Also: "A grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't."
In my case, truer words wuz never spoke.
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Is it my turn? Anything to do with lathes, mills and other shop tools
In my case, truer words wuz never spoke.
I think I originally heard this in reference to carpentry work but later realized it relates to fabrication as well
"A little paint covers a multitude of sins"
"A little paint covers a multitude of sins"
Tip time.
The half nut carrier for the Atlas was broke in half. Musta been a one off, 'cause try as I might, the only ones I find are fastened with two fasteners... this one uses 4. So... J B Weld to the rescue.
Here's the tip... parchment paper. Take your piece and slather with your epoxy of choice (you'll not find better'n J B Weld for stuff like this) and set it on some parchment paper to cure. When it's dry, it lifts right off. No fuss, no muss.
The half nut carrier for the Atlas was broke in half. Musta been a one off, 'cause try as I might, the only ones I find are fastened with two fasteners... this one uses 4. So... J B Weld to the rescue.
Here's the tip... parchment paper. Take your piece and slather with your epoxy of choice (you'll not find better'n J B Weld for stuff like this) and set it on some parchment paper to cure. When it's dry, it lifts right off. No fuss, no muss.
Parchment paper is miraculous. If you didn't know, it's also impervious to Super Glue. In fact, I haven't found ANYTHING that sticks to it.
I've used wax paper to the same effect
and then the wife asks "WHERE'S MY PARCHMENT PAPER!?"...
Just be careful with it in a toaster oven. My daughter found out the hard way how flammable it can be if it comes in contact with a heating element.
Fortunately, it was a small fire...
Just be careful with it in a toaster oven. My daughter found out the hard way how flammable it can be if it comes in contact with a heating element.
Fortunately, it was a small fire...
Half Nuts for the Atlas finally showed up... late as usual. Very well made actually, and being brass... they'll outlast me.
Went to install 'em and quickly found out the carrier was wore out, the one I previously epoxied back together. With the half nuts installed there's so much play you can rotate 'em prolly about 15° off of true.
So, not being able to get a new carrier plate, I measured the gap between the nut and the sides it slides on. Turned out to be about .030" Scrounged some .032 aluminum in the basement and cut off a strip with the throatless shear.
Rigged up a contraption to hold it and epoxied in place.
Cut off the excess, did a little filing on the carrier and the nuts are snug as bug in a rug.
When I epoxied the carrier back together, I didn't add any reinforcements because I didn't think there was room in the apron when it's mated to the saddle. Turns out there's plenty of room, so I cleaned the epoxy off the edges and cut some more aluminum strips... and epoxied 'em over the broke edges.
And here it all is reinstalled on the apron.
Reinstalled the apron and went for the big test. Does the power feed work now? You bet your ass it does!
Went to install 'em and quickly found out the carrier was wore out, the one I previously epoxied back together. With the half nuts installed there's so much play you can rotate 'em prolly about 15° off of true.
So, not being able to get a new carrier plate, I measured the gap between the nut and the sides it slides on. Turned out to be about .030" Scrounged some .032 aluminum in the basement and cut off a strip with the throatless shear.
Rigged up a contraption to hold it and epoxied in place.
Cut off the excess, did a little filing on the carrier and the nuts are snug as bug in a rug.
When I epoxied the carrier back together, I didn't add any reinforcements because I didn't think there was room in the apron when it's mated to the saddle. Turns out there's plenty of room, so I cleaned the epoxy off the edges and cut some more aluminum strips... and epoxied 'em over the broke edges.
And here it all is reinstalled on the apron.
Reinstalled the apron and went for the big test. Does the power feed work now? You bet your ass it does!
Very nice!
Tanks!
Nice work, Sir! I was a little dubious about the original repair of the half nut retainer, but with the extra bracing it will outlast both of us.
Schweeeeet! Now you can create something extraordinary (as usual!). 
Tip time.
The half nut carrier for the Atlas was broke in half. Musta been a one off, 'cause try as I might, the only ones I find are fastened with two fasteners... this one uses 4. So... J B Weld to the rescue.
Here's the tip... parchment paper. Take your piece and slather with your epoxy of choice (you'll not find better'n J B Weld for stuff like this) and set it on some parchment paper to cure. When it's dry, it lifts right off. No fuss, no muss.
View attachment 339336
View attachment 339337
View attachment 339338
I don’t know the year of the change… I’m guessing when they added the power cross feed later in production it switched to the 4 bolt mount.
It would seem they made more early machines than the later but that’s based solely on what I seem to see for sale.
Nice one Jim. Watched your YT Video too.Half Nuts for the Atlas finally showed up... late as usual. Very well made actually, and being brass... they'll outlast me.
Went to install 'em and quickly found out the carrier was wore out, the one I previously epoxied back together. With the half nuts installed there's so much play you can rotate 'em prolly about 15° off of true.
View attachment 339388
So, not being able to get a new carrier plate, I measured the gap between the nut and the sides it slides on. Turned out to be about .030" Scrounged some .032 aluminum in the basement and cut off a strip with the throatless shear.
View attachment 339389
View attachment 339390
Rigged up a contraption to hold it and epoxied in place.
View attachment 339391
View attachment 339392
Cut off the excess, did a little filing on the carrier and the nuts are snug as bug in a rug.
View attachment 339393
When I epoxied the carrier back together, I didn't add any reinforcements because I didn't think there was room in the apron when it's mated to the saddle. Turns out there's plenty of room, so I cleaned the epoxy off the edges and cut some more aluminum strips... and epoxied 'em over the broke edges.
