I have been a keen woodworker most of my life – model boats and musical instruments. I have a small Warco Minor mill, which has mainly been used as an accurate router for guitar making, and a Chinese mini-lathe which has not had much use. However, I have always wanted a Myford metal lathe, and eventually I have ‘taken the plunge’ and bought a Super7B in good condition. So here starts the learning process – my fist target is to make a steam powered river launch which appeared in an old Model Shipwright Quarterly, but that may be some way off!

I would like initially to find out more about the lathe itself – it seems to have a rather odd serial number stamped on the back – 71/110413 and the quick change gear box is QC 94280. If anyone can help I would be grateful as I cannot find a number in this format.

I need to buy an oil gun for the oil nipples but was shocked by the price of the Swiss made one on the Myford site – is there a cheaper alternative?

I live in the North of Scotland and am retired. I am very much looking forward to becoming involved with this forum.

Mitch

Thanks Rodger,

I am sure the Swiss one is excellent, but I am having to buy various accessories etc and so this is a bit more like it for the moment.

thank you

Thanks very much everyone for the oiler advice – I had not realised when I asked the original question how complex a subject just buying a good, cheap oiler would be! I am tempted to try the Press Parts one originally recommended by Roger; however, I notice that it has a 2mm nozzle and my Myford oil nipples have 1.5mm holes, so I am not sure this would work. I have not found the Stewart Hart self build series yet, but I will keep looking on-line, unless it is in previous Model Engineer issues? It may be beyond me anyway at ‘this stage of training’, and anyway I suppose I would need to oil my lathe at some stage of the build!

But seriously, when one considers how long these lathes have been around, one might wonder why there is not now a simple, agreed solution to the question of how to oil them.

Grateful for the advice

Mitch