Just Bought A Craftsman 12" Lathe - Looking For Some Information

Further on the Atlas size standards, on the 9", 10" and both early and late 12", the headstock takes up about 12" of the bed, and the tailstock about 6". So if you know the bed length (always part of the Model Number on 10" and Compound Drive 9"), subtract 18" and you have the nominal Center to Center distance. Note also that this dimension (not just with Atlas) is without any chuck on the spindle.

Hey I wanted to thank you guys for the feedback and help. Pics are coming soon, I 've been working on refurbishing a workbench all weekend, and should be done with it tomorrow or the next day. Pics of the lathe to follow...

So it is a 12x36 after all. It was advertised as a 12x38, (which I knew wasn't right) but I realized that I had no idea whether the 36" referred to the distance between centers or total bed length.

as far as e-bay, I have already purchased some tools from there, I just don't want to find myself paying more for used tooling than I would for new from a dealer. For example, I just paid $54.00 for the crossfeed handle ("buy it now" price). I could buy a complete crossfeed on there for not too much more all things considered. I wonder if Clausing stocks this part.... anyways whatever. I need it and it was available. $54.00 seems steep...

Also that bit from Round in Circles :

Round in circles said:

Not partly pulled up out of true due to Gorilla Joe's handiwork

Click to expand...

man that's hilarious. I've spent way too much of my life cleaning up after Gorilla Joe!

Lastly I ended up buying a bunch of clear plastic sheet protectors for my newly printed 5 1/2" x 8" MOLO, so I'm into the thing approximately $60.00+ dollars, and while I could have ordered one for that price, this process has afforded me the ability to read it at night, and the finished product (binded w/ sheet protectors) should be pretty durable in the shop.

I carry a lot of parts. Clausing is expensive on some items and ok on others. You can got to www.mymachineshop.net and browse the Atlas lathe items or contact me through the website with other questions or needs.

Hey thanks, I actually bought a chuck and crossfeed handle from you about 1-2 weeks ago. I will be looking for a piece for my tailstock - 9-165A (screw with nut). I don't suppose you have that do you?

That tailstock ram alignment screw, part # 9-165A (with nut) is a 1/4" dog point slotted set screw, 20tpi (coarse thread), 3/4" long.. My local Sears Appliance, Tools, and Hardware store has these on the shelf for about 50 cents.

Spiral_Chips

Thanks I appreciate it a bunch. There is a Sears about 1 mile from my house...

Update on progress, I have spent many, many hours disassembling, cleaning, sanding, and finally painting. Ways to go still, but the bed and feet are repainted. I used a copper hammer finish and it looks so damn awesome. I'm onto the carriage now... I wound up building a second bench for tools and layout, so this project keeps growing. Its starting to come together now... Also I have had a stream of parts and tooling arriving in the mail. Got some really nice micrometers and a new machinist level (Starrett). I need to figure out how to calibrate the mics and the level, any advice? Also I bent the rack a bit when I removed it, about 15 degrees-ish on the end by the tailstock. I am counting on bending it back when I screw it back down, just using the mechanical force of screwing it to bend it back into shape. Anyone see any problems with this?

I would try to straighten it some first.

I am sure I have it here. Joel

Bump for the calibration question. I bought some mics and a machinist level, how do I calibrate them? Thanks!