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Re: What is the 'BEST' Unimat ?

 

As you have already surmised there is no answer for that question. It depends on what you want to do with the machine.


I do have a couple of thoughts. An earlier model SL series has headstock end milling capabilities.?

Additionally I think you will find better availability of parts and pieces to put an SL together to do anything that you want to do, and for less money. ?
What is the 'BEST' Unimat ?

 

Hey guys, I'm still on the fence, as it were, as I've not found a deal i can afford for the most part ! However I would like to pose the question 'What is the 'BEST' Unimat ?' OK i realize that all depends on what you want to do ! Condition and Cost are also a consideration off course. As is what all is included in the sale Attachments etc. Whats the capabilities of the machine etc etc. With my limited understanding of the range of attachments, the capabilities of the different models versus other models in the range I am leaning towards the Unimat 3 for the sole reason it has an attachment at the rear of the bed for a Post for a Milling Head. I think this is a reat feature but believe that other models can also do this but i dont know how, as they lack this feature. Your thoughts and suggestions are ofc appreciated. Anyone wanna sell me a Unimat 3 cheep ? :D
Re: Drill chuck

 

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Hi Gang:

It is easy to drill and tap a drill chuck for M12x1. I've done, 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" chucks.

Carl.
Re: Drill chuck

 

I have the exact same type of chuck that came with a box of Unimat pieces - from an egg-beater drill. It's on my list to make a core for it and see how it does on the lathe. A good practice exercise I reckon.

DW
Re: Drill chuck

 

Not that I was asked, but I have the actual Emco drill chuck that came with my DB, which is very good. However, I consider my Jacobs (USA) 7B on a 3/8-24 x MT1 arbor a very nice upgrade. However, it is a 0-.25" range, and sometimes I need more capacity. I have a larger Jacobs, but it is very long, so sometimes I will use my 2" Unimat 3-jaw chuck. (I normally have my 4-jaw on the headstock spindle.)

A genuine, original, M12x1 chuck will cost you a lot. The Jacobs on an arbor works well and costs less. I have been pleased with this setup - so far. The Jacobs 7B is just a bit smaller than the original drill chuck, and you get a little longer work space, even with the arbor.

Advice: Don't get a new Jacobs in any size; they are all made in China now and sold at Harbor Freight. You can find a good vintage, Connecticut-made Jacobs on eBay pretty easily, as well as the needed arbor. But you might have a hard time locating an NOS vintage set of replacement jaws and half-nuts, and an old chuck will probably need them unless it has been babied.

Whatever you do, best of luck.?

The Jacobs 7B is a very nice 0-.25" chuck with good concentricity.



Here is what the replacement jaw/half-nut kit looks like up close¡­
Re: Drill chuck

 

Why waste time with a chuck that is a piece of junk?
Re: Drill chuck

 

Ah! the plot thickens! Well if it fits then give it a go if you think it would be useful to you - assuming you have a DTI just check it for concentricity first! I'm still confident it comes from a hand drill and as these were never meant to be that accurate you may find that it is also not that accurate! Good luck
Re: Opinions Sought (Cross-Posted)

 

I've been happy with the stuff I've bought from them, including a 6" 3 jaw chuck for my Atlas lathe.?

Bill in OKC?

William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)

Aphorisms to live by:
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.?
SEMPER GUMBY!
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
Physics doesn't care about your schedule.
The only reason I know anything is because I've done it wrong enough times to START to know better.
Expect in one hand, expectorate in the other. See which one gets full first.



On Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 03:22:41 PM CDT, Pachyderm <mirafone186@...> wrote:


Is Shars Tools a good source for stuff like arbors and such? Or do they sell junk?

Thanks!

Wade

Re: Drill chuck

 

Pete and Carl,

Thank you for your reply. It has a M12 x 1 thead and fits perfectly on the spindle, that's why I thought it might be for the unimat.
I luckily have a regular chuck with the lathe.
Re: Opinions Sought (Cross-Posted)

 

I bought a D1-4 cast iron backplate.? The quality is good.
Opinions Sought (Cross-Posted)

 

Is Shars Tools a good source for stuff like arbors and such? Or do they sell junk?

Thanks!

Wade
Re: Drill chuck

 

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Hello Pete and Dave:

It is a simple chuck that are often used on old "egg beater" hand drills. The missing part is the 1/2"-20 threaded spindle that pushes against the disc and thus the jaws. It would be tough to make this chuck run true since the body isn't locked to the spindle, but wobbles with the screw thread.

It might be nice for a hand chuck by adding a handle with the required thread.

Carl.

On 9/9/2023 10:59 AM, pete wrote:

Hi Dave, no this is not a Unimat chuck, the unimat chucks are tightened with a key much like an electric drill chuck. This chuck is a keyless one from a hand drill of some sort!

