LeBlond Lathe Restoration - Part 4: New Paint, Off With the Old, On With the New

A fresh coat of paint is making the LeBlond 12" Metal Lathe restoration really start to look good. The next in this restoration series for this new lathe in my machine shop. The old paint is stripped off using Citrastrip and a wire wheel and new Sherwin Williams Enamel is applied to the main castings....

[@Chris-Fennimore]

The first coat of a new paint job always looks fantastic. Color is a personal preference. That stripper worked better than I thought it would.

[@BasementShopGuy]

Thanks for the shout out. So glad you like it Keith. Let's ask Citristrip to sponsor us!

[@VintageMachinery]

And thank you for the tip on CItrastrip!

[@jaywest4102]

Enjoyed seeing a friend in there helping you with the stripping. I couldn't do a project without my friends, even though they double the time line and beer becomes a big part of the budget.

[@VintageMachinery]

LOL!

[@missyd0g2]

Nice job stripping the paint off. It takes patients, coffee, some music and more coffee. True labor of love.

[@VintageMachinery]

Funny. The truth is, I don't drink much coffee, particularly when it is 100 degrees in the shop! And while I do like to listen to music, when the camera is running the radio has to go off. So, it was mostly just a lot of patients - and sweating.....

[@centurialinc]

Looking mighty good! can't wait to see it running and making chips! Best Matt

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Matt - getting closer every day!

[@rtkville]

You are giving me inspiration to paint my lathe…..Maybe one day. I agree with your color choice that’s what I would have used. Excellent job!

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

That is looking great Keith! Looking forward to the next part!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@russtuff]

I even thought that second color was going to be to light but wow, it turned out great!

[@TyphoonVstrom]

Enamels always dry a little darker than they go on.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks - I am happy with it!

[@Patricksworkshop]

Great work Keith. Man with those temps in the shop i feel for ya. The color looks great and im so glad to see the progress moving forward

[@VintageMachinery]

It is very hot, but I guess I am somewhat used to it. Still looking forward to fall....

[@jasoncloutier4182]

looks good all painted up. nothing is better than a old American built lathe.

[@VintageMachinery]

I am farther along in real time and boy she is starting to look nice!

[@IronHeadMachine]

Top notch job Keith. Lovin these big machine projects. Looking forward to watching your scraping techniques

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

That is a hard hot job. Glad to see you are making a lot of progress. Keep on keeping on.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@markkoons7488]

Very nice. Thank you for demonstrating that I don't have to tear my machine down and vat strip the pieces. I feel a lot better.

[@TheTraakon]

While black with gold accents like the planer out at the museum would have been pretty special, the gray does seem to fit the bill. I greatly appreciate ALL the content you put up and the wealth of knowledge you have imparted to me. Thank you Keith.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@richardfrisbie6069]

Nice looking lathe, and I agree, the second shade of grey is perfect.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@NickMcEntee]

Looks awesome! I love seeing something old and crusty look new again. I would have thought it needed to be sprayed but brushing is a lot less messy and it turned out great.

[@VintageMachinery]

Brushing is just fine on something like this.

[@paulduffey7975]

Never having painted anything like that I was very surprised at how well it turned out. Nice. Thank you.

[@VintageMachinery]

It's not my first rodeo...

[@roncartwright8125]

That's going to look Great when it's finished. Well done so far.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

Nice work as usual!

[@danmetzger5583]

Hey Keith....just got your wonderful card with the stickers I requested. So glad you enjoy the Ivory Carving & RR Scribe! I have become a big fan of the stuff myself. Thanks again!

[@VintageMachinery]

Glad that it made it alright Dan. Great meeting up with you and thank you again for the new treasures!

[@Robbievigil]

nice job, no better feeling than making something old look new again.

[@VintageMachinery]

It is nice indeed!

[@MattsMotorz]

Looks awesome!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@vipervette03]

I think the color looks perfect. Thanks for the videos.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@devore1776]

great job Keith looks awesome.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@ronicard]

Coming along nicely, Keith!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@tumblinjack]

Paint job looks real good Keith, and the paint color is great too.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@jeffmoss26]

the lathe is looking great!!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Jeff!

[@dougbourdo2589]

Looks fantastic. Gonna be a sweet machine when done. A real beauty

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@StrongholdArmory]

I used that same paint on my South Bend lathe and my Excello mill. I didn't use a primer and brushed it on as well and it's held up fantastically against all kinds of cutting oils and cleaning products for the past three years.

[@VintageMachinery]

Good to know!

[@mejinks1978]

I quite liked the colour of the bare metal. Turned out really great though!

[@mattcurry29]

Hello Keith, The LeBlond is looking great and the darker grey is a nice shade for the lathe.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@clydecessna737]

Good choice of colors. Looks beautiful.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@tonche012]

looking really nice there keith, I like the shade of the grey you chose.cant wait to see the rest of the build

[@VintageMachinery]

She is coming along!

