Poor man’s machine footings

[Janderso]

I wasn’t happy with the 3/8” machine swivel mounts I got from McMaster.
My lathe is a Clausing Colchester 15, I think it weighs in around 2,300 lbs.
It has eight footings, four on the head and four on the tail.
Maybe it’s my imagination but I swear I could feel movement in the base at times when turning larger parts with aggressive cuts.

I chose to use 5/8” carriage bolts, flat washers and good quality nuts.
I used aluminum scrap and some tar paper under the footings.
It didn’t take me long to align the bed and lock down the new mounts.
I cut a test piece to verify I had no twist in the bed.
My method is not as scientific as some, it works for me.
I ended up with .0001” in 4.25”.
One of these days I’ll borrow a better 12” level.

 

[seasicksteve]

I wasn’t happy with the 3/8” machine swivel mounts I got from McMaster.
My lathe is a Clausing Colchester 15, I think it weighs in around 2,300 lbs.
It has eight footings, four on the head and four on the tail.
Maybe it’s my imagination but I swear I could feel movement in the base at times when turning larger parts with aggressive cuts.
View attachment 305476View attachment 305477View attachment 305478View attachment 305479View attachment 305476View attachment 305477View attachment 305478View attachment 305479
I chose to use 5/8” carriage bolts, flat washers and good quality nuts.
I used aluminum scrap and some tar paper under the footings.
It didn’t take me long to align the bed and lock down the new mounts.
I cut a test piece to verify I had no twist in the bed.
My method is not as scientific as some, it works for me.
I ended up with .0001” in 4.25”.
One of these days I’ll borrow a better 12” level.

 

[seasicksteve]

Doesn't your base have threaded holes. I've had a couple 15" colchesters and a couple 13" as well they all had threaded holes in he base for leveling screws. I have a hard rubber pad with a steel cap under each leveling foot on mine

 

[Cadillac]

I would think without having a female type of register on your plates the lathe will vibrate/walk itself right off those pads. the lathe is on minimal surface area being carriage bolts. What was the rating on the swivel feet your replacing 500#?

 

[Janderso]

Oh great, now I need to rethink this.
Yes, they are threaded. I never saw those threads until I got down on my hands and knees with my cheaters.
Being blind sucks.
think i’ll use it like this for a while and see what happens.
You May be right about walking.

 

[RJSakowski]

I made cups for the feet on my lathe.

On the Level: Further Adventures with the G0602

When I built the stand for my G0602 lathe, I made leveling adjusters for the four legs. They were simple in design; a 1/2-13 bolt and jam nut threaded into a plate at the bottom of each leg. However, in trying to precision level the lathe, I ran into some issues. When adjusting the height...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[benmychree]

You could just sink a drill point onto the pads for the carriage bolts to bear into. If it were me, I'd make screws to fit the existing threads with a point to fit the divot in the plates and just use a lock nut on top, the screws could be milled with a hex on top for adjustment.

 

[Tim9]

I would get it leveled... and the weld the head ofbolts to the plates. Then recheck the level.

 

[Cadillac STS]

With the lathe right there you are risking putting a stain on your garage door with oil and swarf that might (will) come flying off the lathe. An easy fix would be to go to Lowe's or another store like that and get a 4X8 foot sheet of masonite paneling that has a bright white smooth finish on it. Looks like a white dry erase board. 1/8 inch thick so not too heavy to move. Just glue a couple 1X2 8 foot boards on the back to keep it flat and stand it up right behind the lathe against the garage door at the headstock end. Would look nice and be easy to wipe down.

 

[Janderso]

Cadillac, funny you mention the stain, there is an oil mark that goes right up the door to the ceiling.
Gives it character.