Is this a good lathe????

[truckerdave]

Rockwell Model 46-111, Serial # EG4661

I have a friend that was given this lathe. Not sure if it works as it has a goofy power cord on it and it has to be replaced first.

If anyone has any experience with these old lathes, I am looking for guidance tearing it apart and seeing if it is servicable.

This is the type of lathe we are looking at, not the exact one.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

That's what I've got.


Why are you tearing it apart? Is there something wrong with it?

You should either use it or year it down to do a restoration There's not much to tear apart anyway. Bearings is really the old replaceable part in the headstock. Belt of course. And the motor could need to be restored if it doesn't run right.

 

[Jim Burr]

For spindle work...it's ok. Any aspirations for something bigger than pens and you need to move up. Cost, size, working or not, what you want to do, usable, all these need to be answered. Not knowing your situation...is a used Jet or Delta out of the picture?

 

[truckerdave]

That's what I've got.


Why are you tearing it apart? Is there something wrong with it?

You should either use it or year it down to do a restoration There's not much to tear apart anyway. Bearings is really the old replaceable part in the headstock. Belt of course. And the motor could need to be restored if it doesn't run right.

I am not sure if anything is wrong with it, but I figure it should be disassembled and checked for wear, and possibly lubricated.

BTW, Do you use it for bowls? or is it strictly for spindles/pens???

For spindle work...it's ok. Any aspirations for something bigger than pens and you need to move up. Cost, size, working or not, what you want to do, usable, all these need to be answered. Not knowing your situation...is a used Jet or Delta out of the picture?

It was free! If we get ANY use out of it, well, better than nothing!!!

 

[Dan Masshardt]

For spindle work...it's ok. Any aspirations for something bigger than pens and you need to move up. Cost, size, working or not, what you want to do, usable, all these need to be answered. Not knowing your situation...is a used Jet or Delta out of the picture?

Well obviously you can't turn big bowls on it but the lathe is well capable of anything spindle - baseball bats etc. I turn all sorts of stuff on it and its actually pretty darn big for a pen lathe compared to a mini.

Actually the gap bed makes it harder to line up a tool rest for pens relative to larger spindles. Personally I'm looking to get a EVS mi I for pens and keep this one around for bigger work.

What it lacks is variable speed, reversing etc but so do many lathes.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

Sure you can turn bowls. Obviously only as big as the swing. You can turn outboard on it as well.

The challenge that you'll have a hard time slowing it down enough to rough decent sized bowls.

I'm in the process of putting my motor in hinges to make belt changes easier.

 

[truckerdave]

For spindle work...it's ok. Any aspirations for something bigger than pens and you need to move up. Cost, size, working or not, what you want to do, usable, all these need to be answered. Not knowing your situation...is a used Jet or Delta out of the picture?

Well obviously you can't turn big bowls on it but the lathe is well capable of anything spindle - baseball bats etc. I turn all sorts of stuff on it and its actually pretty darn big for a pen lathe compared to a mini.

Actually the gap bed makes it harder to line up a tool rest for pens relative to larger spindles. Personally I'm looking to get a EVS mi I for pens and keep this one around for bigger work.

What it lacks is variable speed, reversing etc but so do many lathes.

If I were to twist the belt 1/2 turn, wouldn't that reverse the direction of the lathe???

Also, if I put a different sized pulley on the motor, wouldn't I be able to get a slower final speed???