Good morning Randy, the machine and base looks awesome. What a transformation! Glad that your spindle is in great shape. Nice paint job. I need to do this to my Storm Vulcan 15c. Thanks for sharing. 👍🇺🇸👍💯
Hi Ed. The only way I could see the make the machine look respectable was to strip all the old paint, was a little disappointed to find that lead screw and nut so bad. I can fix it and the machine will be almost as good as new. I really would like to inspect the spindle completely. still looking for info on it before i do.
Are you sure that the leadscrew is worn ? Usually it will be the bronze nut that gets the wear. If screw is OK you should be able the straighten it by gripping it in a collet or a good fitting bush in the chuck at the bent point. on the UNTHTREADED SIDE. Find the high spot and place it at the front of the lathe. Next get a plastic or hardwood block, place it on the leadscrew about 1 inch away from the collet or chuck, then wind your toolpost up against it. Rotate your cross slide to a known point, I suggest at it is so far bent, try 50 thou. Mark you dial or remember the number, release the pressur and check the runout to see how much it has improved. If say it is 30 thou better, then do another 30 thou PAST your last reading. If there is no improvement then you will have to wind it much further to overcome the material tension ( springback ). Keep doing this until it runs true. As a retired Machine Tool Fitter ( Millwright ) I have over the Years had to do this several time, Sucessfully I might add. If it turns out the the leadscrew is badly worn ( looking at the condition of your slides it looks like it has not done too much work in its life ) so is probably OK, you will have to knuckle down and make a new one. Good luck in doing that. Is it Acme thread ? you could be lucky enough to buy a tap to make a new nut. Regards from Australia.
Hi Dave I had thought about trying to straighten the lead screw. I could see that is worn in the middle, so took a dial caliper and measured the thread on the end unworn portion and back to middle and the thread .026 thinner in the middle. So even with new nut it will have a lot of backlash at that point. I have looked on ebay for a tandem style tap #5 acme with no luck, can buy new tap and it is over $275 for it. So I think I am going to use a single point cutter to make the new nut, and fit the new lead screw to that. That is the plan for now. thanks Cheers
That looks to be pretty good for the machines age . Cheers 👍
Thanks Max.
Good morning Randy, the machine and base looks awesome.
What a transformation!
Glad that your spindle is in great shape.
Nice paint job.
I need to do this to my Storm Vulcan 15c.
Thanks for sharing. 👍🇺🇸👍💯
Hi Ed. The only way I could see the make the machine look respectable was to strip all the old paint, was a little disappointed to find that lead screw and nut so bad. I can fix it and the machine will be almost as good as new. I really would like to inspect the spindle completely. still looking for info on it before i do.
good video randy..thanks for your time
Thanks👍
Looking good. Shame about the lead screw and nut.
That is how it goes Tom with used machines.👍
Are you sure that the leadscrew is worn ? Usually it will be the bronze nut that gets the wear. If screw is OK you should be able the straighten it by gripping it in a collet or a good fitting bush in the chuck at the bent point. on the UNTHTREADED SIDE. Find the high spot and place it at the front of the lathe. Next get a plastic or hardwood block, place it on the leadscrew about 1 inch away from the collet or chuck, then wind your toolpost up against it. Rotate your cross slide to a known point, I suggest at it is so far bent, try 50 thou. Mark you dial or remember the number, release the pressur and check the runout to see how much it has improved. If say it is 30 thou better, then do another 30 thou PAST your last reading. If there is no improvement then you will have to wind it much further to overcome the material tension ( springback ). Keep doing this until it runs true. As a retired Machine Tool Fitter ( Millwright ) I have over the Years had to do this several time, Sucessfully I might add. If it turns out the the leadscrew is badly worn ( looking at the condition of your slides it looks like it has not done too much work in its life ) so is probably OK, you will have to knuckle down and make a new one. Good luck in doing that. Is it Acme thread ? you could be lucky enough to buy a tap to make a new nut. Regards from Australia.
Hi Dave I had thought about trying to straighten the lead screw. I could see that is worn in the middle, so took a dial caliper and measured the thread on the end unworn portion and back to middle and the thread .026 thinner in the middle. So even with new nut it will have a lot of backlash at that point. I have looked on ebay for a tandem style tap #5 acme with no luck, can buy new tap and it is over $275 for it. So I think I am going to use a single point cutter to make the new nut, and fit the new lead screw to that. That is the plan for now. thanks Cheers