engine Maker

General Category => Oddball => Topic started by: Don1966 on January 08, 2020, 12:44:56 AM

Title: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 08, 2020, 12:44:56 AM
a friend gave me this old wood turning lathe. It belonged to his dad who was one of my best friends. He died years ago and he wanted me to have it. I gave his dad the chisels for it over 55 years ago and they are still in great shape. As i progress with the restore i will document it if any are interested.


don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on January 08, 2020, 01:21:33 AM
Count me in!
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Dave Otto on January 08, 2020, 01:32:34 AM
I'm ready!

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: MJM460 on January 08, 2020, 01:41:10 AM
I am another looking forward to following along,

MJM460

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Flyboy Jim on January 08, 2020, 02:33:19 AM
Count me in Don!  :popcornsmall:

Jim
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Kim on January 08, 2020, 05:09:43 AM
Sounds like a pretty interesting project, Don!  :popcorn:
Kim
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: john mills on January 08, 2020, 06:22:05 AM
I will be following your project  Don.

     John
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Roger B on January 08, 2020, 06:51:55 AM
Looks interesting  :) Do you know how old it is? Is the drive motor underneath the headstock?
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on January 08, 2020, 01:11:47 PM
You know how I feel about lathes.....  8)

Following along......

Dave
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 08, 2020, 02:58:28 PM
Looks interesting  :) Do you know how old it is? Is the drive motor underneath the headstock?
Yes the motor is underneath Roger! I was told 100 years old but I am try to fine information on it



Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Dan Rowe on January 08, 2020, 04:56:19 PM
That looks like a fairly heavy machine. That will be handy with wood that takes some trimming to get a round section. I have seen light wood lathes start dancing.

Dan
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: scc on January 08, 2020, 05:31:56 PM
I'm interested too. :popcorn:    Terry
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: cnr6400 on January 08, 2020, 09:52:17 PM
Look forward to following the resto!  :ThumbsUp:

Looks like the large pull E on the spindle needs some love. If you buy a new one, make sure it's a pull E and not a pull F.  :Lol:

Sorry for first bad pun of the resto..... :embarassed:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 09, 2020, 09:45:40 PM
Started on the tail stock to see how bad things were. It was frozen but after some playing it freed up. The center is a live center and has a bearing. The handwheel was remade and from the photo you can see the rmains of the orginal one in front of it. I tried to remove the live center it seems to be a MT taper, but it is stuck pretty well and i will probable need some heat to loosen it up. The locking clamp screw was also modified and i will probalby make a new one plus a new hand wheel for the tailstock quil. I will continue to disassemble the lathe and will get the bed blasted by a friend. The motor that you see i am thinking of replacing with a three phase and a VFD drive. Thanks for the followers and i would like your input on this as i progress as well.

Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on January 10, 2020, 04:02:25 PM
Can you get behind the center from the back of the spindle?
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Roger B on January 10, 2020, 05:21:02 PM
Or drill a hole from the handle end so you can knock it out. We did that with an old Drummond lathe.
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on January 10, 2020, 10:04:09 PM
Don

Can you get your hands on some drill chuck wedges?....much like these

A pair of these and a stout tool makers vise, and perhaps some heat and it should move....though I does look like it's had the snot beat out of it.

Dave

https://www.mcmaster.com/29225a36

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Art K on January 11, 2020, 03:00:28 AM
Don,
Usually they have a slot in the spindle for putting a Morris taper drift and tap it with a hammer and it pops out. I inherited a Walker Turner column drill press from my dad, good quality machine. Good luck with your rebuild, it does look a bit abused & can use some TLC.
Art
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 16, 2020, 08:33:05 PM
Got to remove to live center with a little heat and a rod and hammer. The head stock needed heat also to remove the assorted parts plus a little hammer help. By looking at the main shaft you ccan see it has had some abuse and will take some patience to clear the marks off with gently filing. Also a photo of the head stock after removing the spindle. Both centers are MT3 tapers. I have to make the bearing cap in the second photo one was missing.

Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: cnr6400 on January 16, 2020, 08:41:29 PM
 :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Progress! Nicely done.
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: awake on January 16, 2020, 08:49:23 PM
I will continue to disassemble the lathe and will get the bed blasted by a friend.

Hopefully not the working surfaces ... ?
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 16, 2020, 09:03:11 PM
I will continue to disassemble the lathe and will get the bed blasted by a friend.

Hopefully not the working surfaces ... ?
They will be taped off after buffing off the rust!



Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on January 16, 2020, 09:11:25 PM
Its coming along Don!    For the greasy crud, simple green mixed half and half with hot water...will take everything off.    Paint included.

Dave
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: awake on January 16, 2020, 09:31:47 PM
I will continue to disassemble the lathe and will get the bed blasted by a friend.

