New restoration project! 12" Craftsman lathe.

[LX Kid]

Went to a yard sale and found this old 12" Craftsman lathe. It was cheap enough but has a couple of stipped gears. The bull gear and the smaller back gear of which I've listed on the "Wanted to Buy" forum. I guess the ways are about 54" and came with only the 4-jaw independent adjust chuck. Came with a box of stuff and don't really know what in there but not too much lathe related I'm guessing. Going to Tennessee in about a week so won't be doing much until I get back. This will be my 5th lathe restoration. Three SouthBends and one Craftsman 6" lathe.

 

[LX Kid]

I have everything removed from the 54' ways bed. I had a most difficult time removing the chuck! It has probably not been removed from the spindle in 50 years. I tried impact wrench, belt strap wrench and wedging the bull gear. Being the bull gear and back gears are bad I decided to drill a 5/16" hole thru the bull gear and put a SS bar thru the hole. Using a 1/2" breaker bar, in the chuck jaws, I was able to break it loose. But of course it busted big chunk of bull gear in the process. I ordered both a used bull gear and complete back gear assembly for $218 delivered. Started degreasing everything and will probably take 2 or three days at least. I have never seen such a large and heavy 1/2 hp motor in my life. I'd guess at least 50 lbs.

 

[LX Kid]

The crate of mystery stuff! Set of change gears, 3 or 4" 3-jaw chuck and will fit inside the 4-jaw, square nut wrenches, lots of drill bits, Jacobs #16 drill chuck, live center, two or three dead centers, back plate and lots of pieces of brass bar stock.

 

[LX Kid]

Got the gear head all torn down "except" for the chuck side bearing. That sucka is stuck on the spindle. I may just replace the bearing anyway cause I see some shinny wear on the inside and outside of the race. Just the same I'd like to get the bearing off undamaged. Any suggestions??

 

[LX Kid]

Going to clean and paint the ways bed today so that as I finish each assembly I'll have somewhere to put it. Not enough room in my small shop to have all these assemblies just laying around on the floor. Also if I can figure out a way of cutting the bed down to about 36"- 40" I'd like to do that. A 54" lathe is just now able to fit into my little shop. I'll have to sell this restoration if I can't cut it. I'd like to keep this lathe and sell my restored Craftsman 6" lathe as restored posted on the forum.
Craftsman 6" can be viewed at this link. ( http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/next-project-craftsman-101-07301-6-lathe.82028/ )

 

[Provincial]

The design of the Atlas lathe bed does not lend itself to cutting to a shorter length. Since the 54" (36" between centers) lathes are the most desirable from the gunsmithing standpoint (as well as others), you will probably be well off to sell/trade this one for the shorter one you want. 48" (30" between centers) models are very rare. I have a QC42 (10" swing, 24" between centers) and it is rare that I encounter anything that won't fit because of length.

I spent quite a bit of time and money rebuilding my QC42 nearly 40 years ago. I got the last new lead screw that Clausing had, among other items. I had the bed ways reground, since they were swaybacked and had damage from lack of lubrication. I fully appreciate the work you are doing on this lathe. and understand that the sale price will not pay for your costs and time, but look at it as a work of love, and the pride of workmanship has a value all its own.

 

[jakes_66]

I agree that cutting the lathe down is not as easy as just trimming. Several items would have to be reconfigured including the carriage gear rack, the lead screw, lead screw bearing mount and tail-end riser mount. You'll also have to get creative with the riser mount since the original casting has a step cast in the bottom which you would be cutting away.

By the time you measure/cut/trim/machine/drill/tap/jerry rig the riser mount, I'll bet you'll wish you had just found a smaller bed.

I think I still have a nice 36" or 42" bed from a parts machine I bought years ago. If you're ever in the NW Virginia area I'll make you a deal on it!

 

[LX Kid]

I agree that cutting the lathe down is not as easy as just trimming. Several items would have to be reconfigured including the carriage gear rack, the lead screw, lead screw bearing mount and tail-end riser mount. You'll also have to get creative with the riser mount since the original casting has a step cast in the bottom which you would be cutting away.
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By the time you measure/cut/trim/machine/drill/tap/jerry rig the riser mount, I'll bet you'll wish you had just found a smaller bed.

I think I still have a nice 36" or 42" bed from a parts machine I bought years ago. If you're ever in the NW Virginia area I'll make you a deal on it!

 

[LX Kid]

As luck would have it I'll be driving up to Knoxville, Tn. at the end of May. That's pretty close to Virginia. Where in NW Virginia are you?

 

[wa5cab]

The 10x36 is the most popular length. Of the 204 Atlas 10" machines that we have in the database, 86 are 10x36, 23 are 10x30. 65 are 10x24 and only 18 are 10x18 (and 12 are unknown). Assuming that your 10x36 bed and lead screw aren't badly worn near the headstock, before you accept the compromise and hassle of shortening the bed, rack and lead screw, I would spend at least a few months looking for someone with a shorter bed who wants to swap all three parts. Mic the thickness and width of the front and rear ways both near the right end of the bed and about 4 to 6 inches from the front of the headstock. And ask any potential swapper to do the same. Measuring anything on the rack would be difficult and I think that it would be safe to assume that if the wear on the ways is acceptable, the rack will be OK. And make the measurements before you post anything about a swap.

If you decide to try to do this, the other place to check would be the Atlas-Craftsman list on groups.io (formerly on Yahoo).