Metal Lathe here I come!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:50 am

YAYY!! I picked up a neat Craftsman 6 inch metal lathe on ebay for a nice price the other day. Most of it arrives tomorrow! I am sure I'll have some clean up to do, but them I'll be all set! I'll use it for stemwork only, as its too small for stummels, I'm sure. I can't wait to see it!

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:16 am

Is it a bare-bones type or will you be getting some parts and pieces along with it? Something tells me you're going to enjoy the bejeezus out of your new toy.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:48 pm

Yea, it has a 4 jaw chuck and a few cutters. A jacobs chuck too for the tailstock. All in all, I am really psyched.

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:41 pm

I bet. I remember when I ordered my Taig. I was waiting at home all day long the day it was to be delivered. I couldn't sit still to save my life. When I finally got it, I was so psyched. You're going to have FUN.

munkey · Post by **munkey** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:33 pm

Cool, Nick!

Here is a link to good information on Craftsman lathes, in case you haven't seen it:
http://www.lathes.co.uk/craftsman/index.html

Do you know if it was made by Atlas, or know the model number?

sethile · Post by **sethile** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:27 pm

I almost bought one of the 6" Atlas lathes from a buddy of mine. I made a pipe on it while it was in his shop (stem and stummel). I think you'll find it's big enough to do some stummel work on. Tight, but it's amazing what it will do, and it's perfect for stem work! Also, if your shaping first, you'll find that it will work pretty well for almost any stummel drilling afterwards. Depending on the motor, it's likely a lot tougher for that then the variable speed mini lathes out of China. The shop bellow mine at school has a 9" Atlas. Man is that ever a fine looking machine!

Congratulations!

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:59 am

Even back in 1936/7 those Atlas/Craftsman lathes were pricey. $70-$125 was quite a wad of dough back then.
Still, I'm sure they're were made to last & geared smooth as butter. Must have been a SOB to replace a broken v-belt, though.
Interestingly, there are actually still a few people & places that have parts for some of these old machines.

munkey · Post by **munkey** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:32 pm

Some of the 6" Craftsman lathes were manufactured by companies other than Atlas.

I have two Atlas manufactured lathes. A 9x42" branded as Atlas and a recently acquired 12x32" Craftsman De-Lux. The recent purchase is in great shape and is now my main lathe. The 9x42" is still operational and will probably be dedicated to drilling after shaping for the time being, it needs to be rebuilt as I have the time and funds to get it back to being a more precise machine.

Clausing Industrial still carries many parts for old Atlas lathes. Here is the service and parts contact information:
(574) 533-0371
email: info@clausingsc.com
http://www.atlas-press.com/service.htm

The atlas-press site had some good documentation, but their main page no longer links to it. I did some poking around and mirrored the information to my site:
http://scottandersonpipes.com/atlas_press/

The lubrication charts are helpful, though I use spindle and way oil, rather than the suggested S.A.E. No. 20 for everything.

There is also a Yahoo! group that is a good resource for these lathes:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlas_craftsman/

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:16 pm

The lathe i got - 109-2063 - seems to be made by Double A. The lathe is sitting here behind my desk now and i can't wait to get it working. Of course i have to wait for the motor to arrive. D'OOH!