A tale of two Myfords.........

[slim_boy_fat]

Well, one actually since Malcolm predates Maurice. [apologies to @cumbriasteve ]

I've made a start on the Tri-Leva and have a couple of questions [no surprise there ].

The serial number stamped on the bed is K123158 but unless I'm misreading the referenced production dates at lathes.co.uk here, http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford/page17.html that number range doesn't exist - would I be right in thinking he's a 1974 model?

Also, because I'm not related to Charles Atlas in any way, I thought it'd be an idea to put machine castors under the cabinet, for when I might need to move the lathe for access/maintenance. I appreciate that this will raise the working height, but if push comes to shove, I can get a small pallet to stand on.....
What do you reckon to something like these, although braked ones would be better - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320664271952?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

A couple of shots of what was achieved yesterday. Drip tray sanded and primer'd



These bits came up quite well from the u/sound cleaner, not perfect but a good basis for a strip-down/final clean. 3-jaw is Pratt Burnerd



4-jaw needs a spell in the electrolysis tank





Motor may have been swopped out at one time, as afaicr the Tri-Levas came new with a 2-speed one. This ought to be perfectly adequate though. I'll ask in due course about wiring a Dewhurst-type drum switch in conjunction with an NVR in due course [I'm elektrickeraly challenged ]



Tomorrow it'll be clean and prime the main stand. This promises to be an enjoyable project which I'm going to take my time with and enjoy, it's been years since I got my hands 'properly' dirty.

Thanks for reading so far.................

 

[Robotstar5]

Your comment about standing on a pallet reminds me of the toolroom at the foundry, some of the lathes had wooden duckboards in front of them to reduce fatigue as the operators could spend a full shift standing in front of them.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I think you will loose stability with castors, I did think about them with mine but decided against, unless you of course design a method of lowering and raising them, you could even make some design that requires turned parts and play with your new toy.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I think you will loose stability with castors, I did think about them with mine but decided against, unless you of course design a method of lowering and raising them, you could even make some design that requires turned parts and play with your new toy.

Yes,I kinda factored that into the 'plan', but once it's on the floor I'll never be able to move it. Trouble with the factory stand is there's no room underneath, even for a 'low entry' racing-type jack.

 

[glyn.c]

we put a friends super7 on wooden skids coach bolted to the cabinet feet ,it does raise the height a bit but it can be moved around his shed should it need it with a bar underneath and as above a barge board could be used if needed

 

[Maker]

How often do you expect to move it? I've never felt the need to move mine, which is lucky as it isn't moving without a crane.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

How often do you expect to move it? I've never felt the need to move mine, which is lucky as it isn't moving without a crane.

Plan for the unexpected.......

 

[glyn.c]

Plan for the unexpected.......

spot on ,i wish i had built a bit more allowance in my set up for movement ,ive a small mill in the corner by mine and im a bit short of elbow room now im using the mill more ,i need to move the lathe 6-8" along to free up a bit of space and its a major job now

 

[cumbriasteve]

The serial number stamped on the bed is K123158 but unless I'm misreading the referenced production dates at lathes.co.uk here, http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford/page17.html that number range doesn't exist - would I be right in thinking he's a 1974 model?

On this list it makes it 1973 to 1975 and going by the range probably 1974, mines circa 1978 so only a youngster

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Well it seems that I can't help myself.........

Today consisted of this [after time out for a visit to the local library - can't be without books to read ]

Primed and ready for top gloss coat when it comes





I remembered reading that when shipped new the Myfords had a cork liner on the shelves, and noticed that the black shelves were not painted in the grey, so taped them off when painting the interior of the stand, intending to get cork later to cut in. Only when I went to remove the tape did I discover that these are inlays and could have been lifted out before painting - they WILL be before I embark on the final coat!!!! Not sure what they're made of yet but it doesn't feel like cork as I understand it, but they are flexible so may be original. We'll see.

