How To True Up a Metal Lathe Face Plate

[@EVguru]

Hi Randy, Have you checked the plate for flatness? It should be very slightly concave. Lathes are set to cut that way from the factory, but they'll gradually cut more convex as they wear. Someone had re-cut the faceplate on the Myford at work and it was over 20 thou high in the middle it was so worn. I eventually took the saddle home and re-machined it.

[@smtnh]

Wow, even put up a video for us to watch while you're off gallivantin' !! Hell of a nice finish! IMO, a thou at the edge of that is perfectly fine..... Thanks, Sean.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

***** Thanks Sean. Just trying to keep the YT world happy. Had a good visit. Came up with an idea. Send me a Ph# I can run it by you. Thanks Randy

[@not2fast4u2c]

I see a new tool being designed to do the edge of it. .Thanks for chamfering the edges on the slots it could save a finger from being sliced The finish does look Nice ,

[@RRINTHESHOP]

not2fast4u2c I am very happy with it, very nice finish. Thanks for watching, Merry Christmas. Randy

[@chrisstephens6673]

Hi Randy, to turn the OD just use your boring bar upside down and run lathe in reverse. If you don't have enough cross slide movement, have the tool holder your side of the post.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Chris Stephens I haven't really figured what I can do to yet. But several viewers have chimed in a few ideas, such as you. So I will probably explore these and see what I come up with. I think the face plate was actually never used and was sitting on a shelf somewhere for 30-40 years. It was to far off to be used. Thanks for watching and the idea, Merry Christmas. Randy

[@MilanDupal]

Well done Randy! Thanks for your dropbox share. The only inconvenience is to recalculate your dimensions into metric.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

***** I will have to put metric and inch drawing in the future. If there is a particular drawing you would like in metric let me know. Thanks for the suggestion. Merry Christmas, Randy

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Randy, Good looking face plate, the .001" on the edge is correctable but surely not a must... You finally got my solution with the vacuum cleaner, I quickly got tired of the "Black Snots" ... lol Nice and enjoyable to see you at work in the shop. I'm still trying to find time to produce a few interesting new shop videos, I'll let you know when it comes out. Have a good time with your family, Pierre

[@RRINTHESHOP]

pierre beaudry Thank you Pierre. The vacuum worked good, having to hold it there was a pain. I think the face plate was new just sat on a shelf for 30-40 years. For me the face is fine, I might true up the back edge. Thanks and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@MikeDittmanmachining]

That really turned (no pun intended) out nice. Those facing tools you made work pretty well.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Mike Dittman Thanks Mike, Merry Christmas. Randy

[@sharpeguns1]

I took a old magnetic starrett base and fixed it too the Plexiglas shield. Another Must Project for you

[@duobob]

Randy, I have an import 1" boring bar and BXA holder for it. It could be mounted on the side of the tool post facing you. If you want to borrow it I can send it to you. It requires a 5/16" square bit.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

***** Thank you Bob. I have a 1" bar and test setup yester day. I think it will work. Thank you and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@cosimomarotta9552]

Ciao Randy, I think that the thou of runout you read near the edge is caused by the flex of the plate while turning. Going from oustide to inside, you reach zero runout because the plate is more rigid. I think that one thou on that diameter can be considered accettable, but if you want to wipe it out, I think you have to use a grinder instead of the carbide tool. It's my idea but as an hobbyst maybe I am wrong so I wait other comments from better machinist than me.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Cosimo Marotta I think you may be right. It is just the last inch or less. To me it is very minor. I doubt if there will be any problems with it. Thanks for the comment and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@cosimomarotta9552]

Greetings and Merry Christmas to you and all your family from Italy

[@BleuJurassic]

now make a plywood box for your face plate and oil it well so it does not get damaged easy to make and they last a long time

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Randy, I'm still learning as a beginner in machining, so forgive me if my question is impertinent. I have to do this same thing to adapt a 6" 4-jaw chuck to a small lathe with an 8.5" swing; the adapter plate is semi-finished. Have you previously measured the run-out on the naked spindle? I guess that gets into the quality of spindle bearings, and accuracy of the bolt screws, etc. If anyone has insight into this I'd be grateful!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Marc yes I have. Yes the bearings will matter. Many lathes you can adjust the bearings to reduce the runout. Thanks Marc.

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Great work .. Came out very nice !

[@RRINTHESHOP]

ShawnMrFixit Lee Should work good, thanks, Randy

[@1954BJohn]

Cool job Randy!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

1954BJohn Thank you and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@Abom79]

Nice work Randy. I guess I missed the video where you bought this faceplate. I'm behind on a lot of them as per usual. The finish looks great. I was going to add, you'd be amazed at was fast spinning metal will do on a finish. I have many times found out of roundness on parts that were not balanced correctly in the lathe, after making a cut. I had one the other day that was plus-minus .001, i slowed the lathe down, and it cut nice and straight. I'm just curious if your faceplate was doing the same thing. Anyways, good job, and thanks for sharing. Adam

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Abom79 Adam, Thanks for the great idea. I am going to probably check the balance. There was no real vibration or indication of out of balance, just not turning true on the face, back edge, and OD. I think the face plate was actually never used and was sitting on a shelf somewhere for 30-40 years. It was to far off to be used. So no one ever trued it up. I will mount it up and check the back edge and od again to see how bad and where I need to go. The face came out great, just that outter edge out buy a athou (redneck word for 0.001"). Thanks for watching and the idea, Merry Christmas. Randy

[@donaldlancaster89]

Abom79 I

[@petermoses5095]

Did you make all of your checks on your lathe to be sure it's absolutely true .machining face plate if everything is not perfectly true will give u either a concave faceplate or a convex faceplate .neither is desirable.

