New Year-New Shop Toys-Going to Sell Hightower

CrossBone Cue

CrossBone Cue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Worked real hard last year, had big push in November and December and it is paying off. I was able to buy a real nice Forearm Mill, should have it in the shop the first of Feb. Its set up with everything, all tooling and jigs. So forearms with 4-5-6-7-8 points and veneers coming real soon.
The best find was an old 5914 Clausing Lathe that has been setting on a car port for years, its in pretty rough shape, but am going to get it up and going. Best part it was used doing metal work and was covered in oil and grime, so no rust. Ran power last night, got the three phase converter wired up AND IT RAN. Got everything working except the variable speed. That's not perfect, but a good start.

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I really don't know about the variable speed. Been working on getting all the grime off and getting it so its not so nasty. I will need a miracle to get this beast online,


Thanks for looking,
Steve

Hightower lathe is sold, made a deal and is shipping in a couple weeks. Deposit paid
 
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Clausing, Steve now you got a real machine buddy that can handle anything with pure Accuracy.
 
Yes Sir Leon, this is the one I was wanting. This thing fires up the lights dim and the dog runs into the other room. Got about ten pounds of grime off of it today.

Any body out there have any experience with the variable speed part?
Looks like it is in high speed now, if you turn the handle while it is running it springs back to the high speed mark. It won't stay where you move it to. No leaks. The pulley next to the motor is up next to the motor.

A lot of questions on the hightower, not priced because if the full size lathe has to me working right before it can be sold. Feel free to make an offer, had 20 pms already about it. Just can't sell it till I know I have something to replace it with.
Thanks for looking and asking,
steve
 
tool posts

If you wish to sale the tool posts separately then please pm me a price.
I would be interested in 4 or 5.
 
Step 1
Order VFD

Step 2
Remove all varispeed components "minus the outboard pulley and belt that drives the spindle" make bushing for motor shaft to outboard cog pulley for direct drive and remount motor.

Step 3
Throw varispeed in garbage or sell on ebay

Those stubborn purists who want to keep the old drive deal with constant noise and maintenance.
 
Well, got the VS to work, its not fixed, but it does work. When I moved the VS lever you could see the fluid raise and lower in the tank. I plugged the fill hole and slowly moved the arm, it was stiff, but it started to turn. when I let it go it stayed put. I moved it some more and the motor ramped up.

Now the bad part, there is a small allen screw on the top, see picture. It started leaking fluid from there. if I tighten the screw it spins, but if I back it out it will come out. I didn't remove it. I ordered the book for the lathe, so don't know the screws purpose, pretty sure it shouldn't leak..lol

anyone know anything about this?

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I have 2,5914's and know of a number of others who use them. The variable speed is best removed and replaced with a VFD or as I did with a DC motor. The VFD is better.
 
I went on eBay just to look at them, are they hard to convert and what model would you all recommend using. Never messed with any equipment that used them. Looks to pretty nice. Set frequency and your done as far as running it. When I was looking for a full size lathe I found a few that had the vfd's already on. I haven't researched it on here, probably a thread or two. Thanks for the help,
Steve
 
The VFD is the only way to go.

As Jake said, just get rid of all the VS stuff and direct drive the motor to the spindle. This may take a little engineering, but it's well worth it.

Here's a good VFD that is pretty user friendly and works very well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HITACHI-WJ2...032?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f497de58

You wire it to single phase 230, and it will output 3 phase for you. You can program acceleration and deceleration as well as RPM. It should have a 3 wire connection for forward, reverse, and off. It's easy to hook up to a normal lathe control switch. You can control the RPM directly with the buttons on the front, or you can wire in a remote potentiometer . It just depends o where you mount the VFD.

You won't need any phase converters any more.


Royce
 
I did a full retrofit on a 5914 in about the same shape yours is in and the motor swap / VFD was easier than cleaning/painting the lathe.

Royce suggested a good VFD. I have no experience with those but I can tell you the GS2 from automation direct is stupid simple to get going and really cheap.