[@mrfrog3350]

Perfect color Keith.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@keithkemper]

Good looking paint job!!! Well done

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@PhilGoldblum]

Looks Great Keith!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@MiscerVids]

I bought CitriStrip after watching this video a while back and man this stuff works great. It's best, in my opinion, if you let it dry out completely, so it flakes off easily. Might take a couple days though I just started stripping a lathe as of last night with a fresh coat of CitriStrip

[@noahlechner1036]

That color Lois perfect and u are doing a nice job on the restoration.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@FredMiller]

Really nice job Keith. Fan ! LOL Enjoying the project... Fred

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Fred!

[@silverbullet7434]

Nice job . Machines look best in gray or green . Plus the old battleship gray from ww2 NEVER can be wrong.

[@VintageMachinery]

I like it!

[@turbocobra]

Nicely done sir. Love the slightly darker grey you chose! When i bought my lathe at the machinery dealer they were painting a mill and they were skimming the whole thing with automotive body filler to smooth out the casting marks, etc. The owner of the place said that a lot of machines have bondo added from the factory and showed me an example, i never would have guessed that because body filler if you bump it with something can crack and fall out... oh well learn something new every day.

[@TheMetalButcher]

Yep. We used a some bondo and sanding filler when rebuilding our mill.

[@VintageMachinery]

Most machines made from cast iron have filler in them somewhere or another. Castings often have defects in them - and while they are often perfectly fine to use with the defects, they just don't look that great. So, fill it with filler and cover it with paint! And then some machines are completely covered with filler to give a nice smooth surface. Some of the old machines used some kind of black filler that is really tough to remove - much stronger than "bondo", but that is what is commonly used now.

[@nitehawk1224]

Great colour choice Keith.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@u-genefabricationmachine4725]

Wow , what a transformation it looks like a new Lathe a hole lot of elbow grease but the hard work pays off

[@VintageMachinery]

That is the goal!

[@nitramretep]

Nice paint job! It looks brand new.

[@VintageMachinery]

Its getting there...

[@crunchysuperman]

Looks good. Thanks for the video.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks for watching.

[@loader980]

that looks exactly like the one I use to run at the welding shop. great great machine wish I could have one at home. nice find!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@buzzsawncgo2751]

Great job Keith, I've done enough painting and paint stripping to know that I don't like doing it. You did well

[@VintageMachinery]

Same goes for me - my least favorite part of any restoration. But, it is often the most rewarding when it is done nice!

[@rodeo11]

You southern boys are tough. I wouldn't have lasted an hour in that heat. Wow!

[@VintageMachinery]

You learn to just push through, drink lots of water, and take a break now and then. It is not so bad. I personally would rather deal with the heat than be freezing cold and can't get warm!

[@markkoons7488]

Just as you said you didn't like the lighter gray I was about to comment that that was the best looking machine gray I'd ever seen. Nevertheless, that is a beautiful machine and paint job. Your words and good example are encouraging.

[@63256325N]

Good choice on the color, anyone suggesting pink had to be joking....I would hope. Thanks for the videos. Man, when you mentioned the heat and the humidity I passed out! Unbelievable.

[@VintageMachinery]

I guess you just get somewhat used to the heat and lean to deal with it. Yesterday was a bear - it was about 100 degrees and I spent most of the day at the museum up in the cab on the steam locomotive. Then I came home and spent an hour or two in the shop. I was worn out when I got in the bed last night!

[@63256325N]

Oh brother, I can imagine. It's 7 am and after hearing that story I'm ready to back to bed......lol

[@colin8653]

Yes Keith the gray look good just like a work machine should look good work

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@terrycullen6290]

Great update on the LeBlond Keith !! It was great meeting you at the bash & appreciate the chat we had regarding grinding the ways on my 16" Southbend. We got a reply back from them shortly after sending an email... Best Wishes

[@VintageMachinery]

Very good! Thanks for watching!

[@JackHoying]

Looks great!!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Jack!

[@jimmymyers7683]

nice job Keith, Like the grey too.

[@sandrammer]

ooora!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@MrPragmaticLee]

Looking good!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@chevy6299]

Love the color Keith and you are one lucky man to have friends help with hard labor, lol.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@toolguy6057]

Looking Good!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Looking very good and another huge machine on nthe way. Waiting................ I go with the gray too.

[@VintageMachinery]

The "mystery machine" we were going to get was actually the big Monarch, that as it turned out was shown before this video posted. But, I do have another "mystery machine" lined up.....

[@lewiemcneely9143]

You've got a STACK of mystery machines lined up I dare say. I still like the gray!

