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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
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    6,540

    Default Hercus capstan lathe

    As some of you may have read on the main forum, I was thinking about getting a small lathe for second operations and a member offered me his Hercus capstan parts with the rack slide and a bed. The bed is not branded Hercus or Southbend so I assume it is a Sheraton - apparently the profile was all the same.

    Among the many problems I still have to sort out is a headstock of some sort, but more immediately the bed is too long (around 1m) for the space available. Does anyone know whether Hercus ever made a short bed version of their 9"? The other options are to cut down the existing (Sheraton) bed although that has risk as I don't know how much it will move, or to make up a suitable section - considering that I will only be using this for parts up to say 3" long as that is close to the travel of the capstan and that the capstan and slide don't move along the bed when the lathe is in action, a short section of bed would not need the fit or accuracy of a "normal" lathe.
    Pics of the bits -
    (the blue tinge is grease)
    P1020979 (Medium).JPG P1020980 (Medium).JPG

    (And if anyone has a desire for a 1m long Sheraton bed please let me know - it is likely to have some wear (I haven't checked out it) but could be better than the one you have)

    Michael

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Michael,

    My apology for the tardy response. I have a fair amount of Hercus literature and I have never seen any reference to or suggestion of a shorter 9" bed than the standard 40". South Bend however did make short beds, short as 24" but I image they are real thin on the ground even in the US of A.

    If the bed did distort as a result of a few or several inches being lopped off, would it matter much if you are only using the capstan's travel? Who knows, the bed is webbed and maybe distortion would be minimal at worse??

    BT

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    Default

    Most people seem to think the same thing Bob. While I don't mind getting stuck into broken or dysfunctional equipment, I do hesitate to do irreversible things to "good" parts - hence asking about alternatives first.

    Michael

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
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    35
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    Default

    I know this thread is quite old, but I had thought of doing something similar myself, did you end up cutting the bead or finding something shorter?

    Regards - Ralph (apologies for dragging up the old thread)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    59
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    Default

    The bed is still there (as are the rest of the parts). I don't particularly want to cut it but that is probably what will end up happening.

    Michael

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
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    35
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    Default

    If you were in melbourne we could make ourselves feel better by cutting one in half and sharing.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    I have a Qualos lathe which is another south bend clone made in Australia mine is a short bed version. Maybe another option to look into.


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