Hopefully not the working surfaces ... ?
They will be taped off after buffing off the rust!



Don
Whew!

Sent from my Lenovo TB-8504F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 16, 2020, 09:43:23 PM
Thanks Dave, I did find some information on this type lathe the company was started between 1927 to 1929 by Ernest T Walker. It was built in New Jersey until 1931 in which they moved to Plainfield. They were purchase by Kearney and Trecker a machine tool co. In 1948 and operated under that name until sold to Rockwell in 1956. They Walker Turner lived on till the 1960S. So that would put the lathes age at 60 to 72 years of age.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: 10KPete on January 17, 2020, 01:59:51 AM
You are doing what I've been doing most of my life: Making old tools good again. That's one of the most rewarding things I've done.

It's very good to see more tools receiving deferred maintenence.

 :Love:

Pete
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Roger B on January 17, 2020, 07:11:21 PM
That's good that you got the tapers out without damage  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp:  :wine1:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 22, 2020, 11:20:31 PM
Thanks guys for following. I don't have much to report but i did get the tailstock bead blasted alone with the tool rest. I chucked the live center up in the lathe to clean it up it had been abused. The shafts i filed with needle files to remove the dents and scratch bumps on the shafts. I will buff them to a shine on the buffing wheel no sand paper. Below are photos of the parts to each shaft the tailstock Quil and main shaft along with the centers and MT2 centers. I had orginally thought they were MT3. I showed a photo of the hand wheel i ordered for $10. I have the bearings one is a 6205ZZ and the other is a 55505 double roller bearing.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: MJM460 on January 23, 2020, 01:19:00 AM
You are making good progress, Don.  It is coming up nicely.

That handwheel looks like it might have an alternative application as a flywheel!

MJM460

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: propforward on January 23, 2020, 02:59:50 AM
Those parts are starting to look like brand new.
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 23, 2020, 10:13:05 PM
Today i primed the parts from yesterday and finished the headstock blasting and priming. I finish disassembling the lathe. The wood platform it sits on will be sanded and coat with Polyurethane. The motor I will replace with a three phase with VFD. I did find the step pulley on Ebay and bidding on it and I will find out friday if I get it or not. Now need to get the bed to get it blasted along with the legs. I also ordered locking casters for the lathe to be able to move it around.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on January 24, 2020, 12:54:22 AM
Thats moving along fast!.    What kinda paint are you using?
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 24, 2020, 01:40:42 AM
Hi Dave so far this is just primer. I haven't decided on the color yet i will be checking different colors to see which looks best. I have attached the bed platform it had cracks in it i need to glue before i start sanding it,


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on January 24, 2020, 01:52:16 AM
Wow, huge difference!   :popcorn:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 30, 2020, 11:11:57 PM
i received all my parts ordered. New motor, speed drive, caster, tailstock wheel and V belt. The headstrock, tailstock and assorted parts have been painted final color. The motor mount assembly has been blasted and primed. I passed a MT2 reamer in the main shaft and Quill to remove high spots if any. I passed the shafts on the buffer to shine them and as you can see there are marks on them from abuse but all high spots carefully removed with needle file. I buffered the lathe bed to remove the rust and it is now ready to go to the blaster to remove paint and rust. That will be next week before it happens.

Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Flyboy Jim on January 31, 2020, 02:42:11 AM
Making good headway Don.  :ThumbsUp:  It's nice to see this machine coming back to life.  :)

Jim
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 31, 2020, 04:18:56 PM
Thanks Jim, not much to show just the platform sanded and polyurethaned with three coats. The platform still has some character marks in it to show its age.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: awake on January 31, 2020, 04:42:16 PM
Don, in photo # 25 (reply # 30) above - it looks like you painted over the ball oilers. Maybe just the lighting ... ?
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on January 31, 2020, 11:32:44 PM
Hi Andy your are correct they will be cleaned but not used. The bearings are double shield. Today I managed to assemble the tail stock and completer the tool rest. The headstock I ran into a problem. It seems the bearing are not direct replacement. The bearings were made to order i was told. The old bearing inside diameters are 25.2MM while the new bearing are 25MM.  To tight a fit and I need to think about this hard because trying to chuck the shaft in the lathe and remove .2 MM is going to be a chore. Alignment of the shaft to take .2 MM of and keep it true to the MT2 taper will take some doing. I can  chuck the front in a four jaw independent chuck but the tailstock end is the problem. I have a self centering live chuck but don't know how true it will run. Tomorrow I will check to see if I can put a four independent adjustment chuck to the live center if it doesn't run true at least that's my plan. The motor mounting assembly was painted.  I did a trial run on one of the chisel on the buffer and it cleans up great photo below.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on January 31, 2020, 11:36:15 PM
Amazing how much better those parts look!
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: john mills on February 01, 2020, 07:58:46 AM
the spindle bearings  how does the out side dia fit the housing  they weren't original imperial 1" inside  and 2" out side diameter were they.  Progress looks great.
    John
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 01, 2020, 03:27:10 PM
Hi John, the bearings fit perfect in the housing but not the shaft. Measuring the inside race shows .2MM difference on the inside race. The shaft is  a 25.4MM shaft. Giving .4MM smaller then the bearing inside race. The bearings I bought would fit a Rockwell wood lathe who bought Walker Turner. These were the only bearings I could find because the original ones didn’t cross and the book said made to order so go fig.

Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: b.lindsey on February 01, 2020, 10:42:50 PM
Great thread Don. Just getting caught up with your progress to date. Bummer as to the bearings though, hope you can sort that out.

Bill
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: derekwarner on February 02, 2020, 12:04:41 AM
Don...are you using a telescopics to gauge the bore, then crossing over to a micrometer to confirm the dimension?.......Derek
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 02, 2020, 04:26:21 AM
Hi Derek, no using calipers but it’s very obvious the difference when I put the calipers on it. .2MM is almost .008 of a inch quiet a lot. Haven’t decided what I am going to do about it I will keep looking for exact replacement but they we made for that lathe from what a bearing dealer told me. I may have to make another shaft.


Bill thanks for looking in buddy!

Regards Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 05, 2020, 02:17:13 AM
Today the parts are back from the blaster and were primed ready for painting final color. I chuck the shaft in the lathe and dialed it in with and indicator to get it to run true then removed enough material for the new bearings to fit. leaving the shaft a couple of thousands larger then the race inside diameter of the bearing. Now the head stock is complete all but the back end bearing cap needing to be made.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on February 05, 2020, 02:44:17 AM
Looking great Don! Going to be turning chair legs soon.


 :popcorn:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 05, 2020, 11:47:17 PM
Thanks Chris, more progress today the lathe is assembled all but the motor and controls and the rear Bearing cap to make yet. I include a photo of a start on the bearing cap. A photo of the VFD and enclosure and a family shot of the lathe so far, more progress to come yet.

Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Dave Otto on February 06, 2020, 12:31:07 AM
Looking very nice Don!

Dave
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: zeeprogrammer on February 06, 2020, 12:33:53 AM
Looking good Don.

Have you thought about a dance when you're done?
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: propforward on February 06, 2020, 01:10:12 AM
It looks brand new. Nice work!
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on February 06, 2020, 01:12:01 AM
Last week I was over at the local woodworking store, your lathe looks much nicer than the new ones they had.  :ThumbsUp:   :cheers:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: cnr6400 on February 06, 2020, 03:41:03 AM
 :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Sharp looking lathe Don! great work!
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 06, 2020, 05:32:41 AM
Thanks Guys for looking and commenting. Next is to wire he motor and control. There is a shelf ledge on the legs, originally I received it without shelf but I plan to install one plus a Chisel rack. More to come!


 :cheers:
Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 11, 2020, 11:27:30 PM
More progress on the lathe today. I made the bottom shelf and polyurethaned it and installed to the lathe. I start mounting the controls and decided to install the VFD enclosure on the right underside foot of the lathe since it had more room and the control switch and speed adjust on the left front leg. The cap on that covered the lathe pulley had holes in it and looking at similar lathe showed this was a knob to lift the cap and a latch to secure it, this was installed. I have photos of the bottom shelf and wiring install which is not finished because I still have the tie in to do on both. Also a photo of the whole lathe as is.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on February 12, 2020, 12:05:15 AM
Don, that is looking fantastic! Is that the original wood for the shelf? Looks like figured grain, the color is just right.
 :cheers:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 12, 2020, 12:58:51 AM
Hi Chris and thanks, no that’s not the original shelf only the platform is original. There wasn’t a shelf when I got the lathe. The color is early american wood stain. I made the shelf from grade A 3/4 plywood.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 12, 2020, 02:37:07 AM
Looking great Don!  :ThumbsUp:

The edging on the shelf really dresses it up.

What kind of chuck is that? Looks like a wood lathe that really wants to be a metal lathe.  :thinking:

Jim
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 12, 2020, 04:00:56 AM
Hi Jim,  thanks for looking. The chuck you see is a 3.75 inch wood chuck I was test fitting on an adapter.



Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: john mills on February 12, 2020, 05:57:45 AM
Looking good Don

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: cnr6400 on February 13, 2020, 12:25:46 AM
 :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 13, 2020, 12:40:05 AM
Wired the lathe up today and made the vent cover for the enclosure. The VFD has to breath so it can cool itself. Some more photos for you showing the making of the vent covers and wiring. A final family photo of the complete lathe so far and a photo of the name tags reinstalled.


