restoring my old 12x36 craftsman lathe

[300sniper]

i bought this old craftsman lathe a while back for $700. it came with some tooling, 4 different chucks, a milling attachment, steady and follow rests. the stand it was on looked like someones first welding project. i wanted to make sure the lathe was supported good and level so i needed to make my own bench for it. the bench i am building for it is stout and has adjustable feet to level it out and make up for any uneven spots on the shop floor. while i had the lathe off the bench, i decided to do a full restoration on it.

the lathe was in good shape for being around 50 years old (i'm guessing. i still have not been able to figure out an exact age). i completely disassembled the lathe, keeping parts to each sub-assembly in separate zip lock bags. all the parts that were not chrome were either sand blasted or bead blasted depending on what finish it needed. all the heavy paint was removed by sand blasting. the machined surfaces got a light clean up with the bead blaster.

i had sherwin williams mix me up a gallon of industrial alkyd finish to match a pice of hidden sheet metal on the lathe that still had it's original color. all of the painted surfaces were sprayed with this. this is where i am at now in this project.

soon all the gears and pulleys are going to be coated with a flat black bake on molly-resin firearm finish from john norrell arms (http://www.johnnorrellarms.com/molyresin_about.asp). the non-standard bolts and nick knacks that i can't pick at the hard ware store will be finished in black oxide from caswell (http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/black.htm). i also bought all new standard bolts and machine screws for it.

i will update as i get further along with this.

here are some before shots of the lathe:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathe1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathe2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathe3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathe4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathe5.jpg

[300sniper]

here are the parts after refinishing. i didn't take any pictures of the parts after abrasive blasting but you all know what that looks like:D .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto3.jpg

[suzuki2stroker]

lookin good, keep us posted:)

[Dusty]

Can't wait to see it reassembled. I love rehab'ed old tools. Beats buying an HF cheapie.

Dusty

[Richard]

nice work

[beartj]

AWESOME thread. Suddenly the HF 3-in-1 and hobby stuff is a lot less tempting.

[jmhinescj]

Iv'e had one eye open for a while lookin for an old lathe to give this same treatment to...everything I come across is either beyond repair or the owners seem to think it's made of gold:shaking:

I'll be watchin this thread...keep us posted...looks good

[Azzy2000]

check craigslist.com you can find some good deals on there fairly often..

i found a very nice south bend 13x60" metal lathe on there.. paid $1000 for it.

[PTSchram]

OMG. I hope you know what you're doing/have done.

Disassembly of the headstock and tail stock should not be done by someone who is not VERY familiar with setting them back up. It is almost impossible to get a lathe to cut true after a disassembly like that unless you know how to shim the various components on reassembly.

That lathe was probably in pretty good mechanical condition before it was taken apart. They might not look very nice, but they usually cut much better before taken apart. Having them reassembled professionally can rival the purchase cost of a piece of machinery.

I will never disassemble a piece of well running machinery due to the expense of having the first and last one I disassembled reassembled.

Go ahead, strip it down and repaint, but don't tear it all apart.

PT

[300sniper]

OMG. I hope you know what you're doing/have done.

Disassembly of the headstock and tail stock should not be done by someone who is not VERY familiar with setting them back up. It is almost impossible to get a lathe to cut true after a disassembly like that unless you know how to shim the various components on reassembly.

That lathe was probably in pretty good mechanical condition before it was taken apart. They might not look very nice, but they usually cut much better before taken apart. Having them reassembled professionally can rival the purchase cost of a piece of machinery.

I will never disassemble a piece of well running machinery due to the expense of having the first and last one I disassembled reassembled.

Go ahead, strip it down and repaint, but don't tear it all apart.

PT

can you explain more? i kept track of where every shim came from and if it goes back in the same place i would think it will be fine. am i missing out on something?

edit: the head stock needs to be disassembled just to change the belts. my manual gives instructions on how to do this and re-assemble. the tail stock has no shims.

[PTSchram]

The shims were put in by someone who knew exactly what he was doing. I seriously doubt you'll be able to get them back right, even if you did keep track of where they came from.

Removing the headstock from the bed was the mistake there, you'll never get it back as square as it was from the factory. Removing the shaft from its bearings is not the same as removing the entire assembly from the bed and having it blasted.

We're talking extremely tight tolerances especially when you get further away from the headstock. Any inaccuracy present will be amplified by the distance from the headstock.

All of my South Bends have shims in both the headstock and the tailstock, the belts can be replaced without doing anyhting more than removing the pin from the belt.

[PONY_DRIVER]

Looks good! I hope you get it all back together and working right soon.

