I've been looking around locally, and have found a few 9" lathes for pretty cheap. 1 is a southbend, and the other is a atlas. My question is, what kind of tooling will i need to make sneakies, and just do basic repairs? I would like to build a cue or 2 someday, but just want to start with basic stuff for now, at least until i've read Hightowers book 3 or 4 times:grin: Thanks in advance for any info, and or advice:thumbup:
9" metal lathe question
- Thread starter danutz
- Start date
Those aren't good for making cues.
The spindle hole don't fit the butts .
The spindle hole don't fit the butts .
Find one with at least a 1.375 spindle bore and minimum 36" between centers. Life will be much happier for you building cues.
I found a few old south bends with spindle holes plenty big enough. The problem I'm having is finding one with enough distance between centers. I found one with a 12' bed, but it would cost 5X as much to ship it as it would to buy it, lol.
Joe
If it is a steal of a deal with a spindle bore at 1 3/8 like Dave B. said it could be an awesome second lathe to install the pin, a joint and even do tips but for everything else, no less than 36" between centers, ideally 13x40.
I had both over the years
The Southbend is generally better if in decent shape, but a nine is only good for shaft joint and tip work, and maybe making custom inserts or pins. The bed lengths of these lathes is not long enough usually to turn a shaft between centers either. I ended up selling my SB a few years ago. It was becoming a dust catcher after getting larger lathes.
What you want is what SouthBend called a "Heavy Ten". It is a bigger lathe, but still not too massive. I know of several cuemakers that use those for all phases of cue work. They have a larger through hole in the headstock, and can be had with beds plenty long enough. But be careful: older SB lathes sometimes have worn ways near the headstock, and many had too short of beds to turn between centers.
The Southbend is generally better if in decent shape, but a nine is only good for shaft joint and tip work, and maybe making custom inserts or pins. The bed lengths of these lathes is not long enough usually to turn a shaft between centers either. I ended up selling my SB a few years ago. It was becoming a dust catcher after getting larger lathes.
What you want is what SouthBend called a "Heavy Ten". It is a bigger lathe, but still not too massive. I know of several cuemakers that use those for all phases of cue work. They have a larger through hole in the headstock, and can be had with beds plenty long enough. But be careful: older SB lathes sometimes have worn ways near the headstock, and many had too short of beds to turn between centers.
I'd love to find a heavy ten with a 36" bed but i don't see to many of them, and when i do see one, it's spendy. I can find decent 9x36" 3/4-1" bore lathes all day. But if i can't put a pin in a sneaky with them, they're worthless to me.
Looks like i might have to just get a taig style.
Is it not possible to chuck a butt up to put a pin in one of these small bore lathes, or just harder? I thought it should be doable.
Nevermind, lol. i did a search, and if Hightower says it's doable, it's doable. So, a 9x48" southbend with the right steady rests, and collets should do fine for what i'm wanting to do. right?
Looks like i might have to just get a taig style.
Is it not possible to chuck a butt up to put a pin in one of these small bore lathes, or just harder? I thought it should be doable.
Nevermind, lol. i did a search, and if Hightower says it's doable, it's doable. So, a 9x48" southbend with the right steady rests, and collets should do fine for what i'm wanting to do. right?
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It is not possible
You cannot chuck up on a butt with a SouthBend 9 inch leathe. A shaft just fits through the spindle hole. The hole is only a little over the diameter of the shaft joint and diminishes as you go deeper. The spindle nose accepts a Morse Taper #3 shank, look at the dimensions on the net for a Morse #3 if you do not believe me.
The only way it could work is if you had a very long bed model. And then you would have to use a center rest to support the entire butt outside of the headstock, only gripping the opposite end you want to work on with the chuck in order to spin the butt under power. I do that kind of work on my large metal lathe and it is a very accurate way to work, but the bed must be very long! I have never seen a NIne long enough in the bed to do that. I had a 4 1/2 foot bed, and it was too short!
Southbend measures their bed including the bed covered up by the headstock! So even though my factory tag from SouthBend said bed length: 4 1/2 foot, it meant nothing of the sort. One could support maybe 26 inches between centers. I think perhaps Chris's statements were mis read? He knows what he is talking about.
You cannot chuck up on a butt with a SouthBend 9 inch leathe. A shaft just fits through the spindle hole. The hole is only a little over the diameter of the shaft joint and diminishes as you go deeper. The spindle nose accepts a Morse Taper #3 shank, look at the dimensions on the net for a Morse #3 if you do not believe me.
The only way it could work is if you had a very long bed model. And then you would have to use a center rest to support the entire butt outside of the headstock, only gripping the opposite end you want to work on with the chuck in order to spin the butt under power. I do that kind of work on my large metal lathe and it is a very accurate way to work, but the bed must be very long! I have never seen a NIne long enough in the bed to do that. I had a 4 1/2 foot bed, and it was too short!
Southbend measures their bed including the bed covered up by the headstock! So even though my factory tag from SouthBend said bed length: 4 1/2 foot, it meant nothing of the sort. One could support maybe 26 inches between centers. I think perhaps Chris's statements were mis read? He knows what he is talking about.
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They can be pretty good old lathes but you have to check it out good. For cue making they make a nice proprietary lathe for turning shafts and butts when fitted with a taper bar or bars. Of course the proper length is important. Even if you are just making SP's you will need to be able to turn the butts to size. It would not make a very good repair lathe due to the small head stock bore. You really want several lathes to build cues even if it is just a hobby so if you are looking to the future it may be worth picking up. You don't want to pay too much for it but check it out good first. They don't weigh that much once off the base so two people can move one.
ya, think i'll just wait till i find what i need. the last big ten i saw, the guy wanted $5k for it:embarrassed2: Looks like they're gonna be producing them again which is nice. I may just get a taig style cue specific for now, it's just hard for me to see how aluminum+ 60lbs.= accurate. I see alot swear by them tho, so i may just give them a try. Can always upgrade later, and use it for repair work. I'd definately like to have a big ten tho:grin: Is your's for sale Kcode?:grin:
Can anyone tell me if a stage III cue companion is capable of accurately installing pins in butts?
Can anyone tell me if a stage III cue companion is capable of accurately installing pins in butts?
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Heavy Tens and others
I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area and they do come up for sale now and then, as well as many other vintage lathes. Look at www.hgrinc.com Also look up "Lee's used machinery" in Perry Ohio, he rebuilds machines as well as sells them as is. I think I see at least one a month at these places. ANd "as is" they often go for under a grand, with chuck and tailstock, sometimes more. Look in Craig's Lists for major cities near you too, a great way to buy used and see it before you put the money down.
I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area and they do come up for sale now and then, as well as many other vintage lathes. Look at www.hgrinc.com Also look up "Lee's used machinery" in Perry Ohio, he rebuilds machines as well as sells them as is. I think I see at least one a month at these places. ANd "as is" they often go for under a grand, with chuck and tailstock, sometimes more. Look in Craig's Lists for major cities near you too, a great way to buy used and see it before you put the money down.
Why, then he will have two. Most guys have 5 or 6 or more. You buy them when you get the chance if the price is right and the lathe is good. Even a mini lathe has it's place in a cue shop.
My thinking was, if he spends X dollars on a 9" and a heavy ten comes up. Will he have the cash to buy the bigger lathe.
NO!!! my heavy ten is not for sale. If I had to sell some toys, it would be the last to go!
Larry
That dude gave u a helluva deal!
Yep!!!!!! Some people just don't know what they have till it's gone. Anyone care to guess who I bought my heavy ten from?
Larry
Jeff Forney?:grin:
Ed Wheat? Bob Villa?