Gunsmithing Lathe Porn!!

[Papagrizzly]

Okay, I cannot help but gloat a little here!

Moved in the new South Bend Collet lathe into my shop today. Very tight quarters as I have too much stuff in the shop.

This is a super precision South Bend and guaranteed to 50 millionths accuracy. Also, it will thread any pitch your heart desires - just type it into the screen. Other than a CNC lathe, this is the fastest manual threading lathe that I know of. You can set parameters and go left right with the large levers to left, whilst moving the compound in and out with the quick lever. Can hardly wait to get play with this puppy.


SouthBend Web site link: http://www.southbendlathe.com/products/lathes/SB1009

 

[Nortex]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Very nice!

 

[LRI]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Pops,

I hate you right now. Sure wish I had one of those for small/odd jobs. We'll be talking here soon about a machine.

Very, very, very cool.

Congrats!

C.

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Thanks!

Chad, I figured a guy like you would really make good use of this kind of a machine. I'll be wishing soon that I should have gone with the CNC version of this, similar to what I have here at work.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Wow - that looks like a great machine. Must be nice to be the Papa

 

[ugsly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Very nice Shiraz

If you ever feel the need to free up some space I have lots in my shop

What kind of flooring is that you have in your shop?

Kc

 

[Sidk]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

It looks exactly like my Pergo American Beech Block.

 

[maccrazy2]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Nice lathe!
As a side note, your company is one of the few I deal with that I would say has truly good customer service. It is so rare to get good service anymore anywhere.
I have a central machinery lathe and the forward/reverse switch broke. I called for a replacement and was told the company did not carry that line of lathes anymore. Further, they refused to give me any contact info for the manafacturer so I could source one myself.
I called Grizzly and the parts department guy I spoke with was very helpful and got me a switch for a grizzly lathe that also fits mine.
PS Colorado would be a nice place for a new store. wink, wink,

 

[slowyellow]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

That is sick. Is that for personal use or for work? I know that you had said that you wished that you'd get the cnc version like work, but good god that looks like an expensive lathe to have at home, lol.

 

[jrm850]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

.00005"? I bet the spindle bearings cost more than my lathe.

Very jealous!

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

<span style="font-weight: bold">Eric</span> - Deep discounts (to myself) are my specialty

<span style="font-weight: bold">UG</span> - The flooring is a special one developed for gyms. It has a very thick vinyl type membrane on top with a 1/4" of very dense rubber like material on the bottom. Not at all spongy - can drive a forklift over it without damaging or sinking, and is extremely damage resistant. Good for the knees and I have dropped solid carbide endmills without damaging them. In my opinion, the best flooring for a shop. Easy to clean, very scratch resistant, grease resistant, does not have a memory - practically indestructible. I just came upon it after a local University had done their gym with it and there was enough left over to do my shop. Supposed to be pricey, but I got it for a third of the price as a remnant.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Mac</span> - Thanks. We have some very good people and processes in place.

<span style="font-weight: bold">SlowY</span> - Personal. There are advantages to owning the companies that make these lathes (see deep discount comment above)

 

[LRI]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have dropped solid carbide endmills without damaging them</div></div>

Now I really, really, really "hate" you.

Last year I was standing in line at the Sturgis Coffee Company shop (morning ritual) to get my 20oz of ambition. I had a brand new, $172.00 5F, 2.0"LOC, coated carbide endmill in my hand that had mysteriously found its way into the center console of my Tahoe. (prolly from the move to the new shop.

I took it out of the sleeve to show Mike, the owner, what one looked like.

I dropped the damn thing.

"dink!"

Nothing like that sound anywhere. Kind of like a cash register in reverse. . .

Awesome floor.

C.

 

[el gordo2]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

<span style="color: #3366FF"><span style="font-size: 20pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING! </span> </span></span>

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KuMQjKiaDTg"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KuMQjKiaDTg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

El Gordo - hahahahahahahahaha - I wish!

