- Joined
- Jul 18, 2017
- Messages
- 400
Hi guys,
Quite awhile ago, I bought a South Bend 9A that was used extensively by the previous owner, until he passed away. I was told that he made a lot of guns with my new old lathe. When I bought it, I was a super newbie who didn't think about bed wear. I was blinded by the "South Bend" brand, and ignorant of basically everything.
After buying this lathe, I honestly did not plan on getting anymore lathes (lol). Then, a month later, on craigslist, I saw a just-posted ad from a guy eager to empty his storage unit that day since he was going on vacation the next day. I met him at the storage unit, and bought a South Bend 9C, along with a pair of steel workbench pedestal cabinets whose drawers were filled with supplies from the 1950's. I find it interesting how old timers used glass jars, coffee tins, and prescription bottles to store their screws, taps, etc. Anyways, I paid $120 for everything, and that's how I ended up with 2 South Bends (before I later got the free Logan lathe).
So, after a machinist friend suggested I keep the 2nd South Bend for spare parts, I decided to keep it instead of selling. I am glad I kept that 2nd lathe since I now know that my 9A lathe's ways are seriously worn. You can easily see the wear a few inches in front of the headstock. As for the older, 1930's 9c lathe, the ways are in really, really good condition. So, I plan on just swapping beds. I read online that I just need to drill an additional hole on the 9C bed to enable it to take the quick change box.
I am not sure what I am going to do with my worn bed after i swap it with the 9C bed.
Is it feasible to build a sliding table long to use on my little 612 surface grinder and 48 inch worn bed?
It just seems to be a shame to toss out this old bed. I read online that if the ways were ground, then the apron must be shimmed in order for the lathe to be accurate.
Despite my original plan on keeping the 2nd lathe for spare parts, I was thinking about selling the 2nd lathe, with the swapped 9A bed.
Is my idea of using my surface grinder on a 4ft bed crazy? If it is possible to McGyver a way to make it work, how?
Or should I just sell the 2nd lathe as is, with a worn bed (after I swap the beds)?
Thanks,
Susan
Quite awhile ago, I bought a South Bend 9A that was used extensively by the previous owner, until he passed away. I was told that he made a lot of guns with my new old lathe. When I bought it, I was a super newbie who didn't think about bed wear. I was blinded by the "South Bend" brand, and ignorant of basically everything.
After buying this lathe, I honestly did not plan on getting anymore lathes (lol). Then, a month later, on craigslist, I saw a just-posted ad from a guy eager to empty his storage unit that day since he was going on vacation the next day. I met him at the storage unit, and bought a South Bend 9C, along with a pair of steel workbench pedestal cabinets whose drawers were filled with supplies from the 1950's. I find it interesting how old timers used glass jars, coffee tins, and prescription bottles to store their screws, taps, etc. Anyways, I paid $120 for everything, and that's how I ended up with 2 South Bends (before I later got the free Logan lathe).
So, after a machinist friend suggested I keep the 2nd South Bend for spare parts, I decided to keep it instead of selling. I am glad I kept that 2nd lathe since I now know that my 9A lathe's ways are seriously worn. You can easily see the wear a few inches in front of the headstock. As for the older, 1930's 9c lathe, the ways are in really, really good condition. So, I plan on just swapping beds. I read online that I just need to drill an additional hole on the 9C bed to enable it to take the quick change box.
I am not sure what I am going to do with my worn bed after i swap it with the 9C bed.
Is it feasible to build a sliding table long to use on my little 612 surface grinder and 48 inch worn bed?
It just seems to be a shame to toss out this old bed. I read online that if the ways were ground, then the apron must be shimmed in order for the lathe to be accurate.
Despite my original plan on keeping the 2nd lathe for spare parts, I was thinking about selling the 2nd lathe, with the swapped 9A bed.
Is my idea of using my surface grinder on a 4ft bed crazy? If it is possible to McGyver a way to make it work, how?
Or should I just sell the 2nd lathe as is, with a worn bed (after I swap the beds)?
Thanks,
Susan