[Cork]

Jim and I tore down his southbend 10 inch lathe. We painted it and replaced a bunch of bushings in the headstock. We ended up having an old machinist scrape the bed and put the headstock and tailstock back in so it ran true. He did a good job. I do not no what it cost though.

[Gozuki]

I did Haas lathes for a couple years. Buy your self an Interapid and get familiar with it. You are in for a PITA.

[300sniper]

The shims were put in by someone who knew exactly what he was doing. I seriously doubt you'll be able to get them back right, even if you did keep track of where they came from.

Removing the headstock from the bed was the mistake there, you'll never get it back as square as it was from the factory. Removing the shaft from its bearings is not the same as removing the entire assembly from the bed and having it blasted.

We're talking extremely tight tolerances especially when you get further away from the headstock. Any inaccuracy present will be amplified by the distance from the headstock.

All of my South Bends have shims in both the headstock and the tailstock, the belts can be replaced without doing anyhting more than removing the pin from the belt.

there are no shims in the head stock or tail stock. the tail stock is adjustable via set screws. the head stock has an interference fit into the bed. i honestly don't see how it couldn't be square. i don't see taking the tail stock off as any different than sliding it back and forth on the bed.

i could be wrong and it could be junk now. i guess i will just have to find out.

[300sniper]

now i am wondering about the construction differences between the craftsman/atlas lathes and the southbends. everyone that mentions my doom has also mentioned a sb lathe. could the craftsman be simpler than the sb?

any ways, here are a few more shots from today:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto6.jpg

[300sniper]

bagged parts from sub-assembly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto11.jpg

cleaned up bits n pieces

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto7.jpg

[300sniper]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto10.jpg

[Azzy2000]

Lookin good! Hope it comes back together ok.:beer:

[Randall Edge]

any ways, here are a few more shots from today:
Looking good. Don't let these guys scare ya. Put everything back the way you found it and it will probably be pretty close. If not then check out some of the on-line machinest forums for some advice. It's really not the end of the world.

[Azzy2000]

www.metalillness.com

quite a few knowledgeable people here.

[300sniper]

www.metalillness.com

quite a few knowledgeable people here.


thanks for that link. cool site!

[PTSchram]

Worst case, there are guys just about everywhere who will algin things for you.

I didn't mean to be an absolute ass (trealtive ass is OK :flipoff2:) It's just that in the vast majority of cases, folks tear into lathes like this, make thempretty and then either end up with a piece of machinery that won't cut true, or end up spending a small fortuen getting them aligned again when all they really needed was a wire bursha nda can of paint.

You've done a beautiful job on the cosmetic parts.

Good luck.

PT

[300sniper]

Worst case, there are guys just about everywhere who will algin things for you.

I didn't mean to be an absolute ass (trealtive ass is OK :flipoff2:) It's just that in the vast majority of cases, folks tear into lathes like this, make thempretty and then either end up with a piece of machinery that won't cut true, or end up spending a small fortuen getting them aligned again when all they really needed was a wire bursha nda can of paint.

You've done a beautiful job on the cosmetic parts.

Good luck.

PT


i understand where you are coming from. i didn't take it as you being an ass. i just don't see how it can't go back together true. i could be wrong tho. i will find out soon enough either way:D

[300sniper]

tail stock
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto13.jpg


here you can see what is involved in centering the tail stock. seems pretty basic to me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto15.jpg

[300sniper]

quick change gear levers

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto16.jpg


partial saddle

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto17.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto18.jpg

[YamanX]

Looks really good.

[PONY_DRIVER]

Rock on. Any more progress?

[300sniper]

Rock on. Any more progress?


i have a bit more done. i have been finishing all the small nick-knacks and misc. hardware in black oxide. it is turning out pretty good. i also disassembled the motor and bead blasted and repainted the case. i'll try to get some more pics tomorrow if i make it down to my shop.

[kortam]

buy a piece of roundstock to near the max you can chuck up on center for your lathe, as in centered on both sides driven with a dog or something. When you get put back together run a pass end to end and then check to see whether or not your cutting on a taper. This is after the requisite checking your table, ways, everything with a good machinist level and adjusting as required to be perfectly level during re-assembly.

[300sniper]

here are a few more pics. you can see how the black oxide from caswell (http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/black.htm) is turning out. i am happy with it and it is easy and quick to use.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto22.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto23.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto24.jpg

[300sniper]

tool post refinished with black oxide:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto21.jpg

close up of some of the drive gears in the carriage:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto25.jpg

motor bracket and belt tensioner assembly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto26.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto27.jpg

[PONY_DRIVER]

Lookin good. How much do you have left to assemble?

[Azzy2000]

I like the black oxide finish.. looks good.

Did you just polish the dials and handles , or did you get them plated?

[300sniper]

I like the black oxide finish.. looks good.

