WOO HOO!!! Got my Mini Lathe today!!!

[SDale]

I got home from the cemetery and say 2 boxes on my front proch. A long that looked like 2 B3's and a really BIG one that said Cummins Tools on it!!!

Needless to say, I brought them in as fast as I could & got to work on the lathe. I cleaned at LEAST a gallon of oil off of it! After cleanin, I gave it a proper lube and wipe down, assembled all the goodies and checked how far out the jaws on the chuck were. Not too far at all! They were only out by about .008" . Clamped my dremmel with a stone to the tool post and evened up the jaws a bit. They look good now!!!

Now I just gotta find some material to start turnin!!!

[Big_Bill]

Well Sam,

Looks like your fun is cut out for you now !

Three new toys in one day, heck I try to space them out some.

I couldn't take that much happiness in one day !lol

Have fun buddy, remember Safety First, or was it measure twice, cut ounce ?

[SDale]

Don't know about fun yet.... My across the street neighbor saw me bring my welder in the other day, and was watching my lathe so no one would walk away from it. He's been over here for the last few hours havin me weld stuff for his bike. He hasn't figured out what he wants turned yet though!

Hopefully he comes back tomorrow with a 6 pack!

[shadow]

Congrat's guy, watchout you might become the fixit guy for the block hehe.Ed

[Big_Bill]

Hay Sam,

Send him home ! I do that to all my neighbors, there a stuck up bunch of asses that only visit when they want something.

I have maybe two good neighbors, one for sure, that comes over to help when he sees me working on something. He helped me cut down a 40' pine tree in my front yard that started to blow over. I'll help him anytime, a good guy that tries hard.

The rest stop by, say hello, and ask by the way do you have ? I tell them yes I do, do you know it woud be very handy for you to have one ALSO, I don;t know what I would do without mine ! And sometimes that works, sometimes I must be more direct, and inform them that I follow Ben Franklin's teachings, of not being a borrower or a lender, ever !

The best with your new tools Sam !

[Big_Bill]

Hay Sam,

What do you have a Tig Welder ? I'll be right over ! Hehehe

Sam, I was a "good neighbor" many years ago, but when I had to go after my tools,
 and then be told that Ralph has it, I lent it to him, I knew that you wouldn't mind ! And when Ralph said that he didn't have it ! Everything came to a screeching halt ! NEVER MORE !
 

[SDale]

I mave a Multi-Process welder that I had at work. MIG/TIG/ARC. I also bought a dedicated 110V Lincoln Electric MIG.

I understand the good neighbow thing. I don't lend out tools, I allow them to use my tools inside my garage or in my driveway. I don't let ANYONE take my tools off the property! Went through that coupla time...Never again!

Nah, I ain't sendin Paul Home! He's a good guy. He mowed my lawns when I was gone for 2 weeks, fed my dogs etc. He helps me out just about whenever I need it (and he's home), lets me use his 4 Post Lift for oil changes. We're also ridin buddies. The youngest 2 guys on the block, so I guess thats why we get along!

[Big_Bill]

I knew you had to have a Mig or a Tig to weld the bike, and that's a tough job with the aluminum/ magnesium blends. Too hot and it goes to puddles.

And did I hear you say your neighbor has a four poster lift ? I'll be right over ! LOL

Well I wish you and yours a Happy Easter Sam.

[SDale]

LoL yeah, he rebuilt his garage about 2 years ago and raised the ceiling about 4 feet so he could put in the lift. I've used it a NUMBER of times! Pulled & rebuilt the motor in my Mustang with his lift!  

He gave me a remote for the opener so I can use it when I need it. I did the same with my garage. We swap stuff back & fourth. One of those "Scratch my back..." things. He just needs to learn to weld so I don't have to do it FOR him!

Happy Easter to you too Bill!

One Achilles heal area on the SIEG 7x12 lathes  is the power supply.  Mine let the smoke out around two months after I got it, Cummins sent another one no problem.  However a good site to bookmark is http://www.unclerabid.com/ if you go out of warranty.

Cheers
Mark

[SDale]

OoOoOO!!! That's good to know!

What usually causes the power supplies to go out???

SDale - 5/3/2007  6:17 AM

OoOoOO!!! That's good to know!

What usually causes the power supplies to go out???

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1221&category=5

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1223&category=1070498684

The only other modifications I have made is removal of the sheilds and turned the back side of the carrage handwheel so I could turn up to the headstock.   l also bought the modified compound rest  and put the original one away to help reduce chatter.

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1677&category=1

In truth though the Sieg 7" x X" lathes are treated just like the B3's they are a starter kit that works out of the box but with some hand work can be improved significantly.  

http://littlemachineshop.com/Info/getting_started.php?FileName=GS_MiniLathe_01.htm&d=0|1|2

Oh and I did get the chinese quick change tool post from Cummins, they had switched from RBM to Sieg and had the old picture (Years ago), when I called to ask why it had the turret tool post they sent out this off a broken return machine.  (For a container importer I have been amazed how responsive Cummins has been on the few problems I have had as usual YMMV)

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1147

I have to disagree with Chris at LMS, its not worth $50, you would be far batter off buying a proper Alloris knockoff or just get by shimming tools.

Cheers
Mark

[SDale]

Thanks for the info!!!