I have some one offering to give me a south bend lathe. He says it has a 13 inch swing. I'm a mechanically inclined person. Can I use this in anyway for gunsmithing and or gun tinkering? I usually take anything free, just trying to figure out the kind of stuff I can do.
Gunsmithing South Bend Lathe
- Thread starter SKS Guy
- Start date
Re: South Bend Lathe
SKS, I imagine there are things you could do with it that are gun related. However, if someone was going to give me a Southbend lathe that worked I would take it and find something to do with it.
Those are nice lathes to work with....
SKS, I imagine there are things you could do with it that are gun related. However, if someone was going to give me a Southbend lathe that worked I would take it and find something to do with it.
Those are nice lathes to work with....
Re: South Bend Lathe
yes there is a whole lot you can do with a lathe like that. Whoever is giving you a southbend lathe should become one of your very best friends if they are not already. Jeff..............
yes there is a whole lot you can do with a lathe like that. Whoever is giving you a southbend lathe should become one of your very best friends if they are not already. Jeff..............
Re: South Bend Lathe
South Bends have a great reputation - they were well made machines and most older machinists have nothing but good things to say about them.
The condition and wear are important to determine the level of precision that you will be able to achieve. But for the price you're paying, I'm sure you can find something useful to use it for.
If you want to see a nice one restored for gunsmithing, check out this link. http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2011/05/equipment-resurracting-south-ben-lathe.html
Post some pictures once you get it.
South Bends have a great reputation - they were well made machines and most older machinists have nothing but good things to say about them.
The condition and wear are important to determine the level of precision that you will be able to achieve. But for the price you're paying, I'm sure you can find something useful to use it for.
If you want to see a nice one restored for gunsmithing, check out this link. http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2011/05/equipment-resurracting-south-ben-lathe.html
Post some pictures once you get it.
Re: South Bend Lathe
Like a lot of things....knowing what the machine can do and how to do it are two different things. I always thought it would be interesting to try to thread the end of a barrel and see what I could make that would thread onto it.
Maybe go down to the local pawn shop and pick up something that I would end up destroying. Or just go to a steel shop and start that way.
Cant you just hear the collective grown from all the real smiths here?
Like a lot of things....knowing what the machine can do and how to do it are two different things. I always thought it would be interesting to try to thread the end of a barrel and see what I could make that would thread onto it.
Maybe go down to the local pawn shop and pick up something that I would end up destroying. Or just go to a steel shop and start that way.
Cant you just hear the collective grown from all the real smiths here?
Re: South Bend Lathe
Wait, he's GIVING you a South Bend? Oh boy, they're actually prone to inexplicable spontaneous combustion so I'll turn it over to the authorities for you
Nice pickup. It'll turn barrels by the bushel no problem. Is he giving you any tooling, holders or fixtures? Also, a little mechanical aptitude isn't gonna cut it for one of these. They're simple compared to modern CNC machines but still extremely complex; add the dangers of gunsmithing and it's not to be taken lightly.
I'd advise checking local community colleges for a machining course. It's more than making chips; you have to understand tooling, toolholders, fixtures, jigs, dogs, jaws, runout, indicators, measuring instruments, the list goes on and you want to have a solid understanding of each before attempting serious projects. For many of us it's an art form, meaning something that's learned and mastered over time, not a skill that one picks up overnight without effort.
Do your due diligence and you'll make very good use of that lathe, I just can't stress enough to get some formal education, even a night course a couple nights a week.
Wait, he's GIVING you a South Bend? Oh boy, they're actually prone to inexplicable spontaneous combustion so I'll turn it over to the authorities for you
Nice pickup. It'll turn barrels by the bushel no problem. Is he giving you any tooling, holders or fixtures? Also, a little mechanical aptitude isn't gonna cut it for one of these. They're simple compared to modern CNC machines but still extremely complex; add the dangers of gunsmithing and it's not to be taken lightly.
I'd advise checking local community colleges for a machining course. It's more than making chips; you have to understand tooling, toolholders, fixtures, jigs, dogs, jaws, runout, indicators, measuring instruments, the list goes on and you want to have a solid understanding of each before attempting serious projects. For many of us it's an art form, meaning something that's learned and mastered over time, not a skill that one picks up overnight without effort.
Do your due diligence and you'll make very good use of that lathe, I just can't stress enough to get some formal education, even a night course a couple nights a week.
Re: South Bend Lathe
Here's a good read about the 13" South Bend and gunsmithing.
