mcload
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2007
- Location
- Houston, Texas
I'm certain this has been covered far too many times on PM, but just thought I pass this by
the experts. I had not aligned the tailstock since rebuild, so it was time. I purchased an
alignment bar from Edge Technology as well as a new live and dead center (the old ones were fairly
used).
So I got everything assembled and lined out between centers, and first started with the horizontal tailstock adjustment.
Eazy-peezy to zero it out using the setscrews in the tailstock. I should mention here that the EDGE tool was a bit more
difficult to work with, that being because the two calibrated ends have a step in them (as opposed to just being smooth
metal from one end to the other. It was easy enough to come off of the step, but when I reached the far end, I had to use
a little jewelers screwdriver to lift the indicator end to get over this step. (Or maybe I just had the wrong end piece
on the indicator). Oh well.
After aligning the horizontal, I moved the indicator to measure the vertical drop between the two centers (at 12").
I did this a few times and came up with a drop of about 12 thousandths (despite what the photos may show).
Since I had some 12 thou shim stock, I decided to shim the bottom "ways plate" under the tailstock at all four corners.
I had to first back off the setscrews and hit the edge with a rubber mallet to separate the two pieces.
I carefully put it back together after shimming, brought it over to the lathe, and cranked down on the tightening nut.
I then did another vertical drop measurement, and the shims got it down to two thousandths over 12". Not perfect, but better
than it was. Of course, I had to then go back and re-aligned the tailstock horizontal placement to zero.
Now all I have to do is work on 12" long projects and I'll be okay. Any tips from the pros would be appreciated.
(Maybe I'll go back and try to get it to zero).
PMc
BTW, my orig spindle cover is buggered up, so I used one of those plastic ones...any port in a storm!
View attachment 289691 View attachment 289690 View attachment 289692 View attachment 289693 View attachment 289694
the experts. I had not aligned the tailstock since rebuild, so it was time. I purchased an
alignment bar from Edge Technology as well as a new live and dead center (the old ones were fairly
used).
So I got everything assembled and lined out between centers, and first started with the horizontal tailstock adjustment.
Eazy-peezy to zero it out using the setscrews in the tailstock. I should mention here that the EDGE tool was a bit more
difficult to work with, that being because the two calibrated ends have a step in them (as opposed to just being smooth
metal from one end to the other. It was easy enough to come off of the step, but when I reached the far end, I had to use
a little jewelers screwdriver to lift the indicator end to get over this step. (Or maybe I just had the wrong end piece
on the indicator). Oh well.
After aligning the horizontal, I moved the indicator to measure the vertical drop between the two centers (at 12").
I did this a few times and came up with a drop of about 12 thousandths (despite what the photos may show).
Since I had some 12 thou shim stock, I decided to shim the bottom "ways plate" under the tailstock at all four corners.
I had to first back off the setscrews and hit the edge with a rubber mallet to separate the two pieces.
I carefully put it back together after shimming, brought it over to the lathe, and cranked down on the tightening nut.
I then did another vertical drop measurement, and the shims got it down to two thousandths over 12". Not perfect, but better
than it was. Of course, I had to then go back and re-aligned the tailstock horizontal placement to zero.
Now all I have to do is work on 12" long projects and I'll be okay. Any tips from the pros would be appreciated.
(Maybe I'll go back and try to get it to zero).
PMc
BTW, my orig spindle cover is buggered up, so I used one of those plastic ones...any port in a storm!
View attachment 289691 View attachment 289690 View attachment 289692 View attachment 289693 View attachment 289694