Lathe Spindle Indexing / Multi Start Threads

[@bradgotschall3259]

Steve, just now got a good look at your lathe. I’ve got a Hendey 16x54 to put together. Got it in pieces from a friend’s estate. Looking forward to putting the puzzle together in the future. I’m not a trained machinist so wasn’t familiar with Hendey till the previous owner showed it to me. What a beast of a machine with some nice features too. Great explanation of multi leads and indexing on the Hendey and others as well. Some day in the future I might look you up when I start putting my puzzle together 😊

[@ColKorn1965]

We had to cut a 4 lead, internal and it's external mate, left-hand, square thread 3 months ago here at work. First time I have ever done that. I would have like to have seen this video before we worked the procedure out ourselves.

[@WatchWesWork]

Those Hendey lathes had some cool thread cutting features. The lead screw dog clutch, the cross slide depth stop, and apparently the spindle indexing. I never knew about that one though. My Mori Seiki can cut multi start threads. Of course, I do have to copy the G76 line and change one number...

[@SteveSummers]

Love thread cutting on a Hendey, It seems as if the design of my machine was centered around threading and indexing. I don't have a lot of experience indexing on other lathes but I am sure there is a way with about any machine, guess it just depends on how bad you want to do it. Very nice video on the slotter Wes, Thanks for watching

[@WatchWesWork]

My dad has an ancient tie-bar Hendey that he keeps around for tool room type work. I don't think it has that index feature, but I could be wrong. I've never had to cut a multi-start thread. It does a nice job of threading though. Much faster and easier than any other lathe I have run.

[@SteveSummers]

Yeah, they're nice for threading that's for sure, I think some of the tie bar heads had the index collar if I am no mistaken.

[@VinceSaluto1]

Thanks for sharing STEVE that was helpful for learning multi start threads.

[@SteveSummers]

Multi start threads are not hard to do, with a little practice it becomes very easy. I guess the main thing is to take a test pass to make sure your positioning is correct b4 you cut, I have screwed up more than once not taking a test pass.

[@scotttaylor3049]

Great video Steve. Very interesting and educational.

[@SteveSummers]

Scott Taylor Thank you, glad you liked it

[@rc166honda]

Beautiful lathe, very handy attachment. Great videos, many thanks for posting.

[@erickieffer8440]

This was an interesting and informative video, thanks for sharing Steve.

[@mbbmidwest3556]

I made the same kind of indexer for my Monarch a number of years ago, expanding collet and all. Comes in handy if you have live tooling to mount on the compound.

[@ls2005019227]

Very cool video! I hadn't considered indexing the spindle. Thanks!

[@SteveSummers]

You are very welcome, Thanks for watching

[@lookcreations]

Fabulous video Steve - never seen the indexing on the rear end of a lathe - so its helped me with a few ideas to add the feature to my little lathe. Be hell of a lot easier for cutting divisions on dials etc. Very much like your indexing plate assembly with expanding plug in the spindle. yep even more envious of your lathe ! Thanks for taking the time to make the video and upload. Good to see your subscriptions climbing each week- must be a lot of little critters free of nasty endings around your way :-)

[@SteveSummers]

Thanks Mat, I could not find any other way to mount the plate to the spindle so expanding plug it was. The plug holds extremely well and will not slip. This indexing setup was one of the 1st things I built after I got the big lathe and I have used it several times, not so much now that I have the rotary table. As far as subscribers go , I seem to get between 0 and 10 a day on most days I get about 3-5 ,. I am happy to see the channel growing and hope it continues at this rate or even faster would be nice:) . I don't think most people realize how much work it is and how much time it takes to make a decent video, I know I was surprised at how long the editing takes. I know there are a few happy butterflys around the yard today . It's tough, that's for sure :) Thanks Mat, and Thanks for watching.

[@chandraengineers2744]

wonderful video. the gear tooth method & the indexing plate method is what's gonna work for me coz my lathe dont have the spindle indexed. thanks a lot ;)

[@kerrymullins3214]

Hey man, thanks for the instruction on spindle indexing. I just recently started watching your vids (and subscribed) and I noticed that your lathe looks familiar and realized that it is a Hendey. I also own a Hendey 12x36. I'm just a beginner at this game (lathes, that is...) there's not a whole lot of information on how to operate them fluently but watching you guys (one is 610 Bob) on youtube, I am accruing much needed knowledge to run my Hendey as it should. It looks like its had a rough life, but I like it. Patiently awaiting more of your instructionals on lathes... Thanks; I enjoy these videos immensely!

