British empire lathe

[minimutly]

Travelling steady all done. Held on by pre war whitworth. I have another fixed steady to do next. That will finish the set right off..View attachment 184272 View attachment 184273

You see those toolholder clamp bolts, I notice you didn't change them, a few of mine have spammed off and I was consideing going to socket head bolts instead - what do you think?

 

[God mode restorations]

You see those toolholder clamp bolts, I notice you didn't change them, a few of mine have spammed off and I was consideing going to socket head bolts instead - what do you think?

It depends how fussy you are. I like to keep as original as possible to be honest. But they could be changed to Allen head.

 

[Seadog]

If you have the correct key they should be fine. Probably made by Unbrako if they're original.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

If you have the correct key they should be fine. Probably made by Unbrako if they're original.

Managed to find this in amongst a toolbox of spanners I bought.
Fits my rear and old tool post.

 

[Windy Miller]

View attachment 184285
Managed to find this in amongst a toolbox of spanners I bought.
Fits my rear and old tool post.

If the original key was a socket on a T-Bar (like your chuck key), you’ll get far more leverage using your ‘new’ (drum brake adjusting) spanner so don’t tighten it too much!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

If the original key was a socket on a T-Bar (like your chuck key), you’ll get far more leverage using your ‘new’ (drum brake adjusting) spanner so don’t tighten it too much!

Got one of those somewhere too.
I'm not a gorilla with a spanner thankfully.

Nice to know what it was originally for.

 

[Maker]

View attachment 184285
Managed to find this in amongst a toolbox of spanners I bought.
Fits my rear and old tool post.

I've got that exact spanner somewhere, never occurred to me to use it on the lathe. I did wonder what it was for.

 

[God mode restorations]

I have a few of em. One for the empire but I cant find it....buried in this place somewhere

 

[minimutly]

Brake adjusting spanner. Can you get those inbrako's now?
I'll do a search

 

[Seadog]

Some - https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/264018115999

 

[Maker]

I'd avoid allen heads on the lathe if possible, they'll slowly fill with ginch, the key won't fit all the way in and they'll eventually get rounded.

 

[Pete.]

I'd avoid allen heads on the lathe if possible, they'll slowly fill with ginch, the key won't fit all the way in and they'll eventually get rounded.

Not a problem with quick-change tool holders. Take them off, turn over and bang them on the bench. Same as I have to do when I want to change an insert.

 

[God mode restorations]

I do have a nice Dickson tool post and holders. I might adapt it to the empire.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Ok .steady has a 6.5 inch centre height.
3 1/4 bolt spacing.
1/2 bolt diameter.
1 3/4 offset.

A bit smaller than will fit mine, bolt spacing's 4 1/4, height from bolts is 7 and a bit
Thanks for checking though!

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[God mode restorations]

A bit smaller than will fit mine, bolt spacing's 4 1/4, height from bolts is 7 and a bit
Thanks for checking though!

Dave H. (the other one)

No worries Dave.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I'd avoid allen heads on the lathe if possible, they'll slowly fill with ginch, the key won't fit all the way in and they'll eventually get rounded.

Speaking from experience? Colchesters are covered in cap screws! Mine all needed digging out as they’d filled with sawdust and oil.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Speaking from experience? Colchesters are covered in cap screws! Mine all needed digging out as they’d filled with sawdust and oil.

Small wire brush on a Dremel makes short work of them

 

[Dieselman 63]

Small wire brush on a Dremel makes short work of them

Had my fill of picking those tiny, razor sharp wires out from my clothes and carpet thank you!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Had my fill of picking those tiny, razor sharp wires out from my clothes and carpet thank you!

Lol. Get a strong magnet over your clothes before you go inside.

I keep a jacket in the garage for that reason. It stays out there.

 

[God mode restorations]

A fully restored four jaw chuck for the empire...