There are slots in the frame that hold the motor mounting brackets that will need to be lengthened with a die grinder so that you can move the motor up and down to accommodate the factory belt length.

The id on the smaller cog puller will be bigger than the motor shaft so you will need to make a bushing. Other than that it should be really self explanatory once you get it apart.
 
LGSM3 said:
I did a full retrofit on a 5914 in about the same shape yours is in and the motor swap / VFD was easier than cleaning/painting the lathe.

Royce suggested a good VFD. I have no experience with those but I can tell you the GS2 from automation direct is stupid simple to get going and really cheap.

There are slots in the frame that hold the motor mounting brackets that will need to be lengthened with a die grinder so that you can move the motor up and down to accommodate the factory belt length.

The id on the smaller cog puller will be bigger than the motor shaft so you will need to make a bushing. Other than that it should be really self explanatory once you get it apart.
Click to expand...


Jake

I just looked up that GS2 and I think I'll try it out for my next project.

Looks pretty good, and the price is great too.

Royce
 
RBC said:
Jake

I just looked up that GS2 and I think I'll try it out for my next project.

Looks pretty good, and the price is great too.

Royce
Click to expand...

I can't stand push buttom freq. adjustment.
I love the built in knob style. Got one on my spindle. Will never go for push button again. Got mine from UGRA but looks like Jake found a better source.
Jeesh, $186 for 110V 1PH 3PH output ? $251 for 2HP version ?
Throw away the routers and vari-speed controller.
Installing an idler on that 5914 and a lever would probably make it a little safer and more convenient too. Use the lever and idler as clutch.
Linkless belt maybe.
Thanks Jake.

I wouldn't sell the CH lathe yet if I were you Steve. It might set you behind while you're working on the 5914.
 
I don't know, been moving right along, have a bunch of it stripped and a lot of the painting done. Guess sleep will be coming soon lol. Damn I'm excited. May not stop till its done. This thing doesn't look like the same machine. Taking off every part, cleaning, stripping, painting. Holy crap there is a lot of parts.
Hightower is on the way out, days are clicking down. Probably will order the 6 jaw chuck tonight or tomorrow.
Cant stop, cant stop.
 
JoeyInCali said:
I can't stand push buttom freq. adjustment.
I love the built in knob style. Got one on my spindle. Will never go for push button again. Got mine from UGRA but looks like Jake found a better source.
Jeesh, $186 for 110V 1PH 3PH output ? $251 for 2HP version ?
Throw away the routers and vari-speed controller.
Installing an idler on that 5914 and a lever would probably make it a little safer and more convenient too. Use the lever and idler as clutch.
Linkless belt maybe.
Thanks Jake.

I wouldn't sell the CH lathe yet if I were you Steve. It might set you behind while you're working on the 5914.
Click to expand...



Joey

From what it looks like, the GS2 does have a built in potentiometer in the keypad.

Also, it looks like the keypad can be separated and mounted remotely. That way you can put the VFD out of the way, and mount the keypad in a convenient location for use.


Royce
 
I will check into that drive system, but not had a second to study what is involved. Really interested, but sort of brain dead right now. If one of you that has converted one, I would love some help and info if anyone wants to steer me along when that time comes. Right now my major push is re painting and the cleaning. I have serious OCD, shop has to be in order or Im spastic. At the moment, its a total wreck, not to mention the machine being dirty and not running. I had to remove some walls to make room, everything is a mess. Making headway, but no where near a place where My brain can stop, not to mention getting back to building cues.

You guys are a blessing and thank you all, for everything, every comment you all make help to guide us and lets the industry grow as a whole. Cant say enough good things about this forum and every one of you all, mean that guys.

OCD kicking, got grease on my key board, back to cleaning.

Steve
 
we'll see if we can get Searing to show off. He did a full retrofit on a 5914 and its the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Bet theres not another one on the planet as clean as his.
 
I know, heard stories about that one, would be sweet to see it, heck would love to see any 5914 that's used for this type of work. Very sweet machine.
steve
 
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