Re: A Great Bit of Craftsman Machining
For some one new to this hobby it is good channel.??
He did lot that help improve his skills.?
Dave?
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Re: A Great Bit of Craftsman Machining
I recommend the channel. ?He uses interesting mill set ups on the mini lathe. For example, the cross slide modifications to access the nuts for setting the angle are not the rehashed ideas on youtube. ?Another is retrofitting a sewing machine servo to the mini lathe with custom control levers.?
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
I made a shield for 2 reasons. One was that I had already seen it on youtube and second was because I had it off anyway because I was in my second so called rebuild. And I did see some small pieces in it. So made sense to do it at that time. But if you have no reason to be there or do it then no need. I suspect that there are way more folks out there without covers than with.
george
On Friday, January 5, 2024 at 07:02:30 PM PST, KURT <kurt.laughlin@...> wrote:
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 10:55 AM, gcvisalia@... wrote:
Have you taken the skirt off and looked ??
?
george
No, but as I said, I did make this shield. More importantly, I've never had any problems or even the suspicion of a problem relating evidence of an issue caused by chips in the gears, in the headstock, on the leadscrew, on the ways, or in other areas people spend a lot of time and effort protecting.? Frequent cleaning and watching what is happening in the midst of a job works wonders. Kurt Laughlin
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
People here and on other forums often talk about having had to clean,
fix, shim, adjust, tweak a new lathe in order to make it accurate and
useable. And that being willing to do so lets you start with a less
expensive mill, from HF or Vevor, say, rather than one from LMS or
Grizzly
I made list of improvements before I purchased here list.?
1) 4 jaw machine back plate.?
2) stead rest
3) carriage stop purchased from LMS
4) carriage lock
5) Install Aloris tool post?
6) follower rest installed
now the lathe is working great ****
To #6 made big difference in the running of lathe also modified drill chuck
****
?
7) improvements on low speed was maybe buy a 6 Grove belt waiting for UPS.
8) exstension on cross slide just started.??
9) DC power feed have motor?
?
A) Maybe power cross slide
tapper attachment.?
B) Apron shiel next order from LMS.?
?
Dave
Note I did this not realize there another with almost same name
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 10:55 AM, gcvisalia@... wrote:
Have you taken the skirt off and looked ??
?
george
No, but as I said, I did make this shield. More importantly, I've never had any problems or even the suspicion of a problem relating evidence of an issue caused by chips in the gears, in the headstock, on the leadscrew, on the ways, or in other areas people spend a lot of time and effort protecting.? Frequent cleaning and watching what is happening in the midst of a job works wonders. Kurt Laughlin
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Re: A Great Bit of Craftsman Machining
I an just glad it small.?
I have use lathes with 16" handwheel.?
No need for gym membership.?
I was wondering how would be to use small handwheel nice.
Dave?
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe ¨C Apron Swarf Shield
No need to overthink this.? I glued a piece of a clear plastic report cover there with contact cement and it's worked fine for years.?
Mike Taglieri?
I tried several alternative for an Apron SWarf Shield:
I firt tried the?: ![]() This is held in place by Neodymium magnets, but is a little thick (and the magnets gather steel chips). Also, I'm not sure if they are still in business, even though their website is still up & running. I then tried the?: ![]() While their current offering (above) looks like it is Aluminum, mine was thin plastic sheeting and I used a bead of Permatex to attach it to the Apron. This worked well, but the left edge tended to grab on my telescoping lead screw cover, so the last time I had the Apron off I made one from 0.010" brass, drilling & tapping the apron for M2-0.040 x 3mm screws (didn't use drive pins because I want to be able to get to things later): ![]() ![]() The lower left corner is secured by the telescoping lead screw cover receiver which mounts using the M4 tapped holes (added when installing the cover). Attachments:
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe ¨C Apron Swarf Shield
I made list of improvements before I purchased here list.?
1) 4 jaw machine back plate.?
2) stead rest
3) carriage stop purchased from LMS
4) carriage lock
5) Install Aloris tool post?
6) follower rest installed
now the lathe is working great ****
7) improvements on low speed was maybe buy a 6 Grove belt waiting for UPS.
8) exstension on cross slide just started.??
9) DC power feed have motor after cross slide.?
Maybe power cross slide and tapper attachment.?
Apron shiel next order from LMS
To #6 made big difference in the running of lathe also modified drill chuck.?
Dave?
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Re: A Great Bit of Craftsman Machining
My skills will seriously need to be much much better before attempting something like that. But again, for my needs, I may not ever need that much accuracy.?
george
On Friday, January 5, 2024 at 06:12:33 AM PST, Craig Hopewell via groups.io <cch80124@...> wrote:
Other members may have seen this, but it's new to me.