Did you just polish the dials and handles , or did you get them plated?


the chrome handles were just cleaned up with carb cleaner, a tooth brush and a rag. there is a bit of discoloration on the chrome in a few spots but not too bad. the dials and compass were just lightly bead blasted and then hit with some steel wool.

[300sniper]

i assembled the quick change gear box tonight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto28.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto29.jpg

[300sniper]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto30.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto31.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto32.jpg

[PTSchram]

Beautiful job! Now, let's get it back together and start making some chips!!!

[300sniper]

Beautiful job! Now, let's get it back together and start making some chips!!!


naaa, i have too much time into it to use it. it is just going to sit there and look pretty like a show car.







































:flipoff2:

jk, i have a few projects waiting that i need it for. it'll be making chips soon enough.

[dr_claw]

Wow! I love it! I wish i had more time to do stuff like this. I always get things half finished and move on to something else.

That would make for an interesting Metalwork 12 project for my students :p

[86YOTA]

Nice job! :eek: My buddy linked me to this thread on a difrent board. I just pickedup a lathe myself, except is alot older and ALOT heavier. I plan on cleaning mine up and making it useable, if I tried to get this detail it would take me forever! :LOL:

http://forum.neow.net/index.php?showtopic=60276

[300sniper]

i got quite a bit done this weekend.

labels cleaned up and reinstalled:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto33.jpg

preheating parts prior to applying moly resin finish:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto34.jpg

i had to get a small oven to use in the shop. i got in trouble last time i used the house oven for this:D
baking parts at 300* for one hour to cure the moly resin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto35.jpg

back gear installed:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto36.jpg

spindle installed:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto37.jpg

[300sniper]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto38.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto39.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto40.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto41.jpg

[300sniper]

i disassembled the motor and repainted the housing:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto42.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto43.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto44.jpg

[300sniper]

i am tig welding the bench to get some practice with torch/filler manipulation. i don't think nasa is going to be calling me anytime soon looking for a aerospace welder:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto45.jpg

[Roy's Rustbucket]

Wow, that is a very nice restoration. I love when someone rescues an old tool. Beautiful!

Roy

[cybergeek23851]

i am tig welding the bench to get some practice with torch/filler manipulation. i don't think nasa is going to be calling me anytime soon looking for a aerospace welder:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto45.jpg



Heck, man... that looks pretty good for a beginner, from where I am sitting. Keep up the good work! :beer:

[PTSchram]

In the picture of the headstock spindle, there appears to be a threaded surface next to the bearing race. Was there a threaded colalr there originally? Quite often, beairng preload is achieved by a threaded collar on the back end of the spindle.

PT

(impatiently waiting to see this piece of art making chips!)

[Dusty]

That thing is turning out GAWJUS! Are you going to build a chip/coolant tray into the stand? Awesome work, keep the pix coming.

Dusty

[300sniper]

Are you going to build a chip/coolant tray into the stand?

Dusty

yep. definitely going to build a chip pan. i am going to use a piece of 14ga sheet with a 1" edge bent up at about a 45* angle all the way around. i am thinking about welding a pice of 1/4" round stock around the entire top edge of it for a finished look.

i am thinking about making a removable shelf for the bottom. i am not sure yet tho. i almost don't want anything below so it will be easier to sweep up and behind the machine.:confused:

[300sniper]

In the picture of the headstock spindle, there appears to be a threaded surface next to the bearing race. Was there a threaded colalr there originally? Quite often, beairng preload is achieved by a threaded collar on the back end of the spindle.

PT

(impatiently waiting to see this piece of art making chips!)

i think what you are seeing (yellow arrow) is a protective collar to keep debris out of the bearings. it still needs to slide further onto the spindle to line up with the outer collar. the threaded collar is on the end of the spindle (red arrow) and still has a few more turns to go to tighten it all up. you are correct about the threaded collar to adjust the bearing preload.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/headstockpreload.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/headstockdiagram2.jpg

[300sniper]

here is a step by step process for the caswell black oxide:

nasty old tool holder:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/toolholder1.jpg

cleaned up in the blast cabinet:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/toolholder2.jpg

soaking in the blackener solution for about 5 minutes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/toolholder3.jpg

rinsed with clean water and soaking in the penetrating sealant for 5 minutes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/toolholder4.jpg

finished product:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/toolholder5.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/toolholder6.jpg

[300sniper]

just about have the lathe done now. it is completely assembled but still awaits the wiring and bench/chip pan completion.

motor installed:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto48.jpg

reverse tumbler assembled:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto47.jpg

oilers cleaned up and installed:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto46.jpg

[onepersonriot]

WOW, that thing looks amazing, you got me thinkng about rescuing some old metalworking machine off of craigslist. :smokin:

[Roy's Rustbucket]

That looks really nice. Did you mask off the machined areas and then paint, Or paint and then polish off the machined areas? (like on the compound)

Roy

[300sniper]

That looks really nice. Did you mask off the machined areas and then paint, Or paint and then polish off the machined areas? (like on the compound)

Roy

the machined areas were masked off prior to paint.

