Making A parts with lathe
 

Does anyone here makes (or made) his own model A parts with a lathe ?
If so, what did you fabricate ? (pictures are always nice to see).

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Custom bushings for the steering sector output was one case.

The bushings they sell do not seem large enough, at least the ones I bought, for new sector shaft. That is the sector shaft fit in without needing to hone to size. I reground a very slightly worn (a bit over .001") shaft and made a bushing that was honed to fit the smaller diameter.

I have made some tools up here and there. Usually to fix stuff most people dont fix.

I have a short be Southbend 9" Model A.

If anyone is interesting in getting a lathe just check craigslist every day. You never know what shows up- CHEAP. I got one that had a little bit of way wear for $300 with some tooling. A guy at work got one that was basically new for $300. Bought another for $300 for the metal table and the 6 jaw chuck. Sold the lathe for $325 a few years later when my brother picked up an almost new 4 1/2' bed SB 9 for, yes you guessed it $300. I have to say, usually the SB 9 in decent shape can sell for $1000 with some some tools.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

I was recently in need of some throttle plates for Model B Zenith carbs, not available through normal sources, so I figured out how to make them on the lathe. Now I can restore the ones with bad throttle plates. ( People thought that it was a good idea to drive a punch on the plate to loosen a stuck shaft.)


Mark

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

I use our lathes for making all type of parts for our Model A Fords. I have restored worn out Model A shocks using my lathe. Parts that were worn out beyond use have been welded up, and then I turned them back down to like new specifications. Door pins, brake rod pins, spring shackle bushings, drive shaft seal area restoration, speedometer drive gear speed adapter restoration, special bolt sizes, and the list goes on and on. The lathe is also useful in building those special tools one needs during the restoration of his Model A Ford.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

The unique thing about a lathe is it's the only tool that can reproduce itself. An amazing fact, even if only partially true. Most of the time I am using my South Bend 9" is to make tools to work on the Car. Bushing drivers, a contraption held in a vise to mount a wheel and indicate run out, The Barrett tool for centering brake shoes, tool for fuel level, tools for using an I beam when measuring and straightening frames, and toe gauge. Having more fun on the lathe than working on the car.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

A well equipped lathe is a very versatile tool. Turning, drill, knurling, polishing, chasing threads. When I started my apprenticeship in 1967, the lathe was the first machine I trained on. My shop lathe is a 1960s Clausing Colchester, 13" with a 48" bed. I bought it in 2001. At that time, used small lathes were more expensive than larger lathes. Guys with home shops don't have space for a 20" x 84" machine.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Yeah, ...and how does a 3D Printer fit into the 'only tool reproducing itself' comment??? :D :D


.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

I think the most important tool we can all agree on is the media/sandblaster...

Then press

Then lathe in my book

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Brent: You beat me to the question (I think). I would like to know if any of the suppliers use a 3-d printer to make molds for things that they currently sell. Alternatively, has anyone here done it in their own shop, and if so, on what?

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

There seems to some little job I do on the lathe most days. Some small and easy, some a challenge. Those little 1/4" balls for the throttle linkages when I make a new linkage after fitting a downdraught carburettor would be about the simplest I've done recently. Sometimes, I surprise myself with what I remember from school days when we were taught the basics. I'd be lost without my lathe!

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Grinding a crank shaft in a lathe.

I have used my lathe to make many parts for my A's

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Hey George,
Your skills and creations are amazing...to me !


Timely subject this is. Today, I went to help an older timer with one of his projects.
He is a former aircraft machinist and marine. He makes small parts while I watch at times. He makes it seem so simple.


Well, today, I made my first part ever on one of his large lathes ! Wow, fit perfect. He stood by and verbally guided blind hands to success. First he went thru a litany of the machine part names/nomenclature(?).
This guy builds almost everything that he needs for a car, very custom.


He smiles as I tell him of the crude tools/methods that I use to make something and/or something to fit something i.e.- grinder/vise/hand tools.


Wonder if I need to get a lathe now !!!

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

I have a South Bend 9"

I have made many tools and parts.
Tools such as bushing drivers and for setting up rear end gears.
Parts such as thrust washers for distributors.
Have machined 7 tooth steering shafts for new lower bushings
Have bored out 2 tooth sector housings for a seal (using an expanding arbor that I made on the lathe).
Have used it to check runout on drum hub flanges

I am sure there is more...it is a great tool to have.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

In my day, that quote originally was meant to read: "The milling machine is the only machine that can duplicate it's self". Now you also have the digital duplicating machines too. I also use our lathes to turn down the commutators of the model A Ford's starters and generators.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

I chucked up the gears in my trans in a lathe to get them nice n square. Just kept slowly creeping in till it was just barely cutting all the way across the gear tooth. Very quiet trans now that shifts like it has synchros.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Make special model A tools, rework reproduction parts to make them fit, weld up and turn down wore original parts. Repair parts that the wife brings home from work. You can chuck a tight pickle jar lid in it and unscrew the jar. Face flywheels.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

My answer is yes you need a lathe. There is not much you can not do on a lathe.
make sure you get a 4 jaw chuck, that is what I use most of the time.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Ditto on the 4-jaw chuck. Having both inside and outside jaws is nice too. Even better is a collet set.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

I think Tod is using 3-D printing in making some of the molds for his heads.

Re: Making A parts with lathe
 

Used my old Montgomery Wards (Logan) to make my babbitt molds for T,A,B and V8. Really don't like those other ones, just A's.:)

Undercut the oil pump shafts and any other thing that seems in need of a lathe.