I bought a lathe off cl last week for $400 plus a gas/delivery tip for the guy who brought it over from ptown (1.5 hrs one way). From the pic's I swore it looked like a south bend but could find nothing in the casting. Went with it anyway as the price was right for where I'm at.
Turns out it was home made by a guy in Pdx. back in the day... what day I have no idea, other than his name turns up back in the 40's and later in the 60's as a businessman. I ran some run out tests and it seems to be within accepted tolerances but I'm not really qualified to say that as fact. my dial indicator is in mm and built for very fine values i.e. recording equipment and my starett doesn't mount to my base. Still waiting for the one I ordered to get here.
I can turn hardened steel pins (think backhoe bucket) down slightly (a few thousandths) with the tool post... and majorly (several tenths) with the angle grinder add on I built for it.
Why hardened steel pins? They were laying in the mud at the recycle center when I went looking for scraps to play with. With them were a bunch of drill bits and assorted large taps.
Turns out the large drill bits are JT2 (my tail stock size) and after cleaning and some dressing up are way worth the 20 bucks I gave for the lot.
I'm just learning (YouTube School of Machinists Knowledge)as I go. There are no schools or classes to attend, so when I have a question I can usually find answers online. At some point I'll score some Al or bronze and find out how things go with a more appropriate material. I think I see some bushings that need made in my future.