[@jabelsjabels]

wow that citrastrip does the business!

[@VintageMachinery]

It did a good job!

[@tpobrienjr]

In the mid 60s, I worked at the Vought Aeronautics plant in Grand Prairie, Texas, a huge aerospace manufacturer. One of the occupants of that plant was a "LeBlond Missile Lathe", which appeared to be a great big faceplate lathe that could turn a flat plate into a hemisphere. I never saw it in action, I'm sorry to say, but I did see its neighbor, a big three-axis milling machine, hogging away on some aircraft bulkhead forgings. Fascinating to watch. I wonder where those behemoths are today. They didn't belong to Vought, but were owned by DoD as part of an equipment bank. Thanks for your interest in these old machines, and for the effort you and your friends are expending to get them back in shape.

[@VintageMachinery]

LeBlond was well known to have made many special machines for special purposes like that. A lot fo crank shaft lathes for the automotive industry were made by LeBlond as well as some of the special purposes like what you saw.

[@DougHanchard]

Thomas O'Brien Vought used then to develop specialized aircraft test components including propeller governors to adjust the blade's pitch. Eventually they would contract Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Standard. Other early test components included folding wing linkage heim joints which start out at spherical balls flattened with centers drilled out. Vought was one of the first to test load limits of these components for combat aircraft that would be used for naval service. They didn't hold up until better alloys were developed in 1944. The Corsair F4U was supposed to use them but never did.

[@mcpheonixx]

I agree, I really like that darker grey color. I feel your pain about the heat. Over in Fitzgerald it was 105 at lunch time yesterday. There is just no getting away from that kind of heat. Anyway stay safe and drink lots of water.

[@VintageMachinery]

It has been brutal the past few weeks. But I am determined to get this lathe finished!

[@waynephillips2777]

Boy it sure is looking good! My opinion on the brushing is that, as long as you have a good brush and good paint you will get a smooth finish. Not that you need an opinion from me, you are obviously an accomplished restoration expert. Thanks for the show.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Wayne!

[@razorworks9942]

Nice job Keith. And for those that don't know, it's a hugh amount of work!

[@VintageMachinery]

It has been a lot of work. Cleaning up the old castings seem to always be the worst part of a restoration to me. It takes forever, is messy, and just is not any fun at all.....

[@razorworks9942]

+Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org I can certainly relate. I keep telling myself it'll be worth it in the end!! Again Keith, nice job!

[@KPearce57]

Looks like a million!

[@VintageMachinery]

Or maybe one in a million....

[@molescombe]

Looks good!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@tomreyes4423]

Keith, first off, thank you for not painting it "pink", lol. The lathe looks completely different cleaned up and thanks for the Citrastrip tip, I'll be using that for sure on my machines.

[@VintageMachinery]

No pink machines in my shop!

[@mfletch392]

Looks the same colour as my Harrison L6 thanks for the video Keith

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@EVILDR235]

Nice job on the lathe restoration. I am also a big fan of grey colored machine tools. I was born on a Naval base (MINSY) so i have a thing about grey.

[@VintageMachinery]

Yep, I bet at those Navy bases, they have drums of gray paint. As the old saying goes, if it moves salute it, if it doesn't, paint it!

[@terminalpsychosis8022]

Fully agree about primer on cast iron being unnecessary. One tip about painting though, you can really load the brush up, especially with oil based paints. Much less back and forth, and it lets the brush do the work. That's why they make them so long, to hold a good reservoir of paint. Fully enjoyable video, as always. :-)

[@phooesnax]

Looks great

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Looking nice.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Randy!

[@sandrammer]

As I said in a previous post, the paint job looks great! That color is what almost all Machinery Repairman equipment ( in the Navy) is painted and besides looking good, it allows the maintenance men/women to see oil leaks as soon as they occur due to the difference in colors. Wise choice in paint! By the way, just finished installing the lining in my little/tiny propane powered furnace and am presently drying out the lining using a dehumidifier in a small closed off room in my house. Next build is my Molding bench.

[@duobob]

I have popcorn ready to pop. Get up some videos...

[@VintageMachinery]

I like the paint color - and I can tell you that you can spot oil on it just fine. I dripped some on today while squirting some oil on some gears I was installing and it was easy to spot (and wipe up).

[@bubbajoexxx]

love the battle ship gray paint job

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing.

[@VintageMachinery]

And THANK YOU for watching!

[@jmh8743]

great work

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@homersimpson6176]

Wow thats stuff works good , I have two Fairbanks Bulldog 6hp Engines that need repainting and that stripper Citrastrip would work great ! New paint looks nice !

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@mertsilliker1682]

agree with your choice of paint looks excellent, waiting for leg levelers, lol as I need eight no less

[@VintageMachinery]

Leveling will come soon!

