I have a friend who is a teacher at the local high school and he called me today and asked if I knew anyone interested in a lathe. The school is scraping 3 lathes. They can't be fit with the proper safety gaurds to meet the school standard for students. I think they all have 6' beds and they're all 220v.....best of all, THEY'RE FREE!!!!! Let me know if you want one. I can set up the pick up, bring help...they're heavy.

I'm interested :uhuh:
6' bed? I'm sure they're heavy

I'm interested...
When can we check it out?

Thanks,
Mike

Damn, if they were 110v, I'd be all over one. Thanks for the offer, that is pretty cool.

My buddies father was a middle school wood shop teacher for 30 or so years. When he "retired" (school decided to can wood shop) all of the tools went into storage and haven't been seen since. I'm constantly trying to figure out where they went. I actually had the class when I was in the school, so it would be awesome to have some of those in my shop. Tools included a full size bandsaw, full size lathe, big metal brake, countless saws and smaller handheld tools, table saw. If I was on top of things when the shop closed, they could have been mine. Unfortunately, I didn't consider plug building an addiction back then.

I would be very interested please let me know 508-847-3581 or pm

Thanks

Ed

PM me your phone number so we can discuss a p/u time. It has to be this week though. If you can't p/u this week maybe I can grab them and we can meet up over the weekend, and then I'd have to hore a plug or two.

Henry,
Thanks again.... It was a piece of cake getting it off the trailer! I'll be sending plugs your way.

Mike

Thanks again Henry :)
I'm glad you posted this:uhuh: and thought of us here

No problem guys, it was cool that I could offer this to you. I think we actually talked longer than it took us to load them. Thanks for the stories.. and Ed I haven't forgotten you. The other lathe will be disconnected this week sometime.

:( .... I need to check here more often.


Good for you guys, that was a good score. :uhuh:

No problem on this end I appreciate your efforts very much. For free, I am extremely patient.

Thanks again

No problem on this end I appreciate your efforts very much. For free, I am extremely patient.

Thanks again

Its worth the wait!!!

I am very familiar with that lathe. I used to teach woodworking and I think almost every school had those lathes, they are tanks and have been in productions for many years. Parts are still available the last I knew. Most were wired 220v 3 phase, I don't know if that is the case here. I have a three phase converter that I built for my shop so either way it will not be a problem. If anyone needs directions for the construction of a rotary 3 phase converter let me know. The one I built was pretty straight forward and has served me well.

Ed

I am very familiar with that lathe. I used to teach woodworking and I think almost every school had those lathes, they are tanks and have been in productions for many years. Parts are still available the last I knew. Most were wired 220v 3 phase, I don't know if that is the case here. I have a three phase converter that I built for my shop so either way it will not be a problem. If anyone needs directions for the construction of a rotary 3 phase converter let me know. The one I built was pretty straight forward and has served me well.

Ed


yes it is three phase and ya I would be interested in learning about that option. A new rotary converter could cost me up to a grand depending on HP, so if I can do it for less than replacing the motor to a single phase , then please PM me the info or email
bruce @ bmwoodworking.com

thanks Ed

Slip,

Rotary phase converters even home built are going to cost you a couple of hundred atleast, between the components and a motor. If this is the only machine that you have with three phase, it is definitely cheaper to purchase another motor... go to ebay and look up pj industrial, he has plenty of reasonably priced motors. I would recommend 1750 rpm (that's whats on yours) 56 frame that comes with a 5/8 shaft, check yours, you may have a different frame (some model years were different) and may have a 7/8" shaft for the varible spped pulley system. I would recommend a 2hp as the 1 hp can bog down under heavy turning conditions. This is one mother of a lathe. It is very important to level the ways of the bed to insure accuracy.

Let me know if you still need info and I will forward whatt I have,\.

Ed

guy at work has done this also, homemade, for a Bridgeport he has in his cellar. Says it's pretty simple straight forward. Nice find guys.

Another way to use the motor that's on the lathe is to use a pony motor. Easy squeasy. Run a 220volt line to the motor on the lathe, mind the amperage on the listing badge, 3phase is usually low amped compared to single phase. Set up any single phase motor you have that will spin the lathe motor up to ists speed 1750 rpm. The 220 volt will excite two legs of the three phase motor and the pony motor when it reaches the rated rpm of the lathe motor will excite the third leg of the three phase motor. You can then disengage the pony motor or let it run with the three phase lathe motor. Did this system for years in the boatyards where I have worked. Not the prettiest set up but it works.

It is very important to watch the amperage on the 220v line. This lathe should be equipped with a Furnas motor starter with protective heat ciols, if memory serves, can't tell from the photo because the picture of the lathe in thread is from the back side. When we set up these latthe we turned the basses around so the accessories were mount in such a way that you had to shut down the lathe, and walk around to get what you needed.

