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+2. When I needed a set for my W&S chuck just a few months ago, I found several likely sets on eBay, all for $300+ a set.

Small Tools had a set for $150.

Doc.

I prefer the one on the USS Saratoga.

... Machines aren't in quite as good a shape, though... :D

Doc.

One problem solved.

Last weekend, I picked up some parts and made a tool- I've been deep in manufacturing mode and never got around to posting it 'til now.

The issue here is that the turret...

One, dusts of pretty much any kind should not be inhaled. Wood, metal, plastics, paint overspray, sandblasting/beadblasting dusts, etc. If you're grinding, use some sort of mask- even just a...

-There really wasn't a lot of "spray", at least nothing that went very far.But yes, practice "aiming" will come with experience, too. :D



-No bypass valve, though I've been thinking of welding...

Shot a quick video showing a full cycle from that run:

https://youtu.be/bxc09mjhHx8

Sorry, no narration, editing, captions or other embellishments. I'm no YouTube star. :)

I just wanted to...

-Well, not a "chuck", per se, but when I looked at 16C stuff earlier, I saw... I guess a nose extension, for A-series spindles. Same concept as the tapered 5C adapter the smaller home-shop lathes...

Huh. My eyeball-estimate wasn't too far off; I came up with right at 6-1/2".

What I'll need to do is check the travel on that extension/boss thing, and make sure it can't "run off" too easily.
...

Again, mine's an adapted LeBlond unit. :D The shoe is going to have to be entirely custom made to fit what I have, not necessarily to match original specs.

In any case, as I was fitting the cross...

Totally unscientific analysis. Checking eBay for "2J collet" brings up 113 results. That includes collets, stops and chucks.

"3J Collet" brings up 260 results.

"16C Collet", 533.

:D

It's...

-Yessir. That's essentially how I used to do it with the 5C Logan when I had it set up as a turret.

On this machine, however, it's not as trivial an exercise to swap collets, and my one 3-jaw for...

There is definitely kind of a trick to setting up turret tooling. Had a few times in the old Logan setup where I had to make a bit of a compromise thanks to the relatively compact work envelope.
...

Dug out the ratty old 8" 3-jaw that came on this beast, that was so badly bellmouthed way back at the beginning.

If I get a chance this weekend, I plan to try and clean it up a bit, and see if I...

Dredging this back up, I finally ran the first paying job on this beast today. And, despite saying I doubted I'd ever have more than two drilling steps per project, naturally for this first one, it...

Scep; I've sent you several emails and PMs about parts and tools I'd be interested in, and have yet to receive a significant reply.

Doc.

Oh, I know conceptually how to do it, it's the actual setup that's a trick.

One issue is the sides of the TA dovetail are approximately 110 degrees. Lacking a 110 degree endmill (or an 85 degree...

I'd been trying to ponder how I'd make a tapered gib for the TA shoe, and while I haven't put a great deal of time into the prospect, I'm still not at all sure how I'd do such a thing.

I suspect...

I hate to say it, as a fan of both old machine tools in general and turret lathes in particular, but to be honest, scrapping that thing would be of little loss.

The chances somebody out there has...

Ladies and gentlemen, after approximately seven and a half years, I would like to announce the Monster Project... is DONE! :D

As with all projects, there are and always will be small things to...

Really? I've never seen a pic of a W&S conventional lathe... I'd be interested to see one, if there's any photos around. (Tony's site doesn't even list W&S, let alone have any pics. :D )

I was...

I'd originally planned to mill the rear piece from a solid chunk of aluminum plate, but I didn't have any that big, and being Sunday, the suppliers were closed.

Just as well, that forced a...

I was given to understand that W&S never made anything other than turret lathes- at least before the post-war era when they, like most machine tool manufacturers, had to branch out to other works...

The wiring was easy enough, though I did have to blow a string through the tube. The stranded wire I decided to use was too soft to push past either curved end in the long run.

With the string in...

As predicted, it's time for the VFD control wiring. I'd found a workable pair of start/stop buttons on eBay, and a typical utility box from Homey-Dee.
...

That's an interesting motor. I haven't seen one of those on a Nichols... What's that arm? It's not DC, is it?

Doc.