Also found time to smooth and prime one part of this, which I believe to be most parts for a taper-cutting attachment



As a point of interest, I used a tip I picked up from watching Fuzz Townsend in Car SOS [not that I'm a great fan, but....you know ]
To ensure a crisp paint line, use masking tape [3M low tack if you have it, it peels more easily ] over the surface to be protected then GENTLY tap round the edge with a small hammer - the excess peels off really easily!! Sorry,forgot to take a pic of that bit after

I also did some measuring...... thinking..... then some more measuring, and order a set of these castors - two braked and two non-braked. This will mean the lathe will be movable, even to the extent of getting my car jack underneath. Not too expensive to take a chance on, and it they don't do the job I can always resort to square box deep enough to get the jack in. Of course, that would leave me with a set of castors for something else to rest on.....

http://www.wdsltd.co.uk/product/491...body-stud-fitting-braked-wds-12362/?sku=40123

I predict a pallet being used to make something like this

But, before anyone suggests it, the solution to bringing me back up to Maurice's ideal working height most definitely won't be something like this

 

[MattH]

Good work, looks like you're getting stuck in.

 

[gaz1]

But, before anyone suggests it, the solution to bringing me back up to Maurice's ideal working height most definitely won't be something like this

wasnt thinking of that way lol was thinking of this way

at least they would give you a little more extra height as well

 

[slim_boy_fat]

wasnt thinking of that way lol was thinking of this way

at least they would give you a little more extra height as well




View attachment 103325

We don't need to know what you get up to in your own time.....

 

[gaz1]

We don't need to know what you get up to in your own time.....

hey i needed them sometimes mrs was taller than me and heels made it even worse im the pint size in the house still as there all taller than me and im 5'9 at that

anyway my ml7 is a 1952 lathe with k stamp

though i do like the gearbox on end of lathe

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bought-another-lathe-ml7-with-homemade-gearbox.55999/

 

[julianf]

Re moving -

With a bar, you can move most stuff. If its a real concern, you could put wood under it when it goes down, to give you space to get the bar under initially, which is the hardest bit of the job.

Lifting onto rollers with bars is not hard. Its not even heavy lifting - trick is to use your brain, so as you don't really need to use your muscles!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Aye, I remember watching Chubb & Co safe engineers moving safes using that same technique many years age. They laid metal strips on the office floor first.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Didn't get much done today as I had visitors, my pal who's been champing at the bit to see the lathe since I announced it was coming and his wife, who had forbidden him to get 'dirty'....... He'd made a couple of chuck keys to fit the 3 and 4 jaw chucks and we fine tuned them to be the exact size required - well, we didn't get VERY dirty.

He was very enthusiastic about the general condition of the lathe, which was a comfort to me as he used to teach college students using Myfords so knows his stuff - he reckons Maurice has seen very little work, at least of a 'serious' nature.

I was poking around eBay later [as you do] and discovered the exact same 3-jaw chuck as the one I have, except I just have the one set of jaws with mine - I was shocked to see what was being asked for it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201819316748?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

The Tri-Leva belts look to be in good condition and I can even read the make and sizes from them, so should it prove necessary in future I should be able to get them either in Inverness of direct from Fenners.

I discovered that what I thought might be the original cork lining on the shelves are, in fact, vinyl which should scrub up nicely so should do the job.
I also won a Dewhurst switch on the 'Bay, see my post in the "Today I Acquired" thread.

Happy days

 

[MattF]

If I have owt I want to shift around, I put them on wooden skids. 3"x2" or 4"x2" etc. Even quite heavy stuff will shift relatively easy on skids, and they're far more secure/stable than castors.

 

[Maker]

I was poking around eBay later [as you do] and discovered the exact same 3-jaw chuck as the one I have, except I just have the one set of jaws with mine - I was shocked to see what was being asked for it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201819316748?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Interdasting, I've got a 4" Burnard 3-Jaw that doesn't fit my lathe...

 

[addjunkie]

Personally speaking Id not have a lathe on wheels, though I can understand the thinking. Id be concerned about vibration and twisting. Not that familiar with using myfords, though ive owned a couple, ive never used them, just sold on.

My machine is a 14 x40 and when its needed to be moved since initial arrival. I use a selection of bits of 1 inch tube. And a couple of pry bars to get them underneather the pedestals.

Move it round on my own. In the last house to get it right in the corner, used an engine hoist on one end and the tubes under the other.