02-09-2015, 06:06 AM
Hi all
About 5 years ago; I bought myself my first lathe. Didnt really know too much about what I was doing (& still dont). So bought the first one I found in the paper... figured as it had a milling head aswell... it was a bonus..
![[Image: chester.jpg]](http://www.pensys.co.uk/chester.jpg)
None of my friends etc, are even remotely interested in this hobby.. so I have nobody I can learn from, The only real connection I have is the fact I work for a huge industrial tool supplier (so I can get tooling cheap; but I work in IT so not really connected to the oldschool engineers they have hidden away)
Ive become absorbed in the concept of home machining and spend most of my spare time reading, watching learning anything I can get my hands on. Im probably subscribed to most of your youtube feeds. Really really enjoying it.
Ive done some basic stuff, screw cutting, boring; facing and parting. I even made a air powered beam engine (not good enough to post on here though). But as I have got more involved Ive realised that my existing machine was a great starter, but everytime I come up with an idea for another project the bloody thing is not big enough!! Its also only got a 80mm three jaw chuck. I could probably buy a bigger chuck.. but decided if I am going to do this more seriously I needed a bigger lathe, and miller part of it is also sh*te so... a seperate standalone milling machine.
I could be wrong, but I guess you can do a small job on a big lathe, but not the other way round... so Ive spent the last 6 months deciding what I wanted. I decided either a colchester student lathe or a boxford like doubleboosts.. I didnt want to get driving half the way across the country to get one and I also didnt want to pay much more than a £1000. (I am married.
)
Cutting a long story short; in my pursuit to find a friend; I started talking to a neighbour (that I noticed had a milling machine one day his garage door was open). He gave me a call to ask if I was interested in his father in laws old lathe that needed a new home due to the estate being sold.
I collected it yesterday... (took all day to load it / unload it)
![[Image: lathe1.jpg]](http://www.pensys.co.uk/lathe1.jpg)
![[Image: lathe2.jpg]](http://www.pensys.co.uk/lathe2.jpg)
Although its not what I "thought" I wanted (ie colchester / boxford).. it was free!!! so my "wishlist" went out of the window and I got what I was given!! beggers cannot be choosers!
It does seem to have all the things I was looking for though (both chucks, three and four) a 40mm spindle bore. metric screw cutting, Powered cross-feed, suds pump etc.
I have lots to do (I need to get a phase convertor etc, it needs cleaning) but its now in its final resting place. and ive pulled my back moving it!!
The old boy even had photographs of when he moved it, from 1973 (he bought it off British Rail) and moved it using an old bedford truck.
Its a "Cardiff Major", 7"x30" . and I.... am over the moon
(as I was saying re friends) pleased to be a part of this forum.. to have somewhere to share my excitement!!
About 5 years ago; I bought myself my first lathe. Didnt really know too much about what I was doing (& still dont). So bought the first one I found in the paper... figured as it had a milling head aswell... it was a bonus..
None of my friends etc, are even remotely interested in this hobby.. so I have nobody I can learn from, The only real connection I have is the fact I work for a huge industrial tool supplier (so I can get tooling cheap; but I work in IT so not really connected to the oldschool engineers they have hidden away)
Ive become absorbed in the concept of home machining and spend most of my spare time reading, watching learning anything I can get my hands on. Im probably subscribed to most of your youtube feeds. Really really enjoying it.
Ive done some basic stuff, screw cutting, boring; facing and parting. I even made a air powered beam engine (not good enough to post on here though). But as I have got more involved Ive realised that my existing machine was a great starter, but everytime I come up with an idea for another project the bloody thing is not big enough!! Its also only got a 80mm three jaw chuck. I could probably buy a bigger chuck.. but decided if I am going to do this more seriously I needed a bigger lathe, and miller part of it is also sh*te so... a seperate standalone milling machine.
I could be wrong, but I guess you can do a small job on a big lathe, but not the other way round... so Ive spent the last 6 months deciding what I wanted. I decided either a colchester student lathe or a boxford like doubleboosts.. I didnt want to get driving half the way across the country to get one and I also didnt want to pay much more than a £1000. (I am married.
)Cutting a long story short; in my pursuit to find a friend; I started talking to a neighbour (that I noticed had a milling machine one day his garage door was open). He gave me a call to ask if I was interested in his father in laws old lathe that needed a new home due to the estate being sold.
I collected it yesterday... (took all day to load it / unload it)
Although its not what I "thought" I wanted (ie colchester / boxford).. it was free!!! so my "wishlist" went out of the window and I got what I was given!! beggers cannot be choosers!
It does seem to have all the things I was looking for though (both chucks, three and four) a 40mm spindle bore. metric screw cutting, Powered cross-feed, suds pump etc.
I have lots to do (I need to get a phase convertor etc, it needs cleaning) but its now in its final resting place. and ive pulled my back moving it!!
The old boy even had photographs of when he moved it, from 1973 (he bought it off British Rail) and moved it using an old bedford truck.
Its a "Cardiff Major", 7"x30" . and I.... am over the moon
(as I was saying re friends) pleased to be a part of this forum.. to have somewhere to share my excitement!!