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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
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    Hobart, Australia
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    38
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    24

    Default Is this lathe worth getting / restoring

    Hey all... first of all ill say im a beginner machinist, only have a small hobby lathe at the moment

    There is this old Nuttall lathe at work which has sat in the corner and never been used since I been there... Im pretty sure the motor is shot..

    Im just wondering if anyone knows any info on these lathes? Were they good lathes back in the day?

    What would something like this be worth today? (ill have to make an offer to my boss)

    Is there anything I should look out for that would make this junk and not worth touching?

    A brief inspection of the ways and there is no obvious damage, the handwheels turn fairly smoothly. I think the motor is dead but that shouldnt be too hard to replace?

    3788.jpg3787.jpg3786.jpg

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    6,434

    Default

    Hi Viperx85,

    The "Nuttall" lathes were not bad in their day. From the pictures it doesn't look too rough, at some time in its life, someone has spent time making and fitting guarding which could probably do with tidying up. I think it would make a good refurbishment project if you were so inclined. I'll leave it for others to suggest a value for you.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  3. #3
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default

    There is a bigger Nuttall at work with 12" chucks and I used it a lot.
    I love using that lathe even though its getting on for 60 years old.
    What are the ways on the one you are looking at like under and in front of the chuck and what other tooling does it come with eg a working 4 jaw chuck?
    I'd put dead centres in the tail and headstock and check out how well they align
    look it over carefully for any broken gears
    If it checks out OK and given the motor is dead I'd suggest say $500 and see what happens.

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

    My father owns a later gearhead Nuttall and its the lathe I learned on, it's very well made and has great controls, the way the feeds engage/disengage is very easy and smooth. You have the luxury of time at least, give it a really good once over and see what you think. I would say 3 -400 would be my offer. Hopefully the free space is valuable to your employer.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
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    Default

    That is a oldie . Can't say I have seen a Nuttall like that one before . The Herbert Nuttalls seem to be fairly common but that example in your pics seems to be a Mk1 if that's possible.

    It appears to have a rudimentary QCGB of sorts . Not sure. If you do a lot of turning, you will find out quickly that a QCGB is a necessity rather than luxury !

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    That is one heck of a rigid lathe! Unless there is significant damage or unusual wear, that would make a great refubished machine.
    Have a look at Tony's notes about Nuttal at Page Title
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default Nurse Nuttall

    My mother is in a care home. One of the regular nurses there , I noticed her surname is Nuttall . I always say to her " Hi Mrs Nuttall " She always laughs at the formality of it " my mother in-law calls me that , don't call me that" . I mentioned Nuttall lathes to her , blank response Huh !

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    201

    Default

    ViperX85,

    I have a similar lathe. Mine's a Herbert Nuttall built in 1941, and appears to have very similar features to the one you're looking at. Right now mine is in a thousand pieces undergoing a full re-paint and rebuild. It's well made, and as noted above they are a very rigid machine. I'm putting the time, funds, and effort into re-building mine because even though it's nearly 80 years old it is quite a bit bigger and way more rigid than my other lathe and will be a useful addition to the workshop.

    What date was the one you're looking at made? Mine has a serial number and date of manufacture stamped on top of the bed casting on the right hand end.

    Graham.

    IMG_8508.jpgIMG_8645.jpgIMG_8264 (1).jpgIMG_8506.jpg

  9. #9
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Perth
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    Oldbikerider, If possible I'd (and I'm sure others, would) like to please see a full size picture of your lathe.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Sydney
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    Default

    Bob, I was afraid that someone would ask for this. I will answer your request here, and post up some more photos, but only because it may help Viperx85 identify his. These photos are of the lathe in its "as found" state. It was in surprisingly good condition for its age, and whilst not used much had been kept well oiled by the previous (elderly) owner.

    The reason I have not put up anything on this lathe on this forum previously is that I would then feel obliged to get on with the project. Unfortunately other projects keep getting in the way and progress on the Nuttall is slow. I'll eventually put up a re-build post, and I'm sure I will have many questions for you guys as I get into the final re-assembly.

    Graham.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by morrisman View Post
    It appears to have a rudimentary QCGB of sorts . Not sure. If you do a lot of turning, you will find out quickly that a QCGB is a necessity rather than luxury !
    My brother has one of these which he got probably 40 years ago. Got it cheap as it didnt have a spindle. He was able to buy a new spindle cone pulley and the large gear. I made a new spindle and small gear for it. He doesnt use it much though.
    It does have a QCGB but In the 3 pics in the first post, it is almost totaly obscured. The 2 levers that hang down I think are for the power feed. (its been a while since I used one of these)
    From memory I think the cone head version of these are almost identical from the bed down to the geared head version of the same vintage.

    peter

  12. #12
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default

    Thanks for the pics. The ways look pretty good to me.
    I also looks like it has removable section of ways immediately under the chuck.
    This is extremely useful for turning wide flat stuff and is one of the reasons I still go and use the old Nuttall at work.

    Did you find out about any other tooling and the 4 jaw?
    Also what spindle bore size is it?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Hobart, Australia
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    38
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    Default

    Sounds like a worthy project... ill speak to my boss next week and see how much he will let it go for

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    melbourne, laverton
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    Default

    Offer him a couple of slabs

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Hobart, Australia
    Age
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    Default

    So took awhile but I offered my Boss $250 to get the haggling started, he said heh he could get $1000 at Auction.... so few weeks later it went to Auction, I got it for $225.00!

    Just got it home tonight, first thing I did was rip off the dodgy belt guard, thankfully they used existing tapped holes to mount it and nothing invasive.

    Had a better look at the ways tonight, the front Vee way looks alright but the flat way at the back has some decent scrapes in it. right at the end of the bed (end away from the head stock) it seems quite bad.

    Need to decide what to do with the motor, Since it doesnt have a quick change gearbox I think ill stick with a 3-phase motor and VFD so I have RPM Control. Also going off the Plate on the machine the highest RPM is 500rpm which seems quite low???

    Im thinking a higher rpm motor with more HP with a VFD would be a good choice? Not sure if ill have to look at changing pulley ratios?
    Attached Images Attached Images

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