[@SteveSummers]

Thanks Kerry, My old Hendey seen better days , The bed of most old hendys is not hardened and wore pretty quick if they were neglected. The tail stock on mine is wore worse than the rest of the lathe but I plan to fix it one day. I have some lathe videos planed for the fear future so stay tuned, and thanks for watching. On a side note that 12x36 is a nice heavy lathe for a 12" swing, these lathes are heavy built that's for sure

[@juanrivero8]

I don't know of any other lathe that has a rear indexing feature. Some lathe! The factors of 36 are 2 and 3 and each appears twice so you have a lot of combinations, of course. Very nice videos. Now we can all run out and buy a Hendey -- oops, can't travel back in time :)

[@ColKorn1965]

Good Lord, we had a Hendey in the tech school that I went to that was old when I got there(1985-86)It was the best lathe I have ever used. :)

[@BillyTpower]

great video, I was wondering how that was done. Thankyou Steve

[@VinceSaluto1]

I enjoy watching your channel especially since I also own a Cincinnati 24 inch shaper. Definitely my favorite tool in the shop

[@SteveSummers]

To be honest, the shaper is my favorite also. I love running the big shaper. In my next video you will get to see the rotary table on the shaper, I'm just messing around with it but the end result is nice. Teaser :) Thanks for watching and commenting Vince.

[@lookcreations]

Vince - do you have some video of your shaper and maybe work you have done on it ? Hope so. Love those big shapers. Mat

[@SteveSummers]

I would also like to know what model you have? is it the heavy duty or the standard and what box does it have, Universal of standard box?.... Great to hear from someone else who has one, do you use it alot?

[@VinceSaluto1]

Matt-I do have so video and projects I'm just not sure how to post them so you would see them. Can't seem to do it here.

[@VinceSaluto1]

Steve my shaper is almost identical to yours it is 24 inch standard with the universal table and mine also has the power down feed on the tool head.

[@mayhem7090]

Good demonstrations, good job!👍

[@SteveSummers]

mayhem7090 Thanks, for watching, I am glad you liked it.

[@paullitrop256]

loved it.

[@shaperandi5158]

Thanks for sharing

[@SteveSummers]

Glad to hear from you Andi, and thanks for watching.

Really good explanation. You should train young mechanics.

[@billlee4838]

Hi Steve, Thanks to ABomb I recently found your channel. Really enjoy it and your down-home style. The indexing head you made for your lathe is nearly identical to one that came with my Dumore Versa Grinder, Milling and Slotting attachment for lathes. I had no idea what the index head was for till I found the manual for the Versa Grinder on VintageMachinery.com. I’ll keep watching, if you keep making your videos.

[@SteveSummers]

Thanks Bill, Glad to have you here, I had to make something that I could install easy and remove easy. I used scrap parts from anything I could find and it turned out to be a good tool. I have got lot of good info form vintagemachinery.com/ Thanks for watching Steve Summers

[@juampykoch4261]

Hi Steve, gratings from Argentina, I was wondering what brand of lathe is yours, keep those awesome vids coming. Big hug

[@MakinSumthinFromNuthin]

Nice video Steve, I dont know how your method would relate to my Atlas Lathe if at all but enjoyed your vid. Subbed :) PS, awesome looking lathe.....beast!👍🏼

[@SteveSummers]

Thanks, I have never run an atlas lathe but if you can disconnect the QCGB you should be able to index in some way. not for sure really. Thanks for the Sub, I am new and only been making videos for about 2 months so there is a lot for me to learn. I Subbed you also by the way, nice channel. Yeah the bug lathe is like a train car parked in the garage :)

[@MakinSumthinFromNuthin]

Yeah, I dont think disconnecting my QCGB will be happening anytime soon, I have a few workarounds for indexing simmering on the back burner...but the bull gear is indexed with 60 holes for basic stuff but I want to make new dials for the cross slide and compound and that needs 100. A 100 tooth sawblade will soon find its way onto the back of the spindle me thinks. LOL I am new to machining....love it. Thanks for the sub. I cant place your accent.....Alabama?

[@SteveSummers]

I live in Kentucky, is the accent that noticeable? :) I would in no way call myself an expert machinist either, just someone who has been machining some at work and a lot at home in my free time over the past 8 years.

