[Newbie] Lathe restoration

[robert1352]

Hello everyone,can someone here please point me to a detailed thread about restoring a lathe.The more detailed the better,thank you very much.

 

[bvd1940]

What breed, size, year, and how far are you going on the restore? (scraping, grinding the ways, Etc.?)
Are you looking for a face lift or down in the bones restore?

 

[12bolts]

Robert,
Quite a few threads on here about restoration/rebuilds.
But they usually deal with a particular machine, and they may not be appropriate to yours.
There is a multitude of good info, and a great wealth of knowledge here. You just need to give us something to work with
Like Bill said, got any pics of yours, or at least a brand & model number.

Cheers Phil

 

[robert1352]

I have a shealdon exl56b and what I really want to do is a complete tear down,deep cleaning ,and new paint.I think way scrapping is a bit out of my league for now.Im also intrested in examples of rust removal by electrolysis. Thanks again.

 

[pjf134]

I have a shealdon exl56b and what I really want to do is a complete tear down,deep cleaning ,and new paint.I think way scrapping is a bit out of my league for now.Im also intrested in examples of rust removal by electrolysis. Thanks again.

The pic is a rust buster electrolysis with a battery charger using washing soda. It will also take off paint so be aware of that. I think I used about a 1/4 cup of soda in about 20 gal. of water. It's best if you put the metal bars all around the inside of tank to give it full rust removable all around the part.
Paul

 

[12bolts]

Robert,
I would suggest doing it in stages. That way you wont have a completely disassembled machine at any one time.
Start by taking lots of pictures before and during disassembly.
Maybe start with the tailstock, dont lose the shims between the base and the tailstock. When you have got it back together maybe do a test run and check that you can still turn parallel.
Then pull the compound slide and toolpost, and then perhaps the cross slide. IF you are still happy with what you are doing and finding then you can pull the carriage off and as you have already done the slides it will not be such a large undertaking. Also by doing it in stages and giving the lathe a test run between steps if you find that you cant turn the way it used to you will only need to look at the area you just overhauled, not the entire machine. Also if you find you need a part made, either for the lathe itself or some other job that always pops up when you least want it you are not so far into a puzzle that may take weeks or months to get sorted.
When you get to the head end you can slip the rebuilt carriage off and do the bed as well, then carriage back on and you have 1/2 a lathe again.
Heres a bit of reading, including some problems encountered during the process.
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/5597-9A-renovation
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/5054-Heavy-10-restore-project
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/5893-My-10K-Goes-To-Rehab-Help-Needed
And as complete as you can get strip down. http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/4775-A-new-project
These are SB, or clones of, and things will be different but the general design should be similar to your Sheldon I think.

Also maybe consider some improvements to incorporate on the way if you want.
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/5526-Refurbished-my-South-Bend-9-quot-lathe
And
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/5880-Added-DRO-to-cross-slide
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/5627-Adding-a-DRO-to-the-lathe

Good luck with this, and please let us know of your progress or any other questions.

Cheers Phil

 

[robert1352]

Thank you for your reply guys I will have a look at the links you gave me. Also can you give me an idea of the some of the more unusual tools I will need to take it apart. Thanks again,Robert.

 

[robert1352]

The pic is a rust buster electrolysis with a battery charger using washing soda. It will also take off paint so be aware of that. I think I used about a 1/4 cup of soda in about 20 gal. of water. It's best if you put the metal bars all around the inside of tank to give it full rust removable all around the part.
Paul

Thank you for the picture,will this process make the metal surface really shine again, it seems I have some rust on my lathe nothing very bad but I would like it to shine like it was brand new again.I have seen pictures of other peoples completed work on there lathe so this does seem possible.

 

[pjf134]

Robert,
The rust removable will not make it shine, the people that do that grind and buff then paint to make it pretty, the shine is from the paint mainly and the grinding makes it a smooth casting.
Paul

 

[12bolts]

Robert,
It is/was common practice for manufacturers to use a filler, (bondo etc) to make castings smooth prior to painting as well.

Cheers Phil