Drummond/Myford

[MattF]

Decided to start on getting the Drummond/Myford M type ready for running the other day. This one:

As I was just giving it a once over, I noted the headstock seemed tight to turn, and when I took the guards off I noticed lashings of grease, so thought: I'm going to end up stripping and fettling this thing, even though I didn't intend to. So, in true fashion, I thought sod it, I'll use it as a parts machine to get the Admiralty type up & running, as that was missing some odds & sods when I got it. So, this one is now the current project. This literally was just a big pile of parts when I got it, (a partially done refurb), and had the odd few bits missing. Just stuff like screws & such from what I could tell. The main parts all appear to be there.

Thought that rather than taking another project on when I already have one awaiting reassembly, I might as well put my time to better use and make a good one out of the two, which'll give me some spares to boot.

Decided that I'm going to build a stand/bench incorporating the following for it:

It's that surface plate which has taken some slight abuse over its life. Thought this might be a perfect application for it, now that it's accuracy can't be guaranteed. Something flat, weighty & sturdy for the lathe to be mounted to.

 

[zx9]

I know I am going to enjoy this.


Annnnd if you do happen to have a spare bracket for the change wheel cover.....................

 

[MattF]

That one which I took the photo of?

 

[zx9]

That one which I took the photo of?

That would be the one, if you are sure that you are going to break it PM me a cost for the bracket and add a bit on for that change wheel you kindly sent me.
But seriously looking forward to the Admiralty re build.

 

[MattF]

Finally got round to sorting the knacked threads on the mandrel. After admitting that I was unlikely to get a needle file with a fine enough edge to redo the threads, (the Stubbs slitting and knife files have a broad edge), decided I was going to have to use the thread file. More like a rasp, but they do the job. Before & after:

 

[heldtogetherwithblutack]

spotted on gumtree, few gears in there that might be of some use to a Drummond owner
https://www.gumtree.com/p/lathes/ba...gears-£5-each-lathe-top-slide-£30-/1274165588

 

[MattF]

There looks to be four which may be Drummond. The two largest look non-original though.

 

[MattF]

Amazing just how long a seemingly simple task can take. Several hours to get one wedge, (the one on the left, which was the same size as the right hand one initially), down to size and shape so that the rear bearing/bush could be fitted correctly. The damn things are so small, and awkwardly shaped, that I had to hold it between fingertips for most of the time.

Its position/purpose in the bronze bush.

The oiler bolt screws down into it, pressing it down, which spreads the bush. Needed to take it steady to make sure I didn't over do it.

 

[MattF]

On a tangent:

That front castellated nut doesn't look too bad, but the rear one is slightly worse. Had to file & then Brasso them to get them presentable. Apes should be banned from using Mole grips.

 

[MattF]

Headstock reassembled bar the covers.

I have a sneaky feeling the mandrel may be slightly bent. Won't know for definite until I get the DTI on it, but I think I know the answer.

 

[MattF]

Christ, I hadn't realised just how packed my workshop is until I started clearing space to make room for a bench. Disassembled the temporary benching which was in the spot, so now I have a Rapidor Minor & an Amanco engine to find new spots for, as I had those stashed under the old benching. Remind me never to have a minor shift around in the workshop again.

 

[zx9]

Christ, I hadn't realised just how packed my workshop is until I started clearing space to make room for a bench. Disassembled the temporary benching which was in the spot, so now I have a Rapidor Minor & an Amanco engine to find new spots for, as I had those stashed under the old benching. Remind me never to have a minor shift around in the workshop again.

Yer, you don't have to tell me about moving everything around in a small space and somehow ending up with even less usable space.
Have you had a chance to clock the mandrel yet?

 

[zx9]

I have just noticed it was a later v belt drive and you have rebuilt it as a flat belt, or am I getting confused?

 

[MattF]

The Myford Drummond was a V belt drive. This is the Drummond Admiralty lathe I'm working on now. The Myford Drummond has become a parts/spares donor. I could have used the pulley from the Myford, but I want to keep this as original as possible, so I'm only using necessary parts from the other machine.

 

[MattF]

Yer, you don't have to tell me about moving everything around in a small space and somehow ending up with even less usable space.
Have you had a chance to clock the mandrel yet?

Not yet. Can barely even shift in there at the moment.

 

[MattF]

The new bench with the surface plate mounted for a base. Decided to just box that surface plate in and see how it fares.

Finally got this out of the vat today too. It's been in there for weeks, as I hadn't any free space to put it.

The bed of the first Drummond I purchased. Looks like the original colour of these was almost a baby blue, rather than the dark blue suggested on the lathes site.

 

[Richard.]

The new bench with the surface plate mounted for a base. Decided to just box that surface plate in and see how it fares.

View attachment 127717

Finally got this out of the vat today too. It's been in there for weeks, as I hadn't any free space to put it.

View attachment 127718

The bed of the first Drummond I purchased. Looks like the original colour of these was almost a baby blue, rather than the dark blue suggested on the lathes site.

Would it not be better sat in a metal tray on top of that plate or at least metal boarder rather than wood. As you start regularly oiling it and using cutting oils it’s gonna start collecting up and soaking into the wood. Personally it wouldn’t be my choice to do it like that.

 

[MattF]

The wood will have a protective coat on the internal face, eventually, possibly. I'm very conservative in any application of cutting fluid, and wood is easily replaced if need be. Besides, I'm a devil for cleaning up during & after every session with a machine or tool, so nothing will be collecting within there for any length of time.

Also, I will admit, I just don't like using metal unless I must. I much prefer the appearance of wood, even if battered and oil soaked, (as you can probably tell from the appearance of my main bench, which is twenty odd years old now ), for most things like this. You'll find little bench or cabinet wise made from metal in my workshop, bar those three drawer units I got the other month, and a floor to ceiling drawer unit which I've had for years.

 

[zx9]

I am thinking a wood bench top in the form of a slight well sealed with epoxy primer for mine. The sticking point is the lay shaft like you I think the bench lay shaft and motor mount takes up too much room, that and the fact my lay shaft is not original makes me want to mount the motor under the bench I am just a little undecided on how to do the belt tension between the lay shaft and input shaft. Obviously some sort of over center shaft is required but that is as far as I have got.