Yet another annoying Lathe question

B

BlackSab74

New member
I've spent quite a bit of time here lurking the past couple of years, figured it was finally time to register. I'm primarily a player, but I've always wanted to give cue building a shot.

I've been building up a nice stash of wood for probably 5 or 6 years. My main focus is wood working and some guitar building, but alot of my exotic woods would make some nice cues. Actually, collecting wood is probably more of hobby than actually building anything :grin:

I currently have an old 1940s Logan 10x36 sitting in my basement. Decent condition, nice ways. bit of backlash in some of the bits, but I usually can work around it. I could probably tighten it up a bit. The downside... it's got like a 2/3" bore.

I'm looking at old Clausing 13s and 15s. 3000lb machines. Not so much for just cue building, but so that I can handle larger metal working projects. I'm always finding something that I just can't handle on my Logan.

I'd like some opinions about lathes that have < 36" between the centers. Some of these 1960/70s Clausings have 30 (760mm)" between the centers, but otherwise look like fantastic machines. I sort of want to find a "buy once, and never have to buy again" machine.

Any builders out there using these shorter lathes?
Should I just wait until a 40" or 50" pops up?
 
You can use your Logan for turning between centers and buy a short 1.4" spindle bore machine to roll joints with. If you are addicted to buying wood now. You will soon be addicted to buying lathes. I have quit a few lathes, but that is the first place I go when I hit Craigslist!

Welcome to the addiction!

Larry
 
Lathe

An 11x36 with 1 3/8 bore will do everything you need, 40" would be nice, variable speed will save a lot of time, six jaw chuck a must..so wait for the right machine :)

Mario
 
BlackSab74 said:
I've spent quite a bit of time here lurking the past couple of years, figured it was finally time to register. I'm primarily a player, but I've always wanted to give cue building a shot.

I've been building up a nice stash of wood for probably 5 or 6 years. My main focus is wood working and some guitar building, but alot of my exotic woods would make some nice cues. Actually, collecting wood is probably more of hobby than actually building anything :grin:

I currently have an old 1940s Logan 10x36 sitting in my basement. Decent condition, nice ways. bit of backlash in some of the bits, but I usually can work around it. I could probably tighten it up a bit. The downside... it's got like a 2/3" bore.

I'm looking at old Clausing 13s and 15s. 3000lb machines. Not so much for just cue building, but so that I can handle larger metal working projects. I'm always finding something that I just can't handle on my Logan.

I'd like some opinions about lathes that have < 36" between the centers. Some of these 1960/70s Clausings have 30 (760mm)" between the centers, but otherwise look like fantastic machines. I sort of want to find a "buy once, and never have to buy again" machine.

Any builders out there using these shorter lathes?
Should I just wait until a 40" or 50" pops up?
Click to expand...

If you are thinking 'one and only lathe' a 30 inch just isn't long enough.

36 between centers is plenty long enough MOST of the time,
but occasionally will require some maneuvering that is inconvient.

You are certainly on the right track with Clausing. A 13 x 40 is nearly
'ideal', but far from being a necessity.

My humble suggestion:

It sounds like you don't aspire to make a living from cue making, so,
you could make 1000 cues on your logan. First, if you don't have a
steadyrest, get one 'with all deliberate speed'.

Make a handfull, or two, of cues. By then you should have a good
idea of how far you want to go into cue work, and how many limitaitons
you can stand to live with. Look at the idea of using a 4 jaw chuck
mounted in a steadyrest.

If you do get serious about cues, don't be too surprised if you wind
up with half a dozen lathes.

Dale
 
Wait until you find what will work. 30 inch between centers is totally useless for a primary lathe unless you remove the chuck as it takes up 4-6 inch of that 30" and the carriage will not travel far enough either. 36" is the bare minimum.

Dick
 
thanks for the replies folks. guess i'll wait for a longer bed.

If I get the right deal on a shorter bed lathe like a monarch 10ee or another clausing i don't think it will be a waste. Though, I need another project like I need a hole in the head.

the search continues....
 
just thought i drop in for an update.... I bought a lathe two days ago, so I'll be ready to turn some wood soon.
Glad I didn't jump the gun on the 15x30". A 13x40 popped up on craiglist for $1400 the other day a couple of miles from my job. Took a ride over and got it for a $1000... time will tell if its worn out, I didn't have time to fuss around with an indicator or anything.

it's seen daily use at a shop, but hopefully it's not a piece of junk. Didn't look beat up, but you never know. The owner is going to load it onto a trailer next week.

Its got some electrical issues, which is why they wanted it gone... but I think I can sort it out.
 
BlackSab74 said:
just thought i drop in for an update.... I bought a lathe two days ago, so I'll be ready to turn some wood soon.
Glad I didn't jump the gun on the 15x30". A 13x40 popped up on craiglist for $1400 the other day a couple of miles from my job. Took a ride over and got it for a $1000... time will tell if its worn out, I didn't have time to fuss around with an indicator or anything.

it's seen daily use at a shop, but hopefully it's not a piece of junk. Didn't look beat up, but you never know. The owner is going to load it onto a trailer next week.

Its got some electrical issues, which is why they wanted it gone... but I think I can sort it out.
Click to expand...

Congrats and good luck!

Kelly
 
BlackSab74 said:
just thought i drop in for an update.... I bought a lathe two days ago, so I'll be ready to turn some wood soon.
Glad I didn't jump the gun on the 15x30". A 13x40 popped up on craiglist for $1400 the other day a couple of miles from my job. Took a ride over and got it for a $1000... time will tell if its worn out, I didn't have time to fuss around with an indicator or anything.

it's seen daily use at a shop, but hopefully it's not a piece of junk. Didn't look beat up, but you never know. The owner is going to load it onto a trailer next week.

Its got some electrical issues, which is why they wanted it gone... but I think I can sort it out.
Click to expand...

What brand lathe is it? With proper maintenance, which it certainly should have received in a metal cutting environment, it is probably good for 40 or more years. I have a 12-40 Jet built in 83 from a machine shop that I bought for 1200.00 that I have had absolutely no problems with. It runs as good now as the day it was made.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
What brand lathe is it? With proper maintenance, which it certainly should have received in a metal cutting environment, it is probably good for 40 or more years. I have a 12-40 Jet built in 83 from a machine shop that I bought for 1200.00 that I have had absolutely no problems with. It runs as good now as the day it was made.

Dick
Click to expand...

Clausing Colchester 13x40. This isn't it, but its similar to this:
2lathes%20006.jpg
 
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