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/gunsmithing/south-bend-13-not-good-choice-249620/
Here's a good read about the 13" South Bend and gunsmithing.
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/gunsmithing/south-bend-13-not-good-choice-249620/
Re: South Bend Lathe
I'm by no means a gunsmith, but I've got a lifetime of tinkering under my belt and we (Avidflyer and myself) picked up a SB13 a few months ago (there are some pictures somewhere in the gunsmithing forum [edit: here's the thread) and I love it.
It took a bit of time and money to convert it from its original configuration (turret lathe used in a foundary) to a more conventional engine lathe configuration (removed turret; added tailstock, compound slide, 3 and 4-jaw chucks, threading dial, and probably other stuff I can't remember) but it is a fine machine and I'm having a ton of fun learning the ins and outs of running it.
The spindle is a little long and I've yet to decide how to go about rigging it for through-the-headstock barrel work, but the 2 inch spindle bore will easily accept most barrels.
I worked for 9 years in a world-class machine shop (Owens-Illinois) with over 5 acres of shop floor, but I worked in the computer room. I did schmooze with the machinists quite a bit and I've got a former supervisor from the same shop as a mentor. He's got 30+ years of industrial machining experience and has taught me a lot.
In short, I can't say the SB13 is a good gunsmithing lathe, but it is a good lathe and you'll learn a lot.
I'm by no means a gunsmith, but I've got a lifetime of tinkering under my belt and we (Avidflyer and myself) picked up a SB13 a few months ago (there are some pictures somewhere in the gunsmithing forum [edit: here's the thread) and I love it.
It took a bit of time and money to convert it from its original configuration (turret lathe used in a foundary) to a more conventional engine lathe configuration (removed turret; added tailstock, compound slide, 3 and 4-jaw chucks, threading dial, and probably other stuff I can't remember) but it is a fine machine and I'm having a ton of fun learning the ins and outs of running it.
The spindle is a little long and I've yet to decide how to go about rigging it for through-the-headstock barrel work, but the 2 inch spindle bore will easily accept most barrels.
I worked for 9 years in a world-class machine shop (Owens-Illinois) with over 5 acres of shop floor, but I worked in the computer room. I did schmooze with the machinists quite a bit and I've got a former supervisor from the same shop as a mentor. He's got 30+ years of industrial machining experience and has taught me a lot.
In short, I can't say the SB13 is a good gunsmithing lathe, but it is a good lathe and you'll learn a lot.
Re: South Bend Lathe
He says its 10-15 years old and he has used it 10-15 times. Has a bunch of extra stuff for it.
He says its 10-15 years old and he has used it 10-15 times. Has a bunch of extra stuff for it.
Re: South Bend Lathe
Where can I pick it up? It would be worth the drive out to get it... so if you don't want it.. DIBS
Where can I pick it up? It would be worth the drive out to get it... so if you don't want it.. DIBS
Re: South Bend Lathe
Get some pics of it. I'm out your way now and again, I can help you with setups if need be.
Get some pics of it. I'm out your way now and again, I can help you with setups if need be.
Re: South Bend Lathe
SKS, if you have not gone out to http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/south-bend-lathes/ you might want to check into that forum. Even though some think its not perfect for gunsmithing there is a lot of good info.
Good luck with the new toy...
SKS, if you have not gone out to http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/south-bend-lathes/ you might want to check into that forum. Even though some think its not perfect for gunsmithing there is a lot of good info.
Good luck with the new toy...
Re: South Bend Lathe
I had an old South Bend shaper from the 1960s, and it was nicer than the Rockwell, old Clausing, and new Chinese machinery that I have owned.
The new South Bend Lathes are just ordinary Chinese lathes with a different paint job.
The old South Bend lathes are really nicely designed and built. They are more useful if the hole through the headstock has a diameter large enough for barrels to go through the headstock.
The old South Bend lathes may not be worth your time if they are broken or worn out.
But if you CAN fix them and maintain them, it is much more fun to work on something that was well designed and well built.
I had an old South Bend shaper from the 1960s, and it was nicer than the Rockwell, old Clausing, and new Chinese machinery that I have owned.
The new South Bend Lathes are just ordinary Chinese lathes with a different paint job.
The old South Bend lathes are really nicely designed and built. They are more useful if the hole through the headstock has a diameter large enough for barrels to go through the headstock.
The old South Bend lathes may not be worth your time if they are broken or worn out.
But if you CAN fix them and maintain them, it is much more fun to work on something that was well designed and well built.
