Bent woodworking lathe spindle

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Hello everyone, name's Rob, old timer from Newmarket, UK. I joined because I was hoping someone might be able to help me…won't say more here, will post in appropriate forum. Cheers.

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Bent spindle…

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

I wanted to change the bearings on my woodworking lathe…

I decided to use my 12 ton press to remove the bearings, unfortunately I didn't realise there was a 'shoulder' (for want of a better word) on the spindle at one end and the bearing would only come off one way, I was trying to go the other way, after a few tons of 'she'll move soon you know'…I realised my mistake.

I cannot find a replacement anywhere, it's an old lathe. Would anyone know where I might get a new one made as a one off for reasonable price, or of course, would anyone here be able/willing to help?

Would appreciate the help because I really like the style of lathe and would rather fix than dump…

Regards, Rob

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/09/2020 14:17:48

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

What country and city are you in Rob? Would be good to know for those local to you to help.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/09/2020 14:20:20

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Sorry Rob, I didn't see this post until I replied on your other one. I am in Canada so I can't help you with the shaft, but I am sure someone near you will respond.

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 25/09/2020 14:08:06

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Can you post a photo of what you have and some rough dimensions or what model lathe it is.

i make spindles and chuck adapters for many ww lathes

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/09/2020 14:19:38

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Posted by Jeff Dayman on 25/09/2020 14:06:00:

What country and city are you in Rob? Would be good to know for those local to you to help.

I'm in Newmarket, UK

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/09/2020 14:19:44

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Posted by Ian Parkin on 25/09/2020 14:09:33:

Can you post a photo of what you have and some rough dimensions or what model lathe it is.

i make spindles and chuck adapters for many ww lathes

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/09/2020 14:19:38

Hello Ian, it's safely filed in the shed at the mo, will get it out and take measurements.

It's a Nutool 37-2, it's the same as the Clarke 37" woodworking lathe; I believe the Nutool became the Clarke at some point because I was sent in Clarke's direction when seeking a replacement part.

Rob

[John BaronParticipant @johnbaron31275]

I'm sure "Machine Mart" would happily supply a new spindle !

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Item 10 on the parts list ??

Clarke 37 parts list

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Posted by John Baron on 25/09/2020 16:06:00:

I'm sure "Machine Mart" would happily supply a new spindle !

Hello John, I went to Machine Mart, I believe they sent me on to Clarke.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Robert,

Is it badly bent? I ask because I have straightened a 3/4 inch diameter shaft from a screwcutting gearbox that had been abused by rough handling [forcing gears to ride over each other]

I made two softwood Vee blocks and belted the thing with a lump hammer via a length of 3 x 2 inch hardwood to the point where it ran true within a couple of thou over the length when held in my good lathe chuck. The job took most of the afternoon and I sweated off several pounds!

Perhaps worth thinking about

Regards Brian