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Shiraz,

How many of those parts fit a Hardinge? It's very similar in appearance, the spindle runouts are close etc, but can/could someone update a tired Hardinge using South Bend parts?

I really like the e-thread stuff, XXXXX sells one as a retrofit, as you know. If mine didn't work so well, I'd be hot for one of these too. I've been thinking of buying another as a parts machine if needed, but this likely makes more sense.

By the way, that lathe I got from you is great, I should have had you put DRO on it there though. One thing - shorten the spider screws on the outboard end, they prevent the spindle from turning with more than a .5" barrel!!!!

 

[pcschwenke]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Those lathes are very similar to the Hardinge tool room lathes. South Bend is one of a handful importing a copy. At the IMTS tool show this year I saw a lot of them. We have 2 Hardinge lathes at our shop. Great purchase! Keep us updated on how well it works. I would love to get a new one like yours to replace a tired original. I'd doubt the parts are compatible though.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Papagrizzly</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The flooring is a special one developed for gyms. It has a very thick vinyl type membrane on top with a 1/4" of very dense rubber like material on the bottom. Not at all spongy - can drive a forklift over it without damaging or sinking, and is extremely damage resistant.</div></div>

That stuff is very cool. My local gym has it in the weight room. It's compliant enough to soak up a dropped cast-iron dumbbell with nothing more than a dull "thud", and yet firm enough to support the weight of various racks and machines (many of which weigh as much as a small lathe or mill) without any permanent marks. I'm still trying to decide if I want to cough up $2/sq.ft. for my new shop, or just use floor mats along the benches.

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Mikee - I am glad the lathe you bought from us is working well for you. I think we fixed the long spider screws, but will double check that.

I don't know if the parts will fit an old Hardinge. I had asked the factory once they said "different". There are three factories in Taiwan that make these types of lathes. However, the one that makes them for South Bend only makes these types of high precision lathes and nothing else. The other two do it as a side business, where they make larger lathes and then some of these. South Bend had a booth at IMTS here in Septmeber and we sold many of these as customers were able to compare all the different makes at the show. In fact the Navy ordered two as well.

Chad - bummer on the endmill - probably made for a bad day.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

are going to sell those also?? or this is just early christmas to yourself?/

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

nevermind, found them, a bit pricey but very very nice, I may have to trade in my old G0492.

 

[skeetlee]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

will that little SB chamber a barrel or is the hole through the spindal to small? Im still saving for the big Gun smithing lathe. Everytime i see one it motivates me a little more. Lee

 

[slowyellow]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Papagrizzly</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">Eric</span> - Deep discounts (to myself) are my specialty

<span style="font-weight: bold">SlowY</span> - Personal. There are advantages to owning the companies that make these lathes (see deep discount comment above) </div></div>

Gotcha! Didn't realize that you made them. Looks like some pretty damn nice quality lathes!

 

[colchester]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skeetlee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">will that little SB chamber a barrel or is the hole through the spindal to small? Im still saving for the big Gun smithing lathe. Everytime i see one it motivates me a little more. Lee</div></div>
1.250" spindle bore

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Skeet - Although the collet lathe will do barrels very accurately, and faster because of the threading features, the Grizzly G0509G has become the standard for a lot of Gunsmiths doing it for a living.

Its the lathe on the left on the first picture. Has a large 2" spindle bore, is incredibly beefy and very accurate as well. I can work to within tenths on it. Got a Buck set-tru 4 jaw scroll chuck on it. When I lock down on the tool post, the lathe does not move at all. Heavy castings all around. Not the prettiest girl in the room, but certanly has the brains!

 

[ugsly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Do you do all your own chambering for your rifles Shiraz?

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Gordy does all my match barrels.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Drooling....

 

[Glen Seekins]

Re: Lathe Porn!!

Very nice. I have a hardinge hlv-h that I use for gun stuff and tool making. Same threading process as yours, and you will wonder why every lathe isn't like that as soon as you use it,,,

Only thing worse than dropping a 200$ endmill on the cement is when a employee does it for ya!