[ZipSnipe]

Does anyone have a Craftsman/Atlas Lathe? How do you like it and what kind are things are you making with it?

[vulcom1]

I have had one for about 30 years. Have most of the attachments minus the taper jig. I use it often making parts for my model aircraft and other items mostly in aluminium. I have turned steel but only light cuts as it will bog down or snap something. Mine is powered with a 1/2hp motor which is not overpowering so nothing gets broke. Just recently purchased some 1/2 nuts and a couple of carriage gears which is not bad for the amount of time I have had it.
There is a group at Yahoo with a lot of info if you are having problem's or if I can help let me know.
John

[ZipSnipe]

Thanx Vulcom, I was at a local surplus place and they had about 6 pallets of lathe parts and I seen what resembled a Craftsman Lathe however I got to go back and see if they have everything that makes up the lathe. I,m debating if I should get it and I,m just seeing what peoples opinions are on them. Whats the biggest part you,ve been able to turn?

[2muchstuff]

I don't have an Atlas/Craftsman lathe but I do have a 1934 vintage Logan 10"x24" lathe with a 1/4 hp 3-phase motor. I bought it from a friend years ago who happens to own a machine shop for $100. He used to make aircraft parts on it for McDonell/Douglass. He had less problems with it than he did with his newer lathe made in Brazil. I got it because he needed the room for another press brake. After a few adjustments and cleaning I measured the spindle runout five times. Each time it came out to the same measurement, .00025". Not too bad for something that uses a leather belt for a drive belt. There is something to be said for the old machinery. I have turned cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, steel plastic and even berillium copper just to mention a few. The largest piece so far has been an 8-1/2" diameter by 14" long chunk of aluminum.

I would say if you can get it at a good price, get it. There are still parts around for it if any are needed.

[vulcom1]

I have turned most of the stuff mentioned and up to about 9 1/2" diameter.
My lathe is an Atlas TH54 and the TH means it has Timken bearings in the head. They are adjustable for run out and have only touched them twice. I use lots of oil. The longest piece I have turned was 3 1/2" steel 3/8" wall tube. This was for my EDM(sinker type) that will work on its own.
This is a picture of the setup.
John

[aggie_67]

Need to specify what size Atlas lathe. I had one of the 6" one when I was fresh out of college and it was a joke, Pot metal change gears, etc. Bent the shaft the 1st time I tried to turn brass. Tool dug in and shaft bent like a corkscrew!!!

Now have a 12" Atlas, don't have to worry about bending shafts but like a lot of vintage things wouldn't trust it for anything that needs percesion!!! Don't think it because it's an Atlas, think its the age.

[ZipSnipe]

Yeah I,m not sure if its the 6" or the 9" but I do remember the tooling was all big stuff, like the lathe cutters were all 1/2 x 1/2" , and the bed was about 3feet longI,m gonna check it out tomorrow..

[ZipSnipe]

Well it turned out its not a Craftsman Lathe its a Dunlop. I decided not to get it becuase it didn,t look like it had threading ability.

[sanddrag]

A local machine shop I frequent has an old Atlas 618 but it is in pretty rough shape. No change gears. Half nut won't engage the leadscrew properly. No chuck. No motor.