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Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

This is where we don't want anything but evidence of your finest wood butchering in all its glorious, and photograph laden glory. Bring your finished products or WIP's, we love them all, so long as there's pictures, and plenty of 'em!

Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 30 Oct 2016, 17:48

So I finally found what appears to be a decent UK based supplier for the recommended oils.. RHR tools are able to supply them for a reasonable cost in 1L bottles - which is much better than having to buy them in 25L quantities. I should have thought about the fact that the 1L bottles wouldnt have any way of pouring, but a quick trip round the local craft store provided me with several little fine tipped applicator bottles which seem to work perfectly.

Next up - Spindle refit. After a few days soaking in cleaner with my mangineered shaker bath, the spidle wicks came out really far cleaner than I expected. A days drying and then a quick test to see how well they soak the new spindle oil has convinced me that I dont need to get replacements from the US (which is good because in my opinion the only ones I can find are stupidly over priced for what they are). They went back in, a generous helping of spindle oil both in the in oil wells, and around the bearings and spindle too.

Reinstallation was pretty much the reverse of removal - same wooden jigs, threaded rod.. slide it in from the tail stock end, seat the bull gear and pulley set, do not forget the thrust bearings.... Thread the rod through the spindle and tighten. When they describe the bull gear as an interference fit, they are NOT kidding...

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Once its all sat properly screw the locking ring on and tighten into place and gently try to turn it. It spins nice and smoothly by hand, so the tumbler gear assembly can go back on along with a set of change gears.

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Thread the chuck back plate on, attach the chuck and it finally looks like a lathe!

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And just for comparison... where it all began - Hasnt scrubbed up too badly I dont think.

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Thats as far as I have got whilst I figure out how to drive it and get the gear cover sorted. I am hoping to acquire a rear mount idler set this week, im not sure if I will run it rear mounted, but at least I will have options. I tried to do the math to work out if I could drive the spindle direct from the motor with one or 2 pulleys but I dont think it will have quiet enough range. I also had a look at the gear covers for a rear mount, but they wont fit the headstock that I have, so I suspect I will end up making it run as an undermount setup.

Things left to do:
Acquire idle shaft /pulleys
Acquire a tool post (there appear to be many options to this)
Mount the 3HP bargain motor.
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Find a VFD that will run the 3HP motor that I have (Bob - if you have any suggestions as to where I could find one that would be worth a thank you pint! ebay appears to be full of cheap chinese vfd's but I have seen mixed comments on them)

Make or acquire a pully to fit the motor shaft @24mm its a big bugger!

And finally adjust it all to be nicely inline before turning lumps of metal into (hopefully) rounder/smaller lumps of metal!

Sid.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby tracerman » 30 Oct 2016, 18:21

Sid - that's looking gorgeous . I've had a hankering for many years to get a metal-turning set-up but I've never had a good enough excuse . I still havn't restored my old wood turning Myford ML8 which is in bits but your postings have given me a bit of a nudge .

Steve
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Malc2098 » 30 Oct 2016, 18:37

This is complete and utter porn!!! Brilliant!
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby 9fingers » 30 Oct 2016, 21:29

Hi Sid,
I know just what you mean about the Chinese inverters. Devils own job to get any support if you do have a problem.
I''l have a look to see what I have on the shelf Sid and let you know.

Bob
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby wallace » 31 Oct 2016, 00:10

That is a mighty fine job Sid
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Rod » 31 Oct 2016, 00:20

Looking good

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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby 9fingers » 31 Oct 2016, 11:05

Sid, Just about to PM you regarding motor inverter for your Southbend.

Cheers
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Commander » 31 Oct 2016, 16:11

Very nicely done Sid!
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Andyp » 31 Oct 2016, 17:11

I have no need for one but something as neat and neat as that I could quite happily own just to look at.
I do not think therefore I do not am.

cheers
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 31 Oct 2016, 20:52

Thanks all - I know its not exactly a woodwork related project but I enjoy the feedback on this forum and appreciate the helpful insights and knowledge.

I still have a way to go, but I am enjoying the work and hopefully it will inspire someone the way some of the other projects on here have inspired me.

Andy, I think the pictures make the paint job look better than it is in reality (but im not gonna complain about the finish). I can guarantee that it wont stay looking as shiney as it is at the moment. I have every plan to make it rapidly look like a machine that has done work.

Bob, thanks again for the PM - I know everyone on the board already see's your helpfulness but I figure a public thanking cant hurt.

Sid.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby 9fingers » 31 Oct 2016, 21:08

sidtsloth wrote:Thanks all - I know its not exactly a woodwork related project but I enjoy the feedback on this forum and appreciate the helpful insights and knowledge.

I still have a way to go, but I am enjoying the work and hopefully it will inspire someone the way some of the other projects on here have inspired me.