[300sniper]

:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathecompare.jpg

[Roy's Rustbucket]

:D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/lathecompare.jpg

I guess that one part looks a little better.:flipoff2:

[blahblahblah]

$700 huh. Damn (http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/tls/229940137.html).

[braxton357]

How did you get the badges/lables/charts so clean without ruining them? That's impressive.

[ironpig70]

:smokin: impressive work

[300sniper]

How did you get the badges/lables/charts so clean without ruining them? That's impressive.


water and a rag. i was too scared to try any chemicals. now i see that i can still order new labels from sears, as well as all the other parts for the machine.

[300sniper]

$700 huh. Damn (http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/tls/229940137.html).

now that i picked up a clausing lathe (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=524585), maybe i can sell this one for $1500 and buy a mill:confused:

[blahblahblah]

now that i picked up a clausing lathe (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=524585), maybe i can sell this one for $1500 and buy a mill:confused:
Seeing the quality of work you've done fixing this one up, I'd say you could easily get that much if that other guy manages to sell his.:smokin:

[DTroy]

The before and after pic in post #57 is great. :)

I'm patiently waiting for my former machining school to release their old equipment. They are in the slow process of upgrading and I'm on the list for two lathes.
A medium sized South Bend and a monster of a lathe made by Monarch. Way back in 41'.

Nice resto work. It's right up my alley. And I had been wondering about that kit from Caswell. They make some interesting plating and coating kits..

[Travis Waldher]

have you had a chance to see if it's still true yet?

[300sniper]

have you had a chance to see if it's still true yet?


not yet but i'm not too worried about it. i think it'll be just fine. i don't see any where i could go wrong. the head stock is an interference fit into the bed so i don't see how it could be off. the tail stock is pretty basic. the only shims were where the saddle fits against the bed and they all went back where they came from. i don't think it is as complicated as the south bend lathes.

now my new (to me) old clausing lathe on the other hand, it isn't getting disassembled

[300sniper]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto49.jpg

here is a shot of both the craftsman and my new to me atlas/clausing:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/latheresto50.jpg

and the buck that came down to the shop today to check things out:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/shopbuck.jpg

[peccavi18]

Rediciolus dude, that thing looks amazing.:eek: How many hrs you go into this resto?

[300sniper]

Rediciolus dude, that thing looks amazing.:eek: How many hrs you go into this resto?


i wasn't getting paid hourly for it so i didn't keep track:D

i don't think i could even make a rough guess as to how many.

[t0talkos]

why didnt you shoot that damn deer!, you NEVER see anything like that around these parts, i would have chased it on foot if i had too.

[300sniper]

why didnt you shoot that damn deer!, you NEVER see anything like that around these parts, i would have chased it on foot if i had too.


it was kind of ironic:

my buddy went up hunting every weekend this deer season and didn't see a single buck. he came over to help me unload the new lathe. not half hour after he left the buck came down:D . there are also plenty of turkey there also. i may have to get one this year for thanksgiving.

[300sniper]

after all the work in this i am thinking that i am going to sell it. i am thinking that i want a mill now. i have my clausing 12x36 lathe and a small 6x20 craftsman lathe so i really don't need this one. especially if people are really getting this much for the same lathe:eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/300sniper/craigslistlathe.jpg

i still need to build the chip pan and wire it up. after that is done i think i will ask $1500 for it and see what happens. i won't be in a hurry as i don't need to get rid of it. getting my toyota back together is priority now but before it goes up for sale i will be sure to make a few test cuts with it to show that it still cuts true.

[bgaidan]

I'd ask more than that. I had a WTB on Craig's List and was getting that kind of price for a beat up 9x24 Atlas and Craftsman lathes.

[300sniper]

I'd ask more than that. I had a WTB on Craig's List and was getting that kind of price for a beat up 9x24 Atlas and Craftsman lathes.


i guess since i am not going to be in a hurry i should ask more. i do have a lot of time invested in it.

[300sniper]

i ended up selling this the other day. i never got the chance to run it after the restoration. it still needed to be wired and have a chip pan built. i was kind of sad to see it go after putting so much time into it but i needed the room. i got $1700 for the craftsman and had it on craigslist for less than 2 weeks. i also sold my clausing 6300 that was getting tired. now i have room for my new taiwan lath and new mill that is coming in the next few days. i guess i did ok with the craftsman though. i think i only paid $700 for it.