New lathe, many questions.

[GHarman]

Starrett 98 machinists level

Ken, Check this! In this computer age you may find some cool deals on tools, online. When I was tooling up, it was a drive to Downtown Denver to M. L. Foss,Supply Co. . No discounts! GregH



Starrett No. 98 Series Machinists’ Levels 4-18"

 

[kenny61]

Thanks! I went through his stuff real quick no level... He had sold some of his stuff before he passed

 

[kenny61]

I got the lathe up and working and even wires correct so the reverse works!!!!! Even broke my first carbide bit using it the wrong way!!! :-laf:-laf my dads gonna be mad when he finds out..... any way here are some pics. If you have any comments please post as I am a noob when it comes to this.



I hope to start posting pics of my dads accessories this week so I can fihgure out what I got and what I need... .



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[GHarman]

Kenny61, That looks like a fine setup! Theres a couple of things I would do. One is to place an auxillary set of legs under the bench at the footprint of the tailstock. That way you have a solid mount that wont sag. Then I would soak that bed down with penetrating oil, such as "Kroil", to loose up that rust on the ways. I wouldnt use abrasives on the ways. Soak it repeatedly and wipe it off. If it is really bad, you could use naval jelly. However, that is an acid base. If you use it, watch it closely, wipe off the dissolved rust and wipe down the surface with a wet rag soaked in (WARM) Soda water, to neutralize further acid etching. Wipe dry and oil, oil, oil. A non detergent motor oil or a real machine oil will work wonders. Looking forward to seeing more pictures. GregH

 

[kenny61]

I'm gonna swap ot the fiber board top for steel and I hope to pick up the cabinets that go under the table they bolt in and should support the center if not I will brace it up. I forgot my dads friend is a retired machinist I called him today and he wil be more than happy to show me a few things. The rust is only surface it is cleaning up with wd 40 and alot of elbow grease with a rag, I will try the Kroil and see if it makes it easier on the elbow... What ever it is its worth it spent 15-20 minutes with the wife an 1hr with my daughter and a 1/2 hr with my son... My daughter just came in and asked when she can make something on it... Making daddy proud



Thanks for the help more pictures tomorrow

 

[kenny61]

Backlash adjustment??? I have . 023" of play. Is there any way to take it out??

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[GHarman]

Old machinery 101

:-laf. Kenny61, Whoops I got babboozeled by a small view. You can tighten the gib screws. However that will not remove the back lash. Always work into the feed threads. I think that nut only secures the crank handle onto the shaft. The only way the eliminate the backlash is to increase the diameter of the threaded shaft or decrease the diameter of the female threads inside the top slide guide. The other way is to thread a new shaft to fit the worn threads, or replace both components, if you can make the parts. I dont know what adjustments are available on your machine. We need a real machinist, here! GregH

 

[kenny61]

I asked the question wrong... too many hours spent in the garage these last few days organizing...

What I wanted to know is the gap adjustable or do I have a worn thread excessive backlash issue... .

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Kenny,



That's a pretty sweet old lathe. I picked up a Starrett 98 12-inch level on e-bay for $95 plus shipping, so they can be had. If someone hasn't mentioned it, you should get a copy South Bend's book, "How to Run a Lathe". There is a whole boat load of info in there. That can be found on e-bay, also.

 

[kenny61]

Thanks!. . I talked to my dads friend, a retired machinist, yesterday and now I'm in the dog house... Find out he has 3 lathes laying around and he would have given me one if I had talked to him first ... Anyway I'm going back up to his house next week. I'm gonna run 220 for some of the other equipment he has, get shown around a lathe and see what he has, This one might be up for sale depending on what I might be able to upgrade to. If I do sell it the TDR discount will apply... You can have it for the $300 I paid for it...

 

[GHarman]

Sounds like somebody is lookin' out fer ya! GregH

 

[kenny61]

Yeah when I think back about all the stuff that would have, could have, and should have happened to me... .

 

[kenny61]

Picture show and tell time....

Heres what dad left me... .



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I pulled the compound rest and the threads are good "no slack" there is simply space between the indicator



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[kenny61]

Continued...

The drawer unit is now supporting under the legs



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The cleanliness / organized level is quickly rising...



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Greg you may enjoy this little story...



When I returned from the Persian Gulf my dad showed me this...



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He said he thought it had something to do with the Marines... I told him what it was for and asked him what part he had in the creation of it. He said he had made the die. It amazes me how I cant even write legible and my dad was able to carve the most intricate designs out of solid steel... I don't think I ever told you, he was a machinist but his job at the factory was to make the dies for many of the castings that they made. For years they made a metal part for BIC lighters. Literally millions of people have touched, seen or used something that my dad had a hand in creating... Not that other people haven't done the same thing but still pretty amazing at least to me... .



I see on his tool box he added the dates he worked at the factory Nov 26 1948 - Dec 31 1990 thats a long time... .

 

[The patriot]

My BIL worked at a machine shop a while back. When they went out of business they were selling off everything for just about nothing.

Too bad... . I could have had a lot of nice stuff for free or next to free too. #@$%!

At the time it didnt have my interest. Maybe 20 years ago...

 

[The patriot]

Patriot,



Nice handywork. I assume ahem, that those are paperweights ahem right?

WOW, I just read this. No I didnt make them. Theyre sold as "non firearms" because theyre 80% or less completed.

Type in "80% billet" on gunbroker and you should fine them.

Not cheap, but no numbers either... . :-laf

 

[kenny61]

As clean as I can get it now...

Well after 3 solid days of hard labor I have reached a tolerable level of cleanliness and organization..... Back to work on the rest of the house and maybe fix the wifes A/C before the summer ends... :-laf



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[GHarman]

Wow!

The drawer unit is now supporting under the legs



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The cleanliness / organized level is quickly rising...



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Greg you may enjoy this little story...



When I returned from the Persian Gulf my dad showed me this...



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He said he thought it had something to do with the Marines... I told him what it was for and asked him what part he had in the creation of it. He said he had made the die. It amazes me how I cant even write legible and my dad was able to carve the most intricate designs out of solid steel... I don't think I ever told you, he was a machinist but his job at the factory was to make the dies for many of the castings that they made. For years they made a metal part for BIC lighters. Literally millions of people have touched, seen or used something that my dad had a hand in creating... Not that other people haven't done the same thing but still pretty amazing at least to me... .



I see on his tool box he added the dates he worked at the factory Nov 26 1948 - Dec 31 1990 thats a long time... .

Kenny61, He started work, at the factory, the year I was born! May GOD bless him and others like him!

The lathe bench looks good! Your shop looks Great! GregH

 

[GHarman]

PS. That'll be an interesting bunch of tools to wade through! I recognize a couple of obvious tools, but some are a little "abstract" and specialized? I'm sure your Dads friend could tell you exactly what each one is for! GregH

 

[kenny61]

I've been getting spoiled with the ease of use / download with the new cellphone camera. I'm gonna use the real camera and get some better pictures of his tools. I figured out a whole bunch of em I think but still wondering about a few pieces. The whole "shop" will be moved out to its new location within the next year I hope. . Once I finish and clean that spot too



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Funny part is Dad never liked or should I say did not love being a machinist. Electricity fascinated him but a man of his generation did not quit his job and go live his dream or go to a lower paying job. He looked into it once but the initial starting salary was a lot lower than what he was making... back in the 50's or 60's