Some top notch work with only the mini-lathe and drill press.? (Reminds me of back when I built the Sparey 5cc)
The mini-lathe carriage handwheel is a bit crude, but workable for me.? ?This hobbyist found it to be otherwise, and it's not on youtube with its incessant commercials.
https://hackaday.com/2021/11/13/improving-a-mini-lathe-with-a-few-clever-hacks/
--
Lone Tree, Colorado? ?USA
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Re: Morse tapper in tail stock
I have? morce of haft? inch? the bigger? I have?
but
it is? on a morce? n3
my? late? have? only able to? get morce no1
a little ont
maybe? I can made? a no1
but? maybe? also? the solution existe? already?
advise? please
jack 47 71
or? ice? cannot
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
Here is how I quily fix tail stock quill . 1 - 5 morse tapper.?? Dave? 
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe ¨C Apron Swarf Shield
I tried several alternative for an Apron SWarf Shield:
I firt tried the?:  This is held in place by Neodymium magnets, but is a little thick (and the magnets gather steel chips). Also, I'm not sure if they are still in business, even though their website is still up & running. I then tried the?:  While their current offering (above) looks like it is Aluminum, mine was thin plastic sheeting and I used a bead of Permatex to attach it to the Apron. This worked well, but the left edge tended to grab on my telescoping lead screw cover, so the last time I had the Apron off I made one from 0.010" brass, drilling & tapping the apron for M2-0.040 x 3mm screws (didn't use drive pins because I want to be able to get to things later):   The lower left corner is secured by the telescoping lead screw cover receiver which mounts using the M4 tapped holes (added when installing the cover).
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
I found early on a air gun is not your friend.??
It will blow chips every where like feed screws, bearing , gears, under bed ways and the list goes on.?
So air guns was band inside. They had to use a brush for cleaning . Had no more down time because of chips. The machinists had to goto welding and fab to use a air gun.
Today I use a shop vac
Dave
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
Charles Kinzer
Jan 4? ?
Yes. Good YouTubes. "Back in the day" we didn't really have those.
I ran across this one I liked which is fast paced and he has links in the description to more detailed ones for each mod. This one covers a lot of the common upgrades I have seen discussed for a decade or two. And he does a good job showing exactly what some of the problems look like, such as the tailstock not being quite parallel to the ways
I watch the video ?.? I took him years to do few fixes that finish in December.? The testing tail stock quill he did not lock quill for test. It only test in the lock position.?? The head stock bearing even after changing the bearing he still need to lub every 3 months.? The 6206 ball bearing comes in seal will last around 50,000 hours or longer. The others can last longer but no one labs and they open to air and over cleaning.? Dave?
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
Have you taken the skirt off and looked ??
george
On Friday, January 5, 2024 at 07:21:05 AM PST, KURT <kurt.laughlin@...> wrote:
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 01:18 AM, Charles Kinzer wrote:
One I had forgotten about is the apron gear cover.? This is perhaps something you really SHOULD do and most everybody's lathe benefits from it.? Chips get into the gears very easily in that location and the cover prevents that.? In the video, he makes a metal cover.? I think many just make it from clear plastic.
While I made one of these for my lathe, I was already doing something that avoids the need for it, for way covers, and for leadscrew covers: I clean up after every machining session.? I have seen a number of photos and videos where chips, cut-off nubs, loose nuts, and all manner of garbage was in and around the lathe.? It's no wonder some people have problems.? It takes me less than 10 minutes to put the wrenches and instruments away, take the tools out of the tool post, and suck up the detritus with a shop vac.? I don't disassemble anything or take any covers off, I just pick up all the loose chips that I can see and run the nozzle over everything.? A sweep over the bench and the floor in the immediate area and it's ready to go for next time. Kurt Laughlin
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 01:18 AM, Charles Kinzer wrote:
One I had forgotten about is the apron gear cover.? This is perhaps something you really SHOULD do and most everybody's lathe benefits from it.? Chips get into the gears very easily in that location and the cover prevents that.? In the video, he makes a metal cover.? I think many just make it from clear plastic.
While I made one of these for my lathe, I was already doing something that avoids the need for it, for way covers, and for leadscrew covers: I clean up after every machining session.? I have seen a number of photos and videos where chips, cut-off nubs, loose nuts, and all manner of garbage was in and around the lathe.? It's no wonder some people have problems.? It takes me less than 10 minutes to put the wrenches and instruments away, take the tools out of the tool post, and suck up the detritus with a shop vac.? I don't disassemble anything or take any covers off, I just pick up all the loose chips that I can see and run the nozzle over everything.? A sweep over the bench and the floor in the immediate area and it's ready to go for next time. Kurt Laughlin
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A Great Bit of Craftsman Machining
Other members may have seen this, but it's new to me.
