For years I've wanted to add a good, heavy duty engine lathe to my equipment roster. I have a 12 x 36 Microcut that's in really nice, tight condition, but it's not as heavy as I wanted.
Earlier this year I came across a nice Southbend 17" x 60" Turn-Nado lathe for sale up in Virginia. The Turn-Nado was one of the top of the line Southbend lathe's back in the 60's and 70's. It's a variable speed, geared head lathe with a two speed motor. A 7.5 HP, it can make some serious cuts. It includes the taper attachment, which is a nice addition.
A couple of months back I took advantage of nice weather one Sunday and rode the Harley up to Stafford, VA to check out the lathe. The seller was a retired Fire fighter that had always wanted to get into machine work, and bought the lathe at auction 15 years ago. He never got around to hooking it up though so it's been sitting in his shop all this time. His neighbor was the machinist that operated it for a defense contractor, and he used it to do gunsmithing on the side. I spoke with the operator and he assured me that it was in great condition and held close tolerances
After looking it over I left a deposit and headed back to the farm. Here is what it looked like when I reviewed it.
First view.jpg
And then it started raining. And kept raining. Between the rain, my work schedule, and some truck issues it was over two months before I could get the planets lined up to retrieve it and bring it home. Fortunately the seller was patient (especially after I insisted on sending him payment in full while waiting for the transport stars to line up).
Last month I was able to head up and pick it up. This, coincidentally, was the first trip with the new truck.
Truck on trip to get lathe.jpg
My skid loader was able to pick it up (barely - it weighs 4,500 lbs) by slinging it at the back of the forks where the lifting strength is greatest.
Loading C.jpg
After loading it we double tarped it and I put the skid steer back on the trailer and headed home.
Loaded on truckC.jpg
I washed it down with mineral spirits after unloading and set it in the wood shop for a more thorough clean up and painting.
This past weekend we finished cleaning and repainting. I'm pleased with how it turned out. All of the tolerances feel fairly tight, and now that it's clean the lead screws are turning smoothly again. Tomorrow, time allowing, I'll change the lubricants and put it under power to try it out.
Post clean up C.jpg
I'm looking forward to trying it out and doing some gunsmithing with it later this year.
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