[@RaysGarage]

Looking good buddy, Cast Iron sure makes a mess of things! Try adapting your tool post grinder if you really want zero runout! Ray

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Ray Caniglia Thanks Ray, quite the mess. I clean everyday it seams like. Still not as clean as your shop. I might look at the balance idea first that Adam suggested. Thanks for the suggestion. Talk to you later. Randy

[@armdaMan]

Just surprised that an Old experienced Machinist Like RR does not have a Perspex Mounted Shield to protect himself from swarf flying in the face. Awe shucks, what a shame. Come On Timer, mount one in Your Magnetic Base or a Nogia if U wanna be classy !!! Just my two cents.......... Yes, the finish on that Cast Iron was splendid. ATB aRM

[@JamesDedmon]

Great work as always. Unless you find a deal on a tool that you can use or make something, I would just leave the OD along. Since you are needing to have a true face to mount work to and that is true you should be OK

[@RRINTHESHOP]

James Dedmon Yep I think the small amount at the edge in most cases will be no big deal. I might check the balance and then go from there. Thanks James and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@davedigs]

faceplate looks great Randy to clean the edge up could you use a boring bar at the back edge and run the lathe backwards just a thought have a great christmas Dave

[@RRINTHESHOP]

david sanderson I haven't really figured what I can do to yet. But several viewers have chimed in a few ideas, such as you. So I will probably explore these and see what I come up with. I think the face plate was actually never used and was sitting on a shelf somewhere for 30-40 years. It was to far off to be used. Thanks for watching and the idea, Merry Christmas. Randy

[@CompEdgeX2013]

I'm not sure if I would fuss with the small runout at the edge. That area would rarely get used anyway and as long as the center is good it's fine. You're .001" is likely the result of the singing the cutter did. Colin ;-)

[@RRINTHESHOP]

***** Thanks Colin, Very possible. You are so close to the north pole you probably see Santa all the time and Christmas is no big deal. But Merry Christmas anyway. Have a good one. Thanks, Randy

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

I recently purchased a face plate for my Monarch and need to true it up. Ran across your old vid. :). Have you used the face plate much since you made this vid?

[@jtkilroy]

Randy Richard Use a boring bar to get that OD.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

James Kilroy Thank you James. I setup a 1" bar yesterday and it should work. Thanks and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Awesome man , I learned some thing here !!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Thanks Shawn for your support. Randy

[@andrewwilson8317]

Have you carried out alignment checks on your lathe before doing work like this? I tried up a face plate and all was good until I removed and refitted it and it was not perfect! Turned out lathe was not aligned perfect after some levelling and adjusting I managed to get things to an acceptable level. Was certainly food for thought. Great video by the way.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Yes, when i set up the lathe.

[@andrewwilson8317]

Randy Richard In The Shop I did same with mine but Lund it had moved in time,like a form of settling? Have you checked the faceplate after removing and refitting it? It did hearten me to find out my lathe maker left castings for faceplates etc outside for months and even years to age and weather before finishing them! Once re-trued it follows an older faceplate should stay true? My 24" faceplate always seems to have a little run out,depending on temperature. At 20 c it's spot on but runs out if gets too hot?

[@ShuffleSk8Ter]

cool I have a few face plates for my machine but don't know if i would ever use them..maybe someday! :)

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Lawrence Harasim Thank you Lawrence, you never know but good to have. Merry Christmas, Randy

[@mechaniclabor9686]

Silly question but does it really matter if it is flat, the dogs aren't tight in the holes during use.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

It can matter a great deal if you want to use it a as a reference surface. Otherwise you will be shimming.

[@rickeycallen]

You could have also, instead of removing the tool post, set your indicator base on the headstock by your cutting oil to take that od measurement

[@goldeee666]

pretty cool man

[@gmoore1985]

Does the compound travel reach far enough to make the cut?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

gmoore1985 I haven't really figured what I can do to yet. But several viewers have chimed in a few ideas, such as you. So I will probably explore these and see what I come up with. I think the face plate was actually never used and was sitting on a shelf somewhere for 30-40 years. It was to far off to be used. Thanks for watching and the idea, Merry Christmas. Randy

[@robertkutz9540]

great video

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Robert Kutz Thanks Robert, you must have a face plate. No Anchor Lube on the Wood. Thanks for watching, Randy

[@arkansas1313]

A super nice job! ....13

[@RRINTHESHOP]

arkansas13 Thanks 13 and Merry Christmas. Randy

[@FrustratedBaboon]

Very nice lathe. Is that your hobby lathe ?

[@RRINTHESHOP]

The Lance lathe is 16 x 60, Logan is 11 x 36, Clausing 14 x 30 and the newest is a Hardinge DSM 59 turrett lathe which has a 9" swing. They are all my hobby lathes.

[@johnthayjr4237]

Hey take it off and put it back on and check the run out and see if it will repeat .

[@RRINTHESHOP]

I have several time +/- 0.003 usually.

[@johnthayjr4237]

That’s cool a lot of times that’s not the case . You must have a really good lock up tapper on your spindle nose . Keep her clean and good job

[@diggumsmack2]

#supermajor cleanup