Some top notch work with only the mini-lathe and drill press.? (Reminds me of back when I built the Sparey 5cc)
The mini-lathe carriage handwheel is a bit crude, but workable for me.? ?This hobbyist found it to be otherwise, and it's not on youtube with its incessant commercials.
https://hackaday.com/2021/11/13/improving-a-mini-lathe-with-a-few-clever-hacks/
--
Lone Tree, Colorado? ?USA
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
You guys are great!? That all made my morning coffee go by too fast!
Dave -- I agree, finding good YT videos is hard, but when you get a good one, it's worth a lot!? Many I'll come back to later, but some were worthwhile right away.
I don't know if she was recommended here or not, but I've been watching the tutorials from "blondihacks".? She has a good pace (I do speed the videos up a bit) and is very clear on why she does everything, and why what she's teaching is important.? So far I've just been watching the beginner tutorial series, but I'm sure they're all good.??
paul
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
I found a big difference in YouTube.?
20 years ago they where on mark. Today full of wind good luck finding a good one.
Dave?
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Re: "tuning up" a mini lathe
Yes.? Good YouTubes.? "Back in the day" we didn't really have those.
I ran across this one I liked which is fast paced and he has links in the description to more detailed ones for each mod.? This one covers a lot of the common upgrades I have seen discussed for a decade or two.? And he does a good job showing exactly what some of the problems look like, such as the tailstock not being quite parallel to the ways.
But as has been mentioned a couple of times, many mods or accessories won't necessarily matter based on how your particular lathe performs as-is and what you are doing with it.
For example, changing to tapered roller bearings in the headstock is decidedly an improvement and documented in a number of places.? But I suspect only a small percentage of these things get that mod with most people getting results that are "good enough", at least for them.??
And some things, like a carriage lock, can just be purchased from Little Machine Shop or maybe others if you would rather.? Here is a link to it...
One I had forgotten about is the apron gear cover.? This is perhaps something you really SHOULD do and most everybody's lathe benefits from it.? Chips get into the gears very easily in that location and the cover prevents that.? In the video, he makes a metal cover.? I think many just make it from clear plastic.? Little Machine Shop has a cover that mounts with pins.? (I would change this and mount it with screws).? Here it is...
Alternatively, here is an apron gear cover on eBay.? Various people make some of the more commonly needed things like this and sell them on eBay.? So, it is sometimes worth looking there.
To pile on yet another source I think is good, check out "arceurotrade".? They have some nice documentation including how to take these things apart and put them back together.? Here is their page of articles...
Here is the arceurtotrade specific article for changing the headstock bearings to better ones.? This has lots of photos and will give you an idea of the nature of making this sort of an upgrade.
For things you can just buy or make, you have the classic "make or buy" decision.? That is not the same for each person or situation.? Some will tend to criticize anyone that buys when they could make.? But you can make your own decisions based on cost, desire, skill, whatever.? Your machine.? Your rules.
Speaking of skill, you will notice that quite a range of experience exists on this list.? But they all started at zero at some point.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 08:58:32 PM PST, Jon Rus via groups.io <byghtn5@...> wrote:
This guy is insane with the effort and
detail in this series of
Pimping the Mini lathe
????
<click it...
is
pretty good as well
^^^^^^??? <Click it....
Another interesting site
?
<click it...
Good Luck on your decision.
Be safe and wear safety glasses!
John
On 1/4/2024 11:16 AM, Paul Fox wrote:
People here and on other forums often talk about having had to clean,
fix, shim, adjust, tweak a new lathe in order to make it accurate and
useable. And that being willing to do so lets you start with a less
expensive mill, from HF or Vevor, say, rather than one from LMS or
Grizzly.
But I've yet to see an overall guide to what all of that work entails,
and how its done.
Does anyone have a pointer to a video, or a blog, or similar, that goes
through all of what might be entailed? It's hard to convince myself I
want to go through the effort, without understanding it better. I'm
pretty sure I have the skills. But I might not have the patience or
the equipment or tools.
And: is it always possible for the home hobby user to fully adjust a
cheaper mill? Are there some problems that just can't be fixed?
paul
=----------------------
paul fox, pgf@... (arlington, ma, where it's 41.4 degrees)
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davesmith1800