New guy, 10x24 Wards 700 Lathe

JRaut

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Hey folks, excited newbie here just getting into hobby machining. I've never owned a lathe before, but have been looking for one for a while now. Big watcher of the YouTube machinist folks.

I'll be picking up this beauty on Monday, and am stoked to start making some chips. Looks pretty darn complete and original to me, with tons of tooling and attachments (4-jaw, 5C collets/adapter/closer, steady rest, follow rest, etc.). Based on representations made to me by the seller and the following YouTube video, it runs great, including both power carriage and cross feed.

Based on the serial number (5794), I understand it was born in 1943. Model number is "04TLC-700A".

No idea how much wear there currently is in the bed or spindle. I don't foresee doing any high-precision work---at least not right away---so I'm not all that concerned. And as for threading, I haven't been spoiled by a quick-change gearbox, so having to deal with change gears is better than no lathe at all. (That said, while it looks like there are a bunch of gears provided, I don't know if all are present.)

A few questions for all you old Logan pros:
(1) What do you guys think?
(2) Any idea what's going on with the compound? The standard type compound isn't there, but what's in its place looks to be an old casting with some type of cam-action lever, potentially an option on the original? Either way, looks like it was most recently used for single-op threading or something. Figuring out how to get a toolpost on there will obviously be one of the first things I do.
(3) Any idea if that small dividing head was an original option? And does anyone know the purpose of (what I would describe to be) the 'geared faceplate'?
(4) I don't know what's in any of the drawers yet. Hoping for a bunch more goodies.
(5) Anything else I should know about?
(6) What's a good first project? I'm quite mechanically inclined, and have done a bunch of woodworking. So I don't mind biting off more than some can chew.

All the best, and thanks in advance,
Jeff // Berkeley, CA


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I think you did real good..nice lathe with lots of tooling..have fun..be safe..
 
Interesting cross slide, nice cabinet, lathe should serve you well.
Welcome to HM.
 
ok since nobody else is asking...whats that big handle for on the end of the countershaft? ive never seen that on this model logan? never seen anything like that compound b4 either and I have the manual which shows all the wards/logan options in the era.... wish I had got 1/4 of the goodies with mine that's quite the catch
 
Sweet! Almost looks like a big jeweller's lathe, especially with that cabinet and all the tooling. I'm guessing the handle is to lift the motor to take tension off the belt and change speeds.
 
Welcome to the forum Jeff. It looks as though you've found a nice machine with more than an average amount of tooling. Having
it set up for collets is a real bonus. Hard to tell from the pics on your cross slide tool, but if it cams the tool away from the work
and then returns it to the same position then it could have been used for threading. Perhaps the seller can fill you in when you pick
it up. It would make sense to find a compound on eBay and equip it with an AXA toolpost. There are several threads regarding
toolposts, but basically which one you buy depends on the budget. Names that come up frequently for Chinese posts are Shars
and Phase II, though of course there are others, and at a higher price there are American tool posts from Dorian and Aloris.
Sometimes decent used toolposts show up on eBay as well.

When you look at the machine, make sure everything works. Run the chucks through their full range of movement. The machine
will have wear, but if you bring a micrometer you can measure the thickness of the bed at the back at several points to get a
reading on how badly it's worn. The spindle bearings should be smooth: replacement parts are available but they cost about $250.00
from Logan.

Let us know how it goes, and be sure to ask questions as they come up.
 
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I've seen that lathe on Ebay, did you buy it from an outfit in So Cal? Forget the name- Amiron something..
Nice cabinet and tools
Mark
 
Wow, thanks for all the great replies so far.

@markba633csi:
You're right on; Amiron down in Oxnard. I live up in Berkeley, so it'll be quite a trek down there, but he gave me quite a good deal on it, and it appears to be in better condition and is certainly much better equipped than anything I've seen up here on Craigslist.

@Nogoingback:
That's a bunch of good, useful information. I'll let you guys know what the deal is with the cross slide when I get my eyes on it. But looking more closely, I think you may be right about the cam action for threading. Maybe that was an option with the turret styles lathes? Seems similarly production oriented if that's what it is.

There seem to be a few compounds available on eBay currently (though they ain't free...), so I'm not too worried about getting a setup that works. I'll start looking in earnest once I figure out exactly what I need. As for the toolpost, I don't need anything super high end, but want to get something that isn't made of pot metal. I'll pick up a used something-or-other off ebay.

I intend on bringing a few different micrometers and a dial test indicator w/ magnetic base. With those I should be able to get a pretty good feel for how clapped out it is, or if it's still in pretty good shape. Any sense of how much bed wear or spindle runout should make me walk away?
 
@rambin:
Good question about the big handle on the countershaft. There really are two handles back there. One is surely for moving the motor to detension the strap. Not sure what the other is for.
 
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