Bradford metal lathe

[young bull]

Hi, I’ve just been given a Bradford metal master lathe I think it was made in 1942/3 going by the serial number. It doesn’t have any tooling with it and I don’t really know what I’m looking for. Could anybody recommend a good starter set of tooling for occasional farm use? Or would I be better buying a job lot of old lathe tooling?

Also does anybody have any other advice on actually using it?

 

[Wood field]

Have a look at the tool holder , then you will know what size tooling is best.
Cheap and cheerful tipped tools from the likes of RDG will get you going .
In the old days ( once we escaped the training school instructor) we could set the tool hight with a 6”rule pinched between the tool tip and the work
Another good but are centre drills .
Play about with a bit of mild steel at around 450/500 rpm and get a feel for it , treat it with respect but don’t get over confident
Oh and take the Chuck hey out !!

Edit, just seen your in West Yorkshire, RDG are in mytholmroyd

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Fascinating stuff. I did a bit of lathe work at school and always enjoyed it, as my family had a metal working business with no end of lathes of all different sizes (closed probably 15 years ago).

Where abouts in West Yorks are you? (DM if it's easier)

Oh and take the Chuck hey out !!

Unless you want to catch it with your face!

 

[young bull]

Have a look at the tool holder , then you will know what size tooling is best.
Cheap and cheerful tipped tools from the likes of RDG will get you going .
In the old days ( once we escaped the training school instructor) we could set the tool hight with a 6”rule pinched between the tool tip and the work
Another good but are centre drills .
Play about with a bit of mild steel at around 450/500 rpm and get a feel for it , treat it with respect but don’t get over confident
Oh and take the Chuck hey out !!

Edit, just seen your in West Yorkshire, RDG are in mytholmroyd

Thank you I’ve had a look at their website, the tool holder is 22mm so I’m thinking I’m going to order a set of these to try. https://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog...G-TOOL-SET-20MM-SHANK-TCMT-16-TIPS-79687.html

 

[young bull]

Fascinating stuff. I did a bit of lathe work at school and always enjoyed it, as my family had a metal working business with no end of lathes of all different sizes (closed probably 15 years ago).

Where abouts in West Yorks are you? (DM if it's easier)





Unless you want to catch it with your face!

I’ve sent you a message.

 

[Wood field]

I’ve just acquired a little milling machine, I am only 20 minutes from RDG tools, they are handy people to deal with.
I could kick myself really, had a workshop full , lathes mill , press , etc let it all go when I packed the business in
On the look ifor a handy sized lathe myself

 

[Welderloon]

YB, the Lathe is a cracker, proper old school no nonsense does what it says on the tin lathe, give it a proper clean & get it all freed off & oiled up, make sure it works in all gears, the auto feed etc if you are not going to use it all the time............get a cover made for it so any dust & crud doesn't accumulate on the slides, Keep a look out for local auctions at Engineering places, Bidspotter, Apex Auctions etc have sales at large Engineering places all over the country, BPI auctions are another outfit, lots of Tooling & equip can be had from closing down sales at reasonable prices. get yourself a magnetic DTI clock gauge for truing stuff up, a Lead or copper mallet, some decent metal coolant & a couple of squirty spray bottles & a pair of really good clear safety glasses........& use them when operating the lathe......... then just practice..........., when turning anything, just feed the tool a little at a time, build up your confidence on bits of scrap, don't take to big bites & you should be O.K, its a dangerous machine if you do not know what you are doing, with a bit of practice you'll be making bushes for pulleys & hinges & step pins in no time.........good luck

 

[tomlad]

Utube
Utube
Lots of really good lessons on there
Doubleboost
Mrpete / tubalcain
Abom79

Treat with respect and have fun
I think doubleboost recently done a series

Not atall a addictive money pit.

 

[Welderloon]

Its like having a woman............... but without the nagging

 

[pycoed]

Have a look at Machine Mechanic on Youtube - it's amazing what he does with just a lathe & an arc welder! It's the opposite of Abom79 who just buys a special tool to do anything

 

[Netherfield]

Even got the external jaws for the chuck, which is a bonus.

If you need to use them look out for the numbers on the jaws and match them with the numbers on the chuck.

Don't try to be greedy, better to take a few small cuts rather than one big one.

If you buy that set above get some spare tips, I guarantee you'll chip or damage one or two while learning.

 

[Welderloon]

Even got the external jaws for the chuck, which is a bonus.

If you need to use them look out for the numbers on the jaws and match them with the numbers on the chuck.

Don't try to be greedy, better to take a few small cuts rather than one big one.

If you buy that set above get some spare tips, I guarantee you'll chip or damage one or two while learning.

This........This.......This

 

[young bull]

Thank you for all the advice! Will have to have a play when the set of cutters arrive.

 

[Welderloon]

get yourself some calipers, Vernier, outside, inside & maybe a couple of cheap micrometers & a steel rule while you are at it.................you'll be a pro in no time................a very poor pro but a pro none the less

 

[Ruston3w]

If you are lucky enough to get the lathe for nowt then splash out on a decent grinder so you can grab job-lot tool steel tooling, you'll learn more if you grind your own tools and high speed steel joblots go for nothing now on ebay- we've got to value time too highly and want to fit another tip for £££s rather than learn. Just my 2 cents as they say. Have fun.

 

[Karliboy]

YB, the Lathe is a cracker, proper old school no nonsense does what it says on the tin lathe, give it a proper clean & get it all freed off & oiled up, make sure it works in all gears, the auto feed etc if you are not going to use it all the time............get a cover made for it so any dust & crud doesn't accumulate on the slides, Keep a look out for local auctions at Engineering places, Bidspotter, Apex Auctions etc have sales at large Engineering places all over the country, BPI auctions are another outfit, lots of Tooling & equip can be had from closing down sales at reasonable prices. get yourself a magnetic DTI clock gauge for truing stuff up, a Lead or copper mallet, some decent metal coolant & a couple of squirty spray bottles & a pair of really good clear safety glasses........& use them when operating the lathe......... then just practice..........., when turning anything, just feed the tool a little at a time, build up your confidence on bits of scrap, don't take to big bites & you should be O.K, its a dangerous machine if you do not know what you are doing, with a bit of practice you'll be making bushes for pulleys & hinges & step pins in no time.........good luck

Couldn’t agree with this post any more especially on the safety glasses.in fact get a few.
Try get the belts guarded up on the drive end too don’t want nobody near those when running as they won’t be very forgiving

 

[Wood field]

Picking up a wee boxford lathe tomorrow, single phase but will do a few jobs
I really miss having the workshop with three phase.
I’ll add to the safety side … roll your sleeves up!!
No jewellery, don’t for goodness sake grab hold of any swarf

 

[young bull]

Yes going to get the belts covered once it’s back together. Currently got the lid off to find out why it was labouring a bit and seems like it has the wrong oil in it. The manual recommends sae20 oil and it looks more like thick gear oil in it. This has been making the clutch plates bind a bit so washed them out with paraffin and it seems a lot better. Will get the rest drained out and the proper oil back in and we should be nearly there.

 

[Swarfmonkey]

Know anyone that'll lend you a test bar, DTI, and engineers level?

You might as well make sure the bugger is all in alignment before you start dropping a load of cash on tooling, 'cos if it's not it'll be a (very) frustrating experience using it.

 

[young bull]

Know anyone that'll lend you a test bar, DTI, and engineers level?

You might as well make sure the bugger is all in alignment before you start dropping a load of cash on tooling, 'cos if it's not it'll be a (very) frustrating experience using it.

Unfortunately not