Recently acquired a watchmakers lathe, what should my first steps be?

[VWatchie]

On 7/8/2022 at 4:39 PM, Neverenoughwatches said:

As regards to tools and equipment cost. I posted a litlle while back about my total set up cost, I've all but finished now with my last piece arriving today in the post, a jewelling tool with the accessories.

On 7/8/2022 at 4:39 PM, Neverenoughwatches said:

Complete cost now for maybe 95% of all repairs, totals give or take a few quid £1000 (this was my aimed at budget )

Sorry, just couldn't help myself! 

[Neverenoughwatches]

20 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

Sorry, just couldn't help myself! 

Haha no problem watchie, i blew that out of the watch not long after i posted it. 3 more jewelling tools, another jacot, another staking set, a hairspring vibrator, a 6 x4 shed load of hand tools and now another lathe later.    at least double maybe even triple that figure

[mbwatch]

On 8/2/2022 at 3:43 AM, HectorLooi said:

I finally got the mounting screw and pedestal off the lathe bed. It was no easy task.

I had to rethread the screw to a 8 x 1.25 thread, then jammed on 4 nuts and really doused it in WD40 overnight to loosen it.

I really have to thank @nickelsilver for his help. 

Old thread but hey you're all still active.

In your case @HectorLooi were you able to get an M8 bolt into the lathe bed? I've got a Webster Whitcomb bed that had been mounted to a Borel base which I don't want to use. I'm trying to get it mounted to a standard pedestal instead, and can't get a screw that matches the bed's thread.

The existing screw mounting to the Borel base measures 19/64" which is like 7.54mm and about 25 threads per inch, which is close enough to 1mm. US hardware stores carry 5/16"x24 which is almost right in that the antique screw can thread into a modern 5/16x24 nut but a modern 5/16x24 bolt is slightly too big to fit the antique threads in the WW lathe bed. I can attempt to re-tap the bed to M8, but I'm curious what your eventual resolution was. It sounds like you modified your screw rather than your lathe bed.

[HectorLooi]

Haha. I really don't remember. I have 2 lathes mounted on Borel bases. So I think I didn't have problems getting the screws.

Anyway, there was this screw specialty shop that I used to go to. All I had to do was show them the screw that I needed and they'll go their store and reappear moments later with the correct screw. They had been in business for as long as I can remember but closed after Covid. I guess they were another casualty of the pandemic. 

[mbwatch]

55 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Haha. I really don't remember. I have 2 lathes mounted on Borel bases. So I think I didn't have problems getting the screws.

Heh oh well. I think I am going to tap my lathe bed for a 5/16 screw because I won't even need to drill it out. I doubt I will ever find a 19/64" screw and a metric M7.5 does not exist either.

Edited February 20 by mbwatch

[caseback]

Possibly M8x1. That is what mine has. 

[mbwatch]

7 hours ago, caseback said:

Possibly M8x1. That is what mine has. 

That sounds right - I measure the threads around 1mm and total diameter of the screw is 7.54mm. Fractionally on my digital caliper, it says 19/64. I thought M8x1 were not easy to get (local stores only have 1.25 threads) but it does look like hardware suppliers have options. I will order some and see how they fit before I go rethreading anything. Thanks @caseback

[AndyGSi]

You can get 19/64" or 7.6mm here in the UK and they also have them at our local fixings supplier.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aexit-Silver-Stainless-Hexagon-243M312/dp/B07M848GKW