South Bend Lathe Restoration, Part 15: Leveling the lathe, Making feet, Fixing the cross-slide.

[@christinepryor5893]

Hockey puck feet?! That’s so fun and actually makes a lot of sense. Glad to see you got some bang for your buck on the pucks by making more feet for other machines. Naming your machines is so personal but I’ll give my two cents anyways! Popeye & Olive Oyl. Laurel & Hardy. Doc & Marty. 😄

[@KevinToppenberg]

The Popeye movie with Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall is one of my all-time favorites. So that is a great suggestion to consider! Thanks!

[@christinepryor5893]

@@KevinToppenberg If you do pick that, I gotta know! The feeling of someone taking your suggestion is akin to winning the lottery. 😁

[@MyLilMule]

Shop floor must be very comfortable on your feet.

[@KevinToppenberg]

Thanks. From a machine point of view, it would be better to be concrete. But I couldn't do that for a variety of reasons I couldn't do that. But from an aesthetic point of view, it is much nicer! Thanks for watching.

[@MapleEngineeringAndMachining]

Kevin I would suggest loctite black max adhesive for the spacer on the gib. If the blue threadlocker ever gives up you could easily try the black max.

[@KevinToppenberg]

Thank you for the information. I had never heard of Loctite Black. So I went looking and found this chart: www.anzor.co.nz/technical/product-specific-information/loctite/application-wall-chart I didn't realize there were so many options! It does look like that Black max adhesive would work well. Thanks!

[@MapleEngineeringAndMachining]

@@KevinToppenberg yeah there are sooo many choices, price can be a factor as well. I know Stefan really liked the uniformity and grab it had for a gib shim during one of his rebuilds.

[@KevinToppenberg]

@@MapleEngineeringAndMachining :-)

[@maltejuergensen2118]

Well - I feel better now - I am also on a wooden floor (1952 SB 9b) - I put a 2x6 frame under the table legs, added the hockey puck feet for levelling, then chained the table of the lathe to the frame on the floor - which is also screwed to the floor - then the table is bolted to two 2x6’s which are extended to and screwed to two studs in the wall - so, pretty darn rigid now….. a concrete floor would be better of course, but you work with what you got - cheers from Vancouver Island, BC 🇨🇦 (#notamachinist)

[@KevinToppenberg]

Thanks for your comment. It is interesting that you mention fastening the lathe to the floor. I had never considered that. I am not doing heavy turning, but I suppose if I did, that the lathe could vibrate and start "walking" across the floor. So your idea seems spot on! Best wishes!

[@woodworkingbrazil8446]

it's getting fantastic. I haven't been able to watch all your videos yet, but I saw that the lubrication inlet has these cool caps. I have restored a lathe, which I believe is similar to yours in many ways. but my restoration was simpler. I didn't have the courage to take it all apart. If you know where I can buy these caps I would really appreciate it. I made a 4-minute video of the restoration, if you can see it and give any suggestions, I'd appreciate it!

[@KevinToppenberg]

I watched your video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZqWpYaPi5V_aM0), and that is a beautiful lathe! Well done. Regarding oil cups, I think they are called GITS oilers. Check out here: www.amazon.com/s?k=gits+oil+cups Best wishes!

[@anissawood4882]

I'm kinda mad that your workshop has a nicer floor than my house....lol

[@KevinToppenberg]

I love that floor! So easy to sweep up and get things clean! :-)

[@grahamsharpe1367]

The door that swings to the left covering the gear train. Thanks

[@KevinToppenberg]

Hmmm.... My lathe has gears to the left, but there is not a swinging door there. It is just bolted in place as far as I recall. You must have a more recent model than I do. Have you tried posting on Practical machinist? They have a large number of people with much more knowledge about SB lathes than I do. Here is the link: www.practicalmachinist.com/forum/categories/south-bend-lathes.25/ Best wishes.

[@grahamsharpe1367]

Kevin; I am rebuilding a South Bend 9A salvaged from the Avro Arrow maintenance shop. It was passed on to the Douglas Aircraft Co., then to the Mcdonnel Douglas Co., then to the Boeing Corp. never leaving its spot on the floor of all these companies. I am wanting to remove the gear cover door without breaking the hinge pin. Any advice really appreciated. Thanks

[@KevinToppenberg]

Are you talking about the door that flips upward, revealing the belts that drive the spindle? Or door that opens into that bell-like housing below the spindle?

[@jdmccorful]

I would wonder about the bolt size for feet. In regards to stability would suggest a larger bolt turned down for lathe throughhole. Beautiful floor job, careful of moisture though. Enjoying your videos, thanks.

[@KevinToppenberg]

Can you explain more what you mean? Are you thinking the bolt needs to be larger to be stronger? And if I turn it down, doesn't that just make it smaller again? Regarding the floor, so far, the surface finish seems to be repelling water and oil. But I will need to see how this goes over time. Thanks for watching!