Thread: Techinspector Have you seen a 12ft Leblond lathe?

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I've got a flat bed picking up a 1930's leblond metal lathe.
I've been talking to this buddy of mine for a couple years
about it. He used to have his own company using it to
rebuild water pumps mastercylinders and things like that.
Well he told me the other day it was my last chance since
someone else was interested in purchasing it.
Not a good time for me since I just under went surgery
last week to have a bag installed.
But I didn't want to miss my chance and it was a good price
with all the tooling and has a new motor for 8 hundred.
Can you recomend any good training books for it. Kurt

Wow Kurt, I wouldn't know where to begin. I was taught 50 years ago by my dad and the Shop teacher at high school.

Here's a book written by LeBlond, might be a good place to start. Not the size lathe you have in mind, but I suspect most components would be close to the same in their operation.....
http://www.amazon.com/Running-Regal-...8508510&sr=1-3

biggest issue with a 12 ft lathe is getting it perfectly, perfectly level(did I say perfectly level?)
watch the speed

and don't ever leave the chuck wrench in the hole because if you do and start the machine it will throw it at you!!!!!

Go towww.smartflix.com

Go to www.smartflix.com

Sorry

Thanks Everyone: I guess I'll order the book tomorrow and start reading when I get it.
Got all kinds of stuff I what to try out on this thing. Nothing like a new toy? Kurt

12 foot that a big old girl you can do drive shaft s from a shool bus in that one . how much swing do you have ? i have had two smaller lathes.i sold one both very old but still works great. i use it all the time to make parts or tools i can swing 14 but i never do anything that big. i was looking for more swing to do rims and drums .there was one down the road from my shop that must had a 24 face plate short bed. the guy was closeing his shop. first thing i ask about was his lathe .he said he gave it to his son .i was happy in one way i started to think .if he said yes .how the hell was i going to move it was BIGand made back when iron was cheap she was all iron and all no tin

I would love to see some picture of the lathe. Sound like an incredible tool!!

Hey Kurt, let me know when you get it up and running and learn how to use it. Whenever I need something turned on a lathe, I'll bring it over and we can play.

Mike

i am sure there is guys on hear tell you how to get it moving the older lathes are all about the same for feed cross and feed speed just do not move any speed gears on a roll

Ya before I even turn it on I'm gonna do alot of reading.
This way I won't mess anything or myself up.
It might be hard to reach the cut off switch if your at the other end.
Kurt

Originally Posted by vara4

it might be hard to reach the cut off switch if your at the other end

........:lol:

Had a friend that was a machinist and had a long pig tail hair.
One day he came home with a bald spot like me, if you know what
I mean. Kurt

did it grow backmine has a flat belt and open gears to get things put in and taken off as well

Some of it did but not all.
He could not reach the cut off switch.
Kurt