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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Lathe and Mill Recomendations??
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<blockquote data-quote="Trickymissfit" data-source="post: 1159716" data-attributes="member: 25383"><p>I made a lot of money undoing the workmanship of some machines from the far east, and also made a few dollars upgrading some of them. When you buy a machine, you usually get what you paid for in spades. Some (actually many) are not worth the time to rebuild, and some are. Problem is that few are actually good at the craft, and it's not really for an amateur. Scraping a slide is almost a black art these days, and if you know how; you got more work than you can handle. </p><p></p><p>Skip is big on the LeBlond Regale. A good machine, but not a Monarch! About once every three to four years you will break the plastic servo assembly. A pain in the butt the first time, but easy after that. Frame is a tad weak, unless properly bedded. (still better than most) The apron and carriage is a bitch on a good day. The half nut assembly will make you buy Malox by the case! Rest is pretty good. Still cuts a pretty damned good thread in some pretty tough stuff. I think the cross slide ways could have been designed with much more area (say 50%). The serious weak spot is the tail stock (like 75% of the lathes sold today). Just built too light. Nice thing about them is that they are an easy rebuild with the carriage being the only serious headache. Compared to a LeBlond heavy duty, they are a picnic! The last LeBlond I rebuilt ended up with brand new ways integrated into the chassis. Then I Moglice'd the slides. Gibs were made from Ampco bronze (maybe #14 or 12). Tail stock got a shim plate and an oversized spindle. Not proud of the tail stock but still better than OEM. When we set it up in the tool room, none of the old guys would touch it. They put the newest guy on it. He loved it after I did a few tweaks to the alignment, and adjusted the gibs one more time. Plenty of power for 17PH4 and hard turning. On the other hand next to it sat an American precision lathe. Boss had me scrape it and install new lead screws and nuts. Rest of it was pretty good. Tail was a complete nightmare, but I fought it till I won. It cut very well, and the tail stock was better (heavier), but not a Monarch! I'd almost swear the cast iron in the LeBlond is softer than the others, but doubt it in the end. Still all this is easier than doing a five axis machine center. Plus if you start out with a good frame design; you almost always build a good machine off it.</p><p></p><p>For a vertical mill, I've yet to see one better than the one sold by Willis Machine. It has removable ways and uses Turcite on the slides. Spindle group is way over size, and uses #40 tool holders. It's made like a Bridge Port on steroids.</p><p>gary</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Trickymissfit, post: 1159716, member: 25383"] I made a lot of money undoing the workmanship of some machines from the far east, and also made a few dollars upgrading some of them. When you buy a machine, you usually get what you paid for in spades. Some (actually many) are not worth the time to rebuild, and some are. Problem is that few are actually good at the craft, and it's not really for an amateur. Scraping a slide is almost a black art these days, and if you know how; you got more work than you can handle. Skip is big on the LeBlond Regale. A good machine, but not a Monarch! About once every three to four years you will break the plastic servo assembly. A pain in the butt the first time, but easy after that. Frame is a tad weak, unless properly bedded. (still better than most) The apron and carriage is a bitch on a good day. The half nut assembly will make you buy Malox by the case! Rest is pretty good. Still cuts a pretty damned good thread in some pretty tough stuff. I think the cross slide ways could have been designed with much more area (say 50%). The serious weak spot is the tail stock (like 75% of the lathes sold today). Just built too light. Nice thing about them is that they are an easy rebuild with the carriage being the only serious headache. Compared to a LeBlond heavy duty, they are a picnic! The last LeBlond I rebuilt ended up with brand new ways integrated into the chassis. Then I Moglice'd the slides. Gibs were made from Ampco bronze (maybe #14 or 12). Tail stock got a shim plate and an oversized spindle. Not proud of the tail stock but still better than OEM. When we set it up in the tool room, none of the old guys would touch it. They put the newest guy on it. He loved it after I did a few tweaks to the alignment, and adjusted the gibs one more time. Plenty of power for 17PH4 and hard turning. On the other hand next to it sat an American precision lathe. Boss had me scrape it and install new lead screws and nuts. Rest of it was pretty good. Tail was a complete nightmare, but I fought it till I won. It cut very well, and the tail stock was better (heavier), but not a Monarch! I'd almost swear the cast iron in the LeBlond is softer than the others, but doubt it in the end. Still all this is easier than doing a five axis machine center. Plus if you start out with a good frame design; you almost always build a good machine off it. For a vertical mill, I've yet to see one better than the one sold by Willis Machine. It has removable ways and uses Turcite on the slides. Spindle group is way over size, and uses #40 tool holders. It's made like a Bridge Port on steroids. gary [/QUOTE]
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