Thanks Thanks:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Bed wear

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4

    Default Bed wear

    Hi

    First post. I have recently aquired a Hercus model AR. I've had a Sheraton Model C for 20 years and I thought it was about time I had power cross feed and a gearbox!

    I mounted a dial gauge on the Hercus tailstock's foot and had it bear against the front saddle way about 3" in front of the tailstock. Sliding this up and down the bed shows a difference of 7 thou between the bed center and the end. I guess thats a combination of both tailstock way and saddle way wear.

    I tried the same test on the Sheraton; it has less than 3 thou difference over the bed length. It woud appear to be much less worn.

    So, the question is: how much wear is acceptable? The Sheraton has a bit of a taper but thats very rarely a problem for the type of work I'm doing. I suspect the worn Hercus will frustrate me more though. Perhaps there is a better way to measure the bed?

    There is an option to fit the Hercus A apron to the Sheraton - I'd need to source a Sheraton A leadscrew; the bed is 2" longer than the Hercus. I can feel the purists shaking.... well, these are 50 year old worn machines, I'm trying to be pragmatic.

    Thanks
    Murray

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default Hercus

    Welcome Murray

    gee you should have got the Hercus model A I saw today at the auction here . It was near perfect, almost new condition . I was bidding on it but another guy wanted it more than I did

    Most of them you see on EBAY are overpriced , there seems to be an endless supply of them for sale . Mike

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by morrisman View Post
    Welcome Murray

    gee you should have got the Hercus model A I saw today at the auction here . It was near perfect, almost new condition . I was bidding on it but another guy wanted it more than I did

    Most of them you see on EBAY are overpriced , there seems to be an endless supply of them for sale . Mike
    Thanks Mike. Mine was free - can't beat that price. Looks like its had a hard life though. The pulleys were nearly frozon to the headstock spindle as was the oil screw. Obviously not used in a long time.

    I'm giving serious thought to fitting the apron and gearbox to my Sheraton C. The holes are all there, all I need to do is make an extension piece for the shorter hercus leadscrew.

    Murray

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    88

    Default

    Murray, I would say as long as you're not doing permanent damage or mods to either, go for it! However, the reality is that you can have some pretty serious bed wear, and it never gets anywhere near the contribution of workpiece deflection and all the other variables. Personally I would just let both be, put a 4 Jaw on the Sheraton and a 3 Jaw on the Hercus and use them for whatever comes along.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,410

    Default

    Nothing beats the ease and pleasure of working with an accurate lathe free of wear and backlash. Nothing.

    That said, a talented and experienced machinist can correct on the fly for quite some degree of wear. See some good hints here:
    http://www.eztram.com/helpfulhints_r...sp?Hints_ID=13

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rickw72 View Post
    Murray, I would say as long as you're not doing permanent damage or mods to either, go for it! However, the reality is that you can have some pretty serious bed wear, and it never gets anywhere near the contribution of workpiece deflection and all the other variables. Personally I would just let both be, put a 4 Jaw on the Sheraton and a 3 Jaw on the Hercus and use them for whatever comes along.
    I suspect thats very true Rick. Its very easy to get distracted by comparitively irrelevant things. I'd like to keep both machines but I've got no room!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cba_melbourne View Post
    Nothing beats the ease and pleasure of working with an accurate lathe free of wear and backlash. Nothing.

    That said, a talented and experienced machinist can correct on the fly for quite some degree of wear. See some good hints here:
    http://www.eztram.com/helpfulhints_r...sp?Hints_ID=13
    Fortunately I've not had that pleasure - I don't know what I'm missing!

Similar Threads

  1. Lathe countershaft wear
    By kenny_10 in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 14th May 2014, 10:53 PM
  2. Lathe bed wear
    By morrisman in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 15th Sep 2012, 11:12 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •