advice old milford woodturning lathe

[chris.p]

Hi there everybody, i'm new to this forum and woodturning in fact very new not tried it yet. I have an engineering background but i am now a builder/ property developer. I need some advice on a woodturning lathe i have aquired, it is a milford made in England, carnt find a date but the motor is dated 1973.
its a 3 phase but i do have a 240v motor in mind to adapt. there is a serial No on the lathe BEC 123913/11 if this means anything to anybody out there.
it needs some attention and i would like to refurbish it, i am looking for any more info on the lathe but have had no look on the internet, can any one help. if i new how to post an image i would, how do you do this.

Cheers Chris

 

[CHJ]

Not a name that immediately comes to mind I'm afraid but you could browse Lathes.co.uk to see if you can find it under another name.

Hosting pictures for forum posting is covered in the help sticky at the top of this forum

 

[Paul.J]

Can't help with the lathe Chris,but welcome
Edit-:
Just found This on another forum with some piccys if it's the same lathe as yours :?:

 

[Bodrighy]

Are you sure it's Milford, not Myford?

pete

 

[OldWood]

Chris
If it looks like the pictures of the one in Oz, then it certainly isn't Myford.

There are a number of similar style British made cast iron lathes of that period. In general they are of simple construction and built like tanks so take a lot to damage.

Can you expand on what you mean by 'requires some attention' as there are a number of us here from the 'mucky' side who can help with repairs.

Hang on to the 3 phase motor as you should be able to couple it up to single to 3 ph convertor and hence get variable spee. Look at the Drives Direct advert on the Lathes.co.uk website.

Rob

 

[chris.p]

Hi all, thanks for the reply's. it is definately a Milford and it is not exactly the same as the OZ one but is built like a tank and weighs a ton. it is still its original colour gray it looks sound with no major damage apart from the bed is a bit rusty and so is the chuck and various tools, but its all recoverable i think. the 3phase motor has seen better days though the bearings seem shot but i can get hold of a replacment 240v motor with matching speed and power no problem.
I just can not find any more info about the old girl, Please sombody tell me I have a bargain, I paid £120 for it and it came with a new belle mixer motor that the previous owner wanted to adapt, I have since sold that motor for £100.
It will be interesting when the lathe turnes for the first time for me as i have never wood turned before, better start collecting bits of wood.
I could e-mail pic's to anybody if thats any help.
Kind Regards Chris

 

[OldWood]

Hi Chris - Glad to hear that apart from the motor everything is actually OK, though having said that it is a little odd that the motor bearings are away - that does sound ominously like lack of maintenance of the greasers.

I'm a pretty recent convert and am probably not unique in thinking I can offer you advise !!! One thing I do reckon is that there are a lot of people who take up turning as it does look an attractive hobby - they spend money buying tools, etc., and probably books, and then they find that it isn't as easy as it looks and sharpening tools requires equipment and a bit of skill they haven't got too. Turning requires sharp, sharp tools and blunt tools just drive them to the 'put off' point, and then they sell up.

Please see if you can find a local club or someone to act as a kindly friend and guru. You do really need a bit of hands on guidance from a friendly wood-turner - either as a training day, or as part of a club. And also be prepared for a *bit* of expenditure in setting yourself up - yes by all means look around for wood to turn, but you also need to locate tools, and that includes calipers, centres, drive dogs, sharpening gear and so on.

In fact let me stop at that point and tell you to get yourself Keith Rowley's book "Woodturning A Foundation Course" - it's one of the best. You'll get it off Ebay for £12. That will give you a bit of an idea of the learning (and investment !) curve you have to go up.

All the best and I hope it works out for you so that you join us in the circular world.

Rob