Re: Drill chuck

 

Hi Dave, no this is not a Unimat chuck, the unimat chucks are tightened with a key much like an electric drill chuck. This chuck is a keyless one from a hand drill of some sort!
Drill chuck

 

I got this drill chuck with my Unimat however there are obviously some parts missing. Is this a unimat chuck and if so does anyone have a picture or diagram of what should be between the jaws and the little disc that fits in the main body?

Dave
Re: Looking to be a great deal

 

I was thinking about it until I saw it was pick up only.? I don't have time for a trip down to LA.

-Dave

On Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 10:23:01 AM PDT, Rob Wood <rwood@...> wrote:


I monitored the bidding until the end. I considered placing a bid, but when it got past $340.00, I figured somebody in the pack really wanted to win it, and it started looking like an expensive gamble for a long restoration project with hardware of unknown specs, so I passed. The problem with bidding on equipment that has obviously not been properly cared for is that not all damage/flaws are visible in photos. Also, the seller doesn't accept returns, and that's the final deal killer for me.

Rob

On 9/5/2023 7:40 PM, Bill in OKC too via groups.io wrote:
I looked closely at the drill chuck, and it looks like all a good dunk in EvapoRust will get you is a good idea how badly treated it was. Most of the rest looks at least a bit better, but I won't be bidding on it.?

Bill in OKC

William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)

Aphorisms to live by:
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.?
SEMPER GUMBY!
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
Physics doesn't care about your schedule.
The only reason I know anything is because I've done it wrong enough times to START to know better.
Expect in one hand, expectorate in the other. See which one gets full first.



On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 09:28:09 PM CDT, Rob Wood <rwood@...> wrote:


The hardware looks like it was exposed to salt water. It's going to require a great deal of work to get it up to snuff. Still, it might end up a very good deal if the bidding doesn't get too crazy tomorrow.

On 9/5/2023 12:13 PM, Martin P. via groups.io wrote:
It has the watchmaker's spindle, but I don't see a standard one.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 03:12:06 PM EDT, URGRA <flipsurveys@...> wrote:



Re:
(256198732959)
100 %Feedback percentage of 100 for hernandezaredes
Condition:?Used
Great deal coming up if you live near Fullerton, CA
Re: end mill holder

 

Thanks Dick, yes, I understand that now, thanks for the clarification.

Mike also confirmed (he mentions it in his post above but I didn¡¯t pick up on it) that he used ?a dial indicator gauging his existing E16 holder (which is also 8 degrees) to set the taper slide. Brilliant! I¡¯ll be using that method, I think.
Re: Looking to be a great deal

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I monitored the bidding until the end. I considered placing a bid, but when it got past $340.00, I figured somebody in the pack really wanted to win it, and it started looking like an expensive gamble for a long restoration project with hardware of unknown specs, so I passed. The problem with bidding on equipment that has obviously not been properly cared for is that not all damage/flaws are visible in photos. Also, the seller doesn't accept returns, and that's the final deal killer for me.

Rob

On 9/5/2023 7:40 PM, Bill in OKC too via groups.io wrote:

I looked closely at the drill chuck, and it looks like all a good dunk in EvapoRust will get you is a good idea how badly treated it was. Most of the rest looks at least a bit better, but I won't be bidding on it.?

Bill in OKC

William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)

Aphorisms to live by:
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.?
SEMPER GUMBY!
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.
Physics doesn't care about your schedule.
The only reason I know anything is because I've done it wrong enough times to START to know better.
Expect in one hand, expectorate in the other. See which one gets full first.



On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 09:28:09 PM CDT, Rob Wood <rwood@...> wrote:


The hardware looks like it was exposed to salt water. It's going to require a great deal of work to get it up to snuff. Still, it might end up a very good deal if the bidding doesn't get too crazy tomorrow.

On 9/5/2023 12:13 PM, Martin P. via groups.io wrote:
It has the watchmaker's spindle, but I don't see a standard one.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 03:12:06 PM EDT, URGRA <flipsurveys@...> wrote:



Re:
(256198732959)
100 %Feedback percentage of 100 for hernandezaredes
Condition:?Used
Great deal coming up if you live near Fullerton, CA
Re: Grades of taps / tough taps?

 

Ha ha, no worries¡­ My attempts at machining often seem to enter a parallel universe where 4.4mm could indeed be smaller than 4.2mm¡­
Re: end mill holder

 

Peter,
I use a dial travel indicator on both axis to set the taper.
I hope this describes the setup enough to be clear.
Dick
--
http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
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?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
Re: Grades of taps / tough taps?

 

Oh, sorry, my bad. Had a complete brain malfunction there, 4.4 is indeed bigger than 4.2 god knows what I was thinking. ??
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