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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Charlestown NSW
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    65
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    Default Lathe screwed spindle locking spanner - MkII

    My little McMillan lathe has a screwed spindle (as in chucks screw on, not stuffed spindle ) I've had it since 2003 when I inherited it from my Dad. At some point during Dads ownership he managed to break a tooth off the back gear while removing a chuck. Gear has been repaired but ever since I got it I have felt like I was playing Russian roulette every time I changed chucks.
    So last week I finally got around to making a spindle spanner ( I really don't know what else to call it).This is not my idea. I saw it some time ago on one of the US based forums (I think) but I haven't been able to find it again since.
    In the version I saw, the constructor had used some aluminium for the clamp but as I thought I didn't have any big enough I thought I'd try some hard wood. Unfortunately I couldn't get to the table saw in the garage to cut down a bit of hardwood but I found a bit of Oregon that I hoped might work. Bored it, drilled it, cut it and fitted to a 600 mm length of angle. Bolted it to the end of the spindle and gave it a go. Result - Failed. As I suspected the Oregon just wasn't up to it. So that was the MkI version.

    spindle spanner Mk1.jpg

    I woke up in the middle of the night a couple of days ago remembering that I had a bit of aluminium that might work, so this morning I dug it out and started to make the MkII version. The aluminium is a 100 dia X 30 biscuit that I have been saving for the last 25 or so years (in case I needed it). Set it up in the four jaw and bored it to size.
    Incidentally this is the first time I've seriously used the lathe since doing the 3 phase motor/vfd conversion. The conversion has transformed the lathe. Its so much smoother now, particularly at start up where it no longer has that hard thump when the motor starts. Aligning the motor correctly (for probably the first time in the machines life) has probably helped as well.

    Anyway back to the spindle clamp.
    After boring, I set it up on the mill and machined a flat on one side, flipped it over and machined two other flats for the bolt heads to sit in. Drilled the bolt holes then removed and cut it in half with a hacksaw. (armstrong version. lol) Tried it out and it worked well. Just used a bit of hardwood on end between the bed and a jaw of the chuck.
    Had to really do the bolts up tight though so I'm going to replace the 8mm with 10mm socket heads. If I had thought about it a bit more I could have just machined a couple of pockets for the socket heads to sit into. aah well, so it goes.

    Hopefully will be able to buy a couple of bolts tomorrow or Sat. Then all I have to do is tart it up a bit.

    spanner 001.jpg spanner 002.jpg

    Peter

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
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    65
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    Default Tarted up

    Yesterday I jokingly said to those who matter, (in regard to the aluminium clamp on my spindle spanner) "Paint or Polish?" The overwhelming consensus was "polish". So after a couple of hours of buffing and a bit of hammer finish, this is how it looks now.
    The hammer finish (in a lovely "Plum" colour is spraying grade. I couldn't be bothered to set up the spray gear to do this so just used a brush. Not as nice as when sprayed but good enough.
    I didn't have a fine enough belt for my sander to get it as smooth as I would have preferred, and I wasn't going to do it by hand, so to me the polished bit looks pretty ordinary. However, those who matter think it looks great. Who am I to say otherwise? .

    spindle spanner 001.jpg

    Peter
    Last edited by bollie7; 28th Dec 2019 at 08:37 PM. Reason: forgot a bit

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    574

    Default

    Good one - I've wondered at times if I need to make something to lock the spindle of my lathe, presently I lock the back gears before changing the chuck (which is not very often use the 4 jaw mostly) and hadn't considered that the gears could be damaged this way. I might just copy your idea.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
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    65
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by familyguy View Post
    Good one - I've wondered at times if I need to make something to lock the spindle of my lathe, presently I lock the back gears before changing the chuck (which is not very often use the 4 jaw mostly) and hadn't considered that the gears could be damaged this way. I might just copy your idea.
    Go for it. Its not my idea though, I also copied it.
    It is slower than using the back gear, but I'm not on the clock at home.
    I used mine again yesterday and a modification I'd suggest is weld the nuts on to the handle.
    peter

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