[@SteveSummers]

Everyone starts somewhere, I consider myself a student also, always more to learn when it comes to machining. I am for sure not the hard nose machinist that you run in to from time to time, I am just having fun goofing in the shop with my machines. I try not to say "This is how it's done" I say "This is how I do it". A lot of times I don't have the tools I need and I got to make due with what I have, there's not alot of extra money left after the kids and the bills :) I am glad you stopped by, if you need anything just ask, I will be glad to help if I can. Steve Summers

[@SteveSummers]

Just watched a few videos on your channel and I must say you are very crafty, like your editing and how much work you put in to your videos, I'm still very new and a work in progress :) I'll get there.. Not that you need it from me with my small sub count but in one of my up coming video of mine I will give your channel a shout out. I am glad to have you here, I am interested in casting and such and may have some questions for ya.

[@Dzon_Jacek]

👍🙂

[@ClownWhisper]

I need to upgrade to a bigger engine lathe gear head lathe.... I learned on a small old Logan and I also have a hardinge dsm 59 with a LOT of tooling, but that is a totally different type of application as you know. I have limited space, what would you suggest as a home shop lathe at around 7 or 8 feet in length. I was thinking monarch as parts are easy to find. Anyone have any thoughts ? I love doing heavy tool Making and need rigutity !!!! I love hard turning

[@georgechambers3197]

Steve, good stuff! I knew what multi start threads were but never really knew how to go about making them. What can a guy do if your lathe doesn't have a disconnect for the drive train?

[@SteveSummers]

The only way I can think of is to remove the gear clock the spindle and replace, it will work as long as you are very careful. I had to do this on a little Chinese lathe I had several years ago. You will need to count the number of teeth on the spindle gear and figure what divisions you can get out of it. Thanks for watching Gearge

[@WatchWesWork]

One way you can do it is to turn the compound to be in line with the bed ways. Then you just move the compound to change the start point for each thread. The catch is that you have to plunge straight in with the cross slide instead of at 30 degrees. But, that's not nearly as bad as all the old book made it out to be. With modern carbide thread tools, plunging is fine up to say 10 TPI.

[@tacticalrabbit308]

One tooth is 10° arc out of 360° for a 36 tooth gear

[@clemwyo]

Steve, I think I have the dirty twin to your lathe. Mine was built in 1943 according to Hendeyman over on the Practical Machinist (he'll give you the year of manufacture if you give him the serial number). I posted a couple of videos of pulling the apron apart to repair some wear if you ever have to get that far into your lathe. Thanks for sharing. Craig

[@clemwyo]

I cut a lot of double and quad lead threads for drill rig tooling I use. The Hendey makes it a breeze. Craig

[@SteveSummers]

Yeah, thread cutting on these lathes is a breeze

[@SteveSummers]

Yeah, I ask him one time but forgot what he said , LOL I think mine is a 1942. They are a great lathe, mine is worn bad in the tail stock but I shimmed it and can still get good work off it. I would like to see those videos, post a link if you can. I would like to see what you did. Thanks for stopping by clemwyo. Steve Summers

[@nosedive44]

If you got a few mins I can show you how to properly used a lathe 😝

[@SteveSummers]

Crafty sure, I'm always ready to learn from the master.

[@nosedive44]

Seriously, that's an impressive tool you made

[@SteveSummers]

Crafty Thanks, the same method of indexing was used to make the pattern on the handle of the tap wrench. It was also a 3 start RH and LH thread. Thanks again Crafty, I hope you enjoy it.

[@nosedive44]

O wow thats cool! You realy did put a lot of work into it.

[@SteveSummers]

Crafty Yes, I would say about 7 + hours. I'm glad I got to do it, now I need to make myself one.😀

[@benbird2100]

Completely ignorant guy with no machine-tool experience here to ask some honest questions. So, by adjusting the angle (indexing?), the angle of the cutting implement (unsure what exactly its called) is changed, which in this setup allows for the cutting of new threads below the ones you already cut? The reason I'm asking about this is because I'm doing research on early automation (late 1940's through the 1960's), and I'm trying to familiarize myself with how lathes, mills, and other cutting, trimming, and other related machine tools work.

[@gregkernick9073]

Hey Steve are you contact by email

[@SteveSummers]

Yes it is [e-mail]