Don.
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: 10KPete on February 13, 2020, 01:18:46 AM
Don, that's just beautiful! Another very handy tool ready for use.

Pete
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 13, 2020, 02:38:25 AM
Don, that's just beautiful! Another very handy tool ready for use.

Pete

Pete..............looking at the second to last picture, I think it might already of seen some action!  :whoohoo:

Jim
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 13, 2020, 04:28:09 AM
Short shaky video.


Don

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyiQ-HQENEQ
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: crueby on February 13, 2020, 01:20:27 PM
Working great!
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Flyboy Jim on February 13, 2020, 02:11:45 PM
Looks just like the lathes we had in my 9th grade shop class.  :ThumbsUp: I still have the bowl I turned on one.

Jim
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: awake on February 13, 2020, 02:48:47 PM
Nice to see it in action! It sounded super smooth when up to speed, but a bit of rattle getting there; I noticed you adjusting a little knob as it was getting up to speed - what does that knob do?

I was curious also about your turning technique -  it looked like you were using a gouge, but primarily as a scraper, even after you rounded off the blank - ?? I couldn't tell for sure on the video.
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 13, 2020, 03:03:51 PM
Hi ANDY, the knob I was adjusting is a speed control. I installed a VFD and a three phase motor on it. And yes I was using a gouge just for the demo.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: awake on February 13, 2020, 03:07:49 PM
Ah - I was thinking that knob was something mechanical. What was the source of the rattling as it was ramping up to speed? Maybe something in the way the motor is mounted?? Again, it was super smooth when it got up to speed, so I would assume it is nothing that would cause problems.

I predict you are going to get a lot of enjoyment out of that lathe - I loved how rigid the tool rest is. (Not just that, but I noticed that in particular, having suffered with a wimpy tool rest for years ...)
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: cnr6400 on February 13, 2020, 03:16:09 PM
Lathe's looking better than new and working great! Excellent work Don.  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on February 13, 2020, 05:48:13 PM
I saw that Don!    that looks great!    What's your first project with it?

Dave
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Roger B on February 13, 2020, 07:44:42 PM
That's a good result  :praise2:  :praise2:  :wine1: I haven't done any wood turning since secondary school  :old:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on February 14, 2020, 12:19:37 AM
It seem the locking lever on my lathe tailstock snapped so I had to make a new one. In the photo you can see the original lever had broke and was welded together. Process of turning in the lathe from hex stock. Threaded the end with tap die and turned the handle to size. Photos of the new handle next to old still on parent stock and using torch bent to shape. Final fit to tail stock.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on March 06, 2020, 12:09:59 AM
I been working on a chisel rack for the lathe. The photos show how the tools are hidden under the lathe and a handle pulls the rack out at a 10 degree tilt to access the chisels then return to hidden position. The two knobs adjust the tension with compressed springs. Find below a photo of the 10 degree arc on  the end plates.


Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: MJM460 on March 06, 2020, 02:31:48 AM
Hi Don, that’s a neat way of storing the chisels and protecting the edges (and the operator) at the same time.

A great restoration.

MJM460

Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Admiral_dk on March 06, 2020, 11:16:19 AM
Like the refurbished lathe the new toolholde looks fantastic Don  :praise2:

.... But the security consious side of me cringe at the sight off blunt and sharp cutting edges pointing diretly at your hands when you reach for another tool or just returning the one you are holding  :o .... to me that is just a seroius accident waiting to happen .....

May I suggest that you remake the holder so it's the handles up and the cutting edges down into the holder instead.

Best wishes

Per
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on March 06, 2020, 01:37:25 PM
Like the refurbished lathe the new toolholde looks fantastic Don  :praise2:

.... But the security consious side of me cringe at the sight off blunt and sharp cutting edges pointing diretly at your hands when you reach for another tool or just returning the one you are holding  :o .... to me that is just a seroius accident waiting to happen .....

May I suggest that you remake the holder so it's the handles up and the cutting edges down into the holder instead.

Best wishes

Per
Thanks for the advice but I had thought hard on it when I built it that way. The chisels are two inches apart for that reason. Putting them the oppisite way I wouldn’t know which chisel I was getting. They are high enough that I can grab them by the handle not the blades.

thanks MJM460 for looking and commenting



Don
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: gary.a.ayres on March 24, 2021, 11:36:35 PM
Don -

There's something so satisfying about an old machine being restored to pristine condition like this.

gary

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: steamer on March 25, 2021, 10:43:22 PM
Looking good brothah!

Dave
Title: Re: Refurishing an old wood turning lathe
Post by: Don1966 on March 26, 2021, 03:17:25 PM
Thanks guys it was a very satisfying restore this was one of my best friends lathe....


Don
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