I’ve been pretty bad at taking pictures and updating this thread, but progress is being made
First coat of paint on some of the panels, tail stock and bed. Instead of removing the data plates I tried to mask them up, but clearly did a Bad job! I’ll have to clean up the overspray.
I had the apron apart and cleaned out what looked like 70 years of chips and grime!
I started getting things lined up on the bench to give me some motivation (my hands have been very greasy hence the grease marks all over the new paint! This will wipe off)
The saddle has also been painted and the apron also (albeit very badly)
Other than the headstock, everything else has been fully torn down and cleaned up. There was a lot to clean out! I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the first time this lathe has been fully apart in its 70 year lifetime.
I’ve come to realise that taking my time and doing a perfectionist job on this is not what I want right now. I must have 30 hours in the tear down, cleaning and painting so far and to do a perfect job I think I’d have 30 more (which with two kids, job, life etc is more than I have time for now). I’m now aiming at ‘presentable’ and fully cleaned and functional rather than perfect so I can actually get on and use the lathe. At some point in the future I’d like to buy another old lathe (hopefully a Colchester student or Smart and Brown 1024) and restore it to a higher level, but I’ll do that whilst having this lathe to use.
So anyway, the clean up will continue (and I’ll document in this thread) and then I’ll get to using the lathe and then at some point in the future (when I have a second usable lathe) I’ll give this the time and effort it deserves to restore it properly. I’d also like to change the colour as I’m not 100% on the Reseeda green. There’s a few greys I think I prefer.
It was in this condition when I got it, so it’ll be way better when I’ve done this first round of cleaning up!
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