Andy, I think the pictures make the paint job look better than it is in reality (but im not gonna complain about the finish). I can guarantee that it wont stay looking as shiney as it is at the moment. I have every plan to make it rapidly look like a machine that has done work.

Bob, thanks again for the PM - I know everyone on the board already see's your helpfulness but I figure a public thanking cant hurt.

Sid.


My pleasure Sid,
Did you get the email I sent with the manual? if not it might be in your spam folder as it had a large attachment - pdf file

Bob
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 31 Oct 2016, 21:12

I got it, I will have a proper read once the trick or treaters stop hammering at my door.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby 9fingers » 31 Oct 2016, 21:17

sidtsloth wrote:I got it, I will have a proper read once the trick or treaters stop hammering at my door.


No Hurry Sid, I just wanted to make sure it had arrived OK.

The word will soon get around if you kidnap one of the rascals and frighten the living daylight out of them!! :lol: :lol:

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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby TrimTheKing » 03 Nov 2016, 01:14

Looks great Sid, top job, well done Sir!

Cheers
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 14 Mar 2017, 21:32

Well its been some time since I did anything with this.

Firstly a MASSIVE thank you to Bob for spending time this weekend sorting me out with an inverter and a setup that works! I will post some pics of the wiring and controller bits when I get a chance.

I just thought since this was a wood forum I would show the solution to my initial problem of not having any drive pulleys for it....

A bit of thought, a set of hole cutters, a 25mm spade bit, a pine slat from a decent pallet and a grub screw...

Image

Image

It aint all that pretty - and it certainly isnt as true as something turned on the lathe, but it should allow me to get the motor mounted for a direct to the spindle setup - work out a belt length and then turn up some "proper" pulleys.... Wish me luck!
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Commander » 15 Mar 2017, 07:36

Good progress Sid! So as a suggestion, why not spin the pulley up with the drive motor and then use that as a "makeshift lathe" to make sure the pulley is true? I have seen some youtubers do this and it seems to work well. Probably a little risky, but might be worth a shot. Should also make sanding it down to a smooth finish easy.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 15 Mar 2017, 08:50

Commander wrote:Good progress Sid! So as a suggestion, why not spin the pulley up with the drive motor and then use that as a "makeshift lathe" to make sure the pulley is true? I have seen some youtubers do this and it seems to work well. Probably a little risky, but might be worth a shot. Should also make sanding it down to a smooth finish easy.

Commander. That's an option I am considering, I didn't really expect last night's bodge to work. I put one grub screw in it originally, I am thinking I may put another offset to the first and the key way which should stop any play on the shaft. A quick true up should then be enough. If my maths is right then running it direct is going to mean running the motor pretty slow to get the desired spindle speed so I suspect that job 1 is to create real pulleys for a countershaft. I have also realised that it's not possible for me to run it as a rear drive due to the casting of the spindle headstock - so undermount it is, and that puts me into spliced belt territory (and also means I need to think about a drip tray more carefully).

It is however good to be back to making progress after a winter hibernate.

Sid.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby tracerman » 17 Mar 2017, 15:33

Sid - that paint on those castings , gorgeous . Keep up the good work .

Steve ( Lordswood ) .
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Woodster » 17 Mar 2017, 23:26

Nice work Sid, it's good to see old machines brought back to life.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 23 Mar 2017, 09:30

A little update to detail the latest highs and lows...

First the dull stuff... I didnt get a saddle lock with the lathe when I picked it up, ebay failed to net me an original in the UK - and the US sellers all seemed to want more in postage than its worth. Lots of digging finally found me a picture with dimensions on the web, so an hour with a hack saw and a grinder later....

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Its a simple part, but its a pain in the ass to measure because of where it sits...

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please forgive the crime that is the socket as a spacer (the screw is too long and I was too lazy to cut it down) - especially since it is a metr-inch one and as such the spawn of satan!

In much more exciting news, I have had a few goodies arrive. Pillow blocks for the soon to be made (hopefully) countershaft..

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and the highlight....

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Some adjustments will be needed and I suspect they will not be my last set of tools - but they are HSS and they are my first!

Sid.
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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby Phil » 23 Mar 2017, 15:24

Nice job on restoring, machine really looks good. :eusa-clap:
We don't stop woodworking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop woodworking!

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Re: Southbend 9" lathe rebuild

Postby sidtsloth » 24 Mar 2017, 17:20

Quick drop in for a couple more photos... This time control panel for the VFD and a display for the tacho.

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Image

There are a couple more bits to arrive and get fitted - reversing switch,the arduino that will be the brains of the tacho with the readout on the LCD that is there, and some push buttons to interact with that. If I ever get onto putting DRO on the lathe then it can double up to displaying the values on there too.

I think if I get a chance then Sunday may be the day to get the motor mounted temporarily under the desk and see if I can get a belt the right length. Altho I may not get to run it as the control panel looks a state so I may also give that a coat of paint :)

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