Paroled
March 26th, 2009Think of my Garage as a Halfway House
Someone asked for a photo of the new lathe. I’ll show you what I was sent.
It will come with a drill chuck, 3-jaw chuck, dog driver plate (whatever that is), tool post, tool holder, and a manual. The Grizzly would have had two 3-jaw chucks, I think.
I could have had a South Bend 13, but this has a bigger spindle bore, and it’s supposed to be a very popular lathe with gunsmiths.
I’m hoping it’s not too beat-up. It came from a prison, where it was presumably a teaching machine. That sure beats a machine that put in 24-hour days at a factory.
I was sweating the choice up until this afternoon, when I started to feel very calm about it, and I felt I was finally seeing the decision clearly. That’s what I had been waiting for.
I like the fact that it came from a prison. There is a metaphor in there somewhere. I see tools as part of a pattern of liberation in my life. And here I am, buying a tool which has, itself, been liberated. It began in the joylessness, despair, and stale air of a penitentiary, and it will end in a home workshop where there is only pleasure, contentment, peace, and fulfillment.
And not too much cussing, except when I hurt myself or can’t find something.
God has really blessed me when it comes to tools.
By the way, Mish’s fever has gone below 101. “Prayer Answered!”, the latest post begins.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Congrats on the lathe decision.
It’s been a long time since I ran a lathe in high school metal shop (Coral Gables High) but I do remember that a four jaw chuck was very useful.
March 27th, 2009 at 7:42 AM
I like the redemption metaphor…
.
Now I have Lathe envy.
.
Is that a coolant/chip tray below the bed?
.
And is the first project the rollers for your belt grinder?
.
Man, I sound like a kid who needs his Riddlin. I better go get some coffee and start the day.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Possibly of interest.
“When the workpiece is supported between centers, a lathe dog is fastened to the workpiece and engaged in a slot of the driving faceplate.”
Regards,
Ric
March 27th, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Don’t worry, Ric. I’m doing a fine job of accumulating reference material.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:43 AM
You’re going to need two dial indicators, a 1″ throw (a 2″ is good too). Chaiwanese is good for that one. The other one is a test indicator, and you’ll need an Interapid or Tesa. Nothing else is worth the effort. You’ll need the interapid first to buck in the chuck.
-15,0,+15 on the interapid, graduated in .0001.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:50 AM
I use a similar clausing on occasion, watch for a “jacobs collet chuck” use rubber collets to hold work . Very handy and quick to use, more accurate than 3 -jaw. quick change tool post works great and you need a live center for your tailstock. before you turn power to it, fill/check oil and turn over by hand to get bearings lubed without any load. I use Mobil-1 in headstock and everything, then get some “way oil” for the ways only. be sure and level in both directions with precision level. I just did all this on an old sheldon 11″ and it runs fine.
bob
March 27th, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Um, I’ve been cruising Craigslist for power tools and have been to a used tools shop this week.
.
Bought a jigsaw. Tons of stuff on Craigslist as the unemployment rate in LA is nearly 11%.
.
Enjoying the development of craftsmanship skills.
.
Wondering if you have a gas-powered electric generator so you can use your tools when the country goes full-metal Mad Max and the power grid is unreliable. I’m assuming so since you live in Miami where the power is already iffy. I should probably get one for here in “Shaky-town”.