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almarktool

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
For those of you using metal engine lathes, I keep trying to
determine if a 36" between centers is enough?
I will not be using the lathe to cut shafts

it would be used to do joint work, tips etc, gundrilling and
shaft cleaning , can anyone tell me for sure that this is going
to be too small, and if so why ?

Thanks
Mark
 
Well I have a 12x36 grizzly. It will do everything you mentioned except cleaning shafts . There is simply not enough room because the 36" length is determened with the chuck removed to the front of your tail stock. Then if you need to use a drill chuck then you more length.
 
If you are not going to be using it for building cues you'll be fine.
Once you start building cues, especially if you're going to be using live tooling, you'll need 40" between centers minimum.
Once you start live tooling, your drive centers and live centers get longer to allow for your tooling clearances.
Just my opinion.

Regards,
Frank
 
almarktool said:
For those of you using metal engine lathes, I keep trying to
determine if a 36" between centers is enough?
I will not be using the lathe to cut shafts

it would be used to do joint work, tips etc, gundrilling and
shaft cleaning , can anyone tell me for sure that this is going
to be too small, and if so why ?

Thanks
Mark
Click to expand...

A 36" lathe will do the job as long as you are working with 30" or under. I build my cues on a Standard Modern 36". You have to be carefull of the length of dead centres, live centres, etc. If I had a choice, I would opt for a 40".
I don't believe that all 36" lathes are built equal. I would put the chuck and a live centre on the tailstock and measure how much room you had. Make sure that the tailstock is not overhanging the ways.
On my lathe I occasionally have to hang the tailstock over the ways by an inch or two to make it work.
 
Jr's Farm said:
If you are not going to be using it for building cues you'll be fine.
Once you start building cues, especially if you're going to be using live tooling, you'll need 40" between centers minimum.
Once you start live tooling, your drive centers and live centers get longer to allow for your tooling clearances.
Just my opinion.

Regards,
Frank
Click to expand...

Frank,
I would only need if for doing what I mentioned as I have cnc to do everything with live tooling

Mark
 
JBCustomCues said:
Well I have a 12x36 grizzly. It will do everything you mentioned except cleaning shafts . There is simply not enough room because the 36" length is determened with the chuck removed to the front of your tail stock. Then if you need to use a drill chuck then you more length.
Click to expand...

Interesting....
Are you not using a live center? If you are, how long is it?

29" shaft
1" for maintenance drive
3-4" for live center

Still only adds up to 34" max......
Maybe I'm missing something.
 
Jr's Farm said:
Interesting....
Are you not using a live center? If you are, how long is it?

29" shaft
1" for maintenance drive
3-4" for live center

Still only adds up to 34" max......
Maybe I'm missing something.
Click to expand...

A 36 inch is tighter than a 40 inch but I've built many cues on one.

Dick
 
I think a 40 inch would be a better choice. Many 36 inch machines don't have enough carriage travel. Also many of them measure from the spindle and not from the front of the chuck.
 
I have 2 12/36 lathes and they work but if you are buying a new machine I would go for the 40 inch model. I have found the carriage travel to be the issue on most 36in lathes. Alot cannot cut 30inches without repositioning the cutting tool because the carriage runs into the end block that supports the worm gear and feed bars. Chris
 
so from what ever one is saying the 36" lathe should be fine since i will
not be cutting shafts on it correct ?
 
If you really want to turn between centers , a 40" will just be enough.
I have a 36 and it's a compromise.
Now, if Paul would send me his Sharp lathe...
 
I can cut a 30 inche shaft on mine without movint the router but it is very close. Be careful with the "I won't" talk. That is how most of us started. LOL
 
Jr's Farm said:
Interesting....
Are you not using a live center? If you are, how long is it?

29" shaft
1" for maintenance drive
3-4" for live center

Still only adds up to 34" max......
Maybe I'm missing something.
Click to expand...

Probably the chuck. I believe the 36" is measured without it.
 
36 in lathes

My Harbor freight 12x36 is barley enough to cut a shaft with a router. I use 30 inches for my standard shaft length. It does work, but no room for daydreaming when it is cutting under power. I drive my shaft with a dead center and use a live center in the tailstock. My belt driven JET 12x 36 has two inches more travel and more distance between centers, plenty for even longer shafts. A forty is easier to work with, as you can be less vigilant and still not run into the end of the travel while cutting, Yeah I did that: busted a gear and bent a shaft, a lesson well learned. 30 dollars later and a few hours getting to know how my machine came apart I was back in business. A forty inch lathe is usually heavier and bigger as well. That could cause some concern if you have to hoist a lathe down into a cellar.
 
Thanks for everyones input, the Lathe I was looking at is a Grizzy 4003G gunsmith lathe, it is very accurate and is only 36" and worst it only has 24" of carrigae travel, after reviewing all the specs of the machine, I decided that this will fit the bill perfectly, the ID spindle is machined finished, as well as the fact it has a #5 MT in the spindle nose this will allow a simple adaptor with a 5MT x drive pin at the spindle end, same thing on the tail stock end with a center, which should allow a 33" shaft between centers with no problem to be cleaned sanded or polished,
the key thing here was the fact that I am not cutting shafts on this machine, it is way eaiser on a cnc

MArk
 
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