View attachment 339394
View attachment 339395
View attachment 339396
View attachment 339397
And here it all is reinstalled on the apron.
View attachment 339398
Reinstalled the apron and went for the big test. Does the power feed work now? You bet your ass it does!
And now...The Big Reveal!
Drove 120 miles to Boothbay Harbor with truck, trailer and grandson and came home with this:
An Atlas 3995 12 inch lathe. VERY nice condition if a little dirty but tight as bark on a tree and virginal ways except for a couple of little dings right up by the headstock. 110V, reversing drum switch and a pretty good stash of accessories:
3 jaw chuck, 4 jaw chuck, faceplate with dogs, steady rest, tailstock turret (which I understand is fairly rare) live center, a couple of Jacobs chucks, dead centers, multiple lantern-style tool holders, knurling tool, cut-off tool, boring bar and assorted chuck keys and doodads. Even has a lazy susan-style tool holder you can see at the upper right.
Also this big cabinet chock-a-block full of HSS, brazed carbide and insert style bits in various sizes and profiles. I shudder to think what it would cost to buy all that.
And finally, the original manual with full parts list and lube chart.
I'll spend tomorrow cleaning and re-lubing and swap out the lantern tool holder for the QCTP off my old lathe. Another benefit is that it'll take up about 2/3rds of the room of the old Seneca Falls while providing several times the capabilities.
While $1500 wasn't the steal of a lifetime, it was certainly a more than fair price for everything that was included.
EDIT: I notice in the first picture, I cut off the integral work light with a 3 piece adjustable arm. I think with a nice LED bulb that'll be REAL nice to have.
Drove 120 miles to Boothbay Harbor with truck, trailer and grandson and came home with this:
An Atlas 3995 12 inch lathe. VERY nice condition if a little dirty but tight as bark on a tree and virginal ways except for a couple of little dings right up by the headstock. 110V, reversing drum switch and a pretty good stash of accessories:
3 jaw chuck, 4 jaw chuck, faceplate with dogs, steady rest, tailstock turret (which I understand is fairly rare) live center, a couple of Jacobs chucks, dead centers, multiple lantern-style tool holders, knurling tool, cut-off tool, boring bar and assorted chuck keys and doodads. Even has a lazy susan-style tool holder you can see at the upper right.
Also this big cabinet chock-a-block full of HSS, brazed carbide and insert style bits in various sizes and profiles. I shudder to think what it would cost to buy all that.
And finally, the original manual with full parts list and lube chart.
I'll spend tomorrow cleaning and re-lubing and swap out the lantern tool holder for the QCTP off my old lathe. Another benefit is that it'll take up about 2/3rds of the room of the old Seneca Falls while providing several times the capabilities.
While $1500 wasn't the steal of a lifetime, it was certainly a more than fair price for everything that was included.
EDIT: I notice in the first picture, I cut off the integral work light with a 3 piece adjustable arm. I think with a nice LED bulb that'll be REAL nice to have.
Thats a jammy find I must say.
I’m sure that will get you back a few bucks.
I got it roughly in position today, and started on the cleanup. I've ordered a precision level - a cheap one, but better than a carpenter's level - to get it fully set up.
Moving the old Seneca damn near killed me, that sumbitch is HEAVY! Disassembled as much as I could and used a floor jack to get it on furniture dollies and rolled it out of the way. Not sketchy at all, no sir! My left pinky finger has always looked that way...
Started sorting and inventorying the tool steel that came with it. Something over 200 pieces of HSS and brazed carbide tools in 1/2, 3/8, 5/16 and 1/4 inch shank with multiple profiles. I doubt I'll ever need to buy another cutter.
Retrofitting my QCTP to the Atlas compound will take some minor modification, the slot on the Atlas is about half the width of the slot on the Seneca.
I took some pics of the Seneca and put it on Craigslist with an honest appraisal. Most likely customer is someone that has one and needs parts. It does have 3 and 4 jaw chucks and a steady rest which should sell, along with the motor conversion and a reversing switch.
Tomorrow is VA Clinic day so probably won't get much done.
Moving the old Seneca damn near killed me, that sumbitch is HEAVY! Disassembled as much as I could and used a floor jack to get it on furniture dollies and rolled it out of the way. Not sketchy at all, no sir! My left pinky finger has always looked that way...
Started sorting and inventorying the tool steel that came with it. Something over 200 pieces of HSS and brazed carbide tools in 1/2, 3/8, 5/16 and 1/4 inch shank with multiple profiles. I doubt I'll ever need to buy another cutter.
Retrofitting my QCTP to the Atlas compound will take some minor modification, the slot on the Atlas is about half the width of the slot on the Seneca.
I took some pics of the Seneca and put it on Craigslist with an honest appraisal. Most likely customer is someone that has one and needs parts. It does have 3 and 4 jaw chucks and a steady rest which should sell, along with the motor conversion and a reversing switch.
Tomorrow is VA Clinic day so probably won't get much done.
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Great score! As you say, not a steal, but a fair price for that lathe in good nick. Well equipped as well. As a point of reference, many years ago, I paid $600 for a Logan 820 with a 3-jaw, a turret tailstock, an unuseable 4-jaw, a lantern tool-post and no motor, in fair condition at best. No damage to the ways, but the rest of it was very dirty, poorly repainted. Once restored and equipped with a QCTP, quite a satisfactory machine for my needs.
Wordman
XS650 Addict
Nice! The Southbend I have came on those same legs.
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