riftware:
This is a subject, to the best of my knowledge, that has never been discussed in depth. Basically, there were two types of Oil Pans,
cast iron and sheet steel. Two factors controlled the size of the Oil Pan, the swing of the lathe and the length of the bed. Except for
the 12 inch swing lathe and the 4C model, which were always sold with an Oil Pan, the Oil Pan was an accessory that cost extra. During
the cast iron era these Oil Pans were know as "bath tubs", if you ever tried to move one, you know the reason for the nickname. I will
have to do more research to determine when the change over from cast iron to sheet steel took place and possibly who supplied the new
style Oil Pans.
Concerning making an Oil Pan, either cast iron or sheet steel will depend on the circa of your lathe. If you are a purist and your lathe is from the cast iron era, then cast iron is your only choice. Making patterns and machining the cast iron will prove an interesting
project that could get a bit expensive but a very rewarding experience. Regardless of when your lathe was built, if your goal is to keep
swarf and oil from messing up your floor, then sheet steel is the easiest way to solve the problem. That being the case, may I suggest,
that instead of trying to guess at the dimensions, just use the original Oil Pan drawing for your lathe size.
On the lathes that were fitted with Oil Pans, whether Cone Head or Geared Head, a short leg was fitted between the Oil Pan and the lathe
bed. Their size varied with the swing of the lathe. Whether you decide to cast or fabricate this short leg, again, using the drawing
would make the job a bit easier.
One more Hendey accessory that you might want to consider, that is rarely mentioned, is the Portable Oil Pan. It is an Oil Pan that fits
on a frame work mounted on wheels. It is made to roll under the bed of the Cone Head lathes and has the advantage of easy cleaning.
While it was made in the cast iron era, a sheet steel Oil Pan would work just as well as cast iron. Just something to think about.
Hendeyman