Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 7 of 7
Thread: Hercus capstan lathe
-
13th May 2015, 09:53 PM #1Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Norwood-ish, Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 6,540
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
-
19th May 2015, 07:44 PM #2.
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- Perth WA
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 6,458
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
-
21st May 2015, 07:49 AM #3Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Norwood-ish, Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 6,540
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
-
30th Jan 2017, 05:48 PM #4Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2016
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 35
- Posts
- 1,522
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)
-
30th Jan 2017, 07:01 PM #5Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Norwood-ish, Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 6,540
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
-
30th Jan 2017, 07:46 PM #6Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2016
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 35
- Posts
- 1,522
If you were in melbourne we could make ourselves feel better by cutting one in half and sharing.
-
31st Jan 2017, 10:28 AM #7
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.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
Similar Threads
-
An "unearthed" CVA precision capstan lathe
By jhovel in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 14Last Post: 2nd Jul 2011, 12:16 PM -
Ward 3DS Capstan Lathe Manual ??
By Plushy in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 4Last Post: 25th Mar 2009, 03:56 AM