- Joined
- Jan 16, 2013
- Messages
- 34
Bought a 10 X 36 Sheldon circa 1943 lathe in Jan 2013 from grandson of original owner (after the War Department, it turns out). Pretty good amount of misc tooling came with.
After a number of hours of cleaning, The Sheldon is looking like a darned good old lathe. Gears and ways are in good shape, best I can tell. Spindle has essentially zero run out with no load (measured with a Dial indicator, turning the spindle by hand). When I put a 4 MT bit in the spindle (this guy has the smaller 4 MT spindle, unfortunately, not the larger 5 MT on the Sheldon XL model and larger Sheldons) and pull hard horizontal and vertical I get under +/- .001 on the dial indicator. I am a Very Happy Camper with this amount of spindle wear on this old boy!
This is a bronze bearing machine, not Timken Rollers, so Spindle bearing wear was/is a scary thought for me.
In next few days I will test of bed way / carriage wear. Already shopping for a Quick Change Tool Post and thinking about collets!!!
Lathe did not come with a faceplate or taper attachment. Only a 4 jaw chuck.
The spindle is 1 7/8" X 8 TPI. Looking for a faceplate and/or chuck adaptor. I suppose I can make one (probably several before I get one right enough, given my lack of machining skill/experience) but would prefer to get a stock one that is true and sound.
Suggestions??
I am a total novice re metal working, but looking fwd to learning the basics on a classic old machine.
Would appreciate hearing from Sheldon Owners and others.
Regards, Chuck Forman.
After a number of hours of cleaning, The Sheldon is looking like a darned good old lathe. Gears and ways are in good shape, best I can tell. Spindle has essentially zero run out with no load (measured with a Dial indicator, turning the spindle by hand). When I put a 4 MT bit in the spindle (this guy has the smaller 4 MT spindle, unfortunately, not the larger 5 MT on the Sheldon XL model and larger Sheldons) and pull hard horizontal and vertical I get under +/- .001 on the dial indicator. I am a Very Happy Camper with this amount of spindle wear on this old boy!
This is a bronze bearing machine, not Timken Rollers, so Spindle bearing wear was/is a scary thought for me.
In next few days I will test of bed way / carriage wear. Already shopping for a Quick Change Tool Post and thinking about collets!!!
Lathe did not come with a faceplate or taper attachment. Only a 4 jaw chuck.
The spindle is 1 7/8" X 8 TPI. Looking for a faceplate and/or chuck adaptor. I suppose I can make one (probably several before I get one right enough, given my lack of machining skill/experience) but would prefer to get a stock one that is true and sound.
Suggestions??
I am a total novice re metal working, but looking fwd to learning the basics on a classic old machine.
Would appreciate hearing from Sheldon Owners and others.
Regards, Chuck Forman.