[@keandobus]

Looks good keith

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@Moppemannen_mattias]

Nice job 😀

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@BarryAllen-hm1op]

Very nice!

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@holyblood1]

Nice lathe nice color, i like the grey it's better than pink :D, cant wait for the next video for the restoration of the le blond bat im courious for the monark restoration to i think it's a wery big restoration job, thanks for sharing. Great job.

[@VintageMachinery]

Probably won't start on the Monarch until this fall or winter - got some other things in the que before it....

[@holyblood1]

i'm loking for a nice winter :D

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Two thumbs up from me. I worked on a ship and thoroughly dislike planting but if I have to I will make it the best. We used two part epoxy.

[@VintageMachinery]

I personally hate painting myself, but sometimes it is just what needs to be done....

[@JunkMikesWorld]

Keith, I know I was one of the ones who suggested black paint, I do like the gray! In fact my big lathe is Rust-Olium Smoke Gray. It looks Awesome! I am sure the previous owner is very proud of the work you are doing. ;) All the Best! Mike

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks Mike!

[@RyanWeishalla]

Looks good.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@michaelflynn6178]

looks great

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@aleandrsworkshop381]

It's huge !

[@VintageMachinery]

What do you mean - this is my "small lathe." The huge one is the 28" Monarch sitting in front of this one.....

[@GermanToolReviews]

Keith, next time you strip paint you should try a product called Soy Gel. I have had the same experience you had with products like citristrip where it works on some types of paint but not others. Soy Gel is the only "safe" stripper I have found that actually works on lead-based paint. Most likely the blue paint was lead based since that was the most durable paint at the time. Hopefully you were using a respirator when grinding all that blue paint off.

[@VintageMachinery]

It might have been.

[@muhaahaloa941]

Defo made the right choice with the paint keith :D..

[@VintageMachinery]

Glad you like it!

[@codyteague9957]

I liked the lighter gray... but boy it looks good!

[@VintageMachinery]

I guess everybody has an opinion on what color they would want. For me, I like the darker gray.

[@bossecarlberg]

Nice color.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thank you!

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Good job Keith , folks are going to walk into yur shop and ask where you found a new old stock LeBlond lathe .. Awesome job !

[@VintageMachinery]

That is the end goal!

[@meyawabdulaziz3863]

fantastic... very nice color (at the end) this paint peeling off may seem boring to alot but this is fun time for me....(old engine block paint removal) ill give that citric pain remover a try (some times once pass isnt enough) try dabbing that stuff on it instead of brushing it on

[@charlieromeo7663]

I'll have to try the Citristrip on my next machine resto. I normally use the aviation stripper, but the fumes and the burns can be too much at times. I've found out that engine paint, if you want to spray, is very tough, is solvent resistant, and covers extremely well. My Dake arbor press looks new again! Nice work, as per the usual.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks - good luck with the CitraStrip!

[@ronkluwe4875]

Keith; Lathe is looking very good. Now all the other machinery in your shop is going to be jealous and want new paint jobs too ;) Regards; Ron Kluwe

[@VintageMachinery]

Some of them just might have to be jealous for a while....

[@VeeDubJohn]

If you put Saran Wrap over the stripper it will keep it in gel form longer and work better on thick paint. Thanks for the vids. I really enjoy them.

[@VintageMachinery]

Yes, but this machine is so hard to wrap up....

[@chronokoks]

Keith, I use cut up thin trash bags to keep the paint strip gel working longer and not dry out... the bag material will simply stick to the gel and voila you're done.. easy wrapping and cheap too

[@lancesurgeon7614]

I'm sure the heat the heat helped the stripper. I love watching paint dry. LOL!!!

[@VintageMachinery]

Actually, I think the heat hurt me. It dried out way too fast. That stuff works better when it stays wet on the part for a while.

[@mikefernandes5370]

citrus stripper + angle grinder with wire wheel+ grinder gaurd with vacuum fitting =🎉

[@michaelprice3609]

Right color Keith.

[@VintageMachinery]

Thanks!

[@billdlv]

Keith looks good, what a lot of work that must have been. 108 °F, now that is hot!

[@VintageMachinery]

And that is not even considering what the "heat index" would be when you calculate in the high humidity.....

[@billdlv]

Yeah for sure, take care of yourself working in that. Have you thought of a portable AC unit? Not that it would be able to cool the shop, but if you had it close to where you were working it might help.

[@KingNast]

I just used Citrustrip to restore an old Wilton vise based on Brad's experience with it! It worked great. The safety of it may be overstated though from looking at the MSDS. I still use gloves with it because it does affect my skin a bit.

[@VintageMachinery]

It does not bother me - and I have looked at the SDS sheet. You have to put those SDS sheets into perspective and for a SDS, it is rated pretty darn safe!