Ed

Thanks Ed
there is some kind of heat coil

I will think about getting more HP motor as I thought 1 HP may be too little.
thanks for the tips

Slip,

Rotary phase converters even home built are going to cost you a couple of hundred atleast, between the components and a motor. If this is the only machine that you have with three phase, it is definitely cheaper to purchase another motor... go to ebay and look up pj industrial, he has plenty of reasonably priced motors. I would recommend 1750 rpm (that's whats on yours) 56 frame that comes with a 5/8 shaft, check yours, you may have a different frame (some model years were different) and may have a 7/8" shaft for the varible spped pulley system. I would recommend a 2hp as the 1 hp can bog down under heavy turning conditions. This is one mother of a lathe. It is very important to level the ways of the bed to insure accuracy.

Let me know if you still need info and I will forward whatt I have,\.

Ed


Ed,
Thanks for the advise on the motor size!

Mike

I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to see that I got one of the lathes. I really appreciate it very much. It was very good to meet and talk with you this afternoon.

Again Thank you

Ed,

No problem Ed, it was cool that you finally got one. After looking at my shop and taking some hard measurements...I think I may pass on mine. Still not sure, I may post it if I decide not to take. Check with Slip and Mike, I think the may have an extra tool rest and face plate. You might be abla to work something out.


Spud

If you decide you are going to pass and no one else wants one, please let me know I would be interested in your lathe. I have already ordered some of the missing parts for mine, so, I'm all set. If anyone has any questions or need parts for these I may be able to steer them in the right direction, or at least try.

Thanks again

Ed

Ed, there is an extra tool rest or 2 here but just the part that slides on the bed., you can have it and a face plate if you want.

I need to change to dead center(worn bearing), is there a way to update it to a different version?

thanks

Thanks slip,I could use those. If you have a live center with bearings you can get a replacement at Packard Woodworks: The Woodturner's Source (http://www.packardwoodworks.com/)
These lathes have a #2 Morse Taper and you should have no problem updating. The other upgrade is a jawed chuck either a 3 or four (usually 4) from ONEWAY or the like. You can also get into stebcenters that allow you to remove stock from the centers without shutting down. Let me know I will be happy to take a trip to your place and help out anytime.

Ed

Packard can be high $$$ but the quality is good

Geez nice find guys. I could be talked into something like that also.

checked out that lathe at Bruce's the other day, man what a deal, machine. I'd luv to have one of those suckers down my cellar but couldn't get it down there unless I completely disassembled it, which could always be an option. I have access to several lathes so not sure if it is worth my while but a real gem of a real machine. Would think hard about it though.

Don't be a wus, they come apart easy in about five pieces, a real easy move. These are great lathes, they even have a cross slide set up for turning metal(not included), no south bend 9" but they are up to the work.

Ed

ok if the guy ends up not wanting it and I am able to get it, I will take it.:uhuh: Like I said I saw Bruce's and it is a very nice machine. I didn't look at taking it apart though. Probably could get a machinist to help me disassemble it. Imagine all the stuff I can make to mount on that thing.

Paul,

It is bolted together with steel alignment pins for the bed which is separate from the head stock casting. The lathe is fastentend to the base by six bolts. Without Viagra I carried the pieces down to my shop myself last night, and I only hurt a little and I'm 62. The other lathes I saw ,as was mine, were already disassembled. I an ole wood butcher like me can do it, any one can. The set up is very simple.

coming to my house tomorrow. Thank you

without Viagra ......lol that's damn Funny ED

You won't regret it. Raven, at 62 with Viagra i will move the world.

Paul,
if you want to learn a little more about motors, here is an interesting site

Electric Motor Basics (http://sawdustmaking.com/ELECTRIC%20MOTORS/electricmotors.html)

Ed, here is an interesting thread from woodweb
that includes something like what we talked about using a motor for a slave motor to get the 3 phase motor up to speed and then using your single phase power to run it.
he says a simple lawnmower string
might work but not sure if feasible

Three-phase motors 101 (http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Threephase_motors_101.html)

Paul, it was a pleasure hanging out and shooting the bull for a while. I'm glad the lathe is in good hands and I know you'll have her up and running in no time. Enjoy it!

Yup that'll work, I have done it. I didn't mention it because I didn't want anyone to possible get hurt doing it. You CANNNOOOOTTTTT tie the rope to the motor PERIOD, you have to overlay your windings and be able to completely pull the the whole line in one pull to get the motor rotating sometimes difficult with a variable speed belt set up. You also have to wind the line on in the proper direction for the right rotation. 3 phase motors will in either clockwise or counter clockwise depending on how the leads are installed. Like I said this could be dangerous if the line doesn't clear with the pull and the motor engages, itg will pull the operator into the cabinet ans the line winds in the shaft. I say dangerous in the context of my 39 years of marriage, the house is still not finished, and I'm building rods upstairs, telling my wife I doing a stock list for the kitchen it all relative, come to think of it that pull line doesn't seem so bad.

Ed

I sure won't be trying that
with the variable setup, too much drag even though I may be strong enough, but the insurance co. may not like that setup. sounds cool in theory though, but not worth the danger.

thank you again Henry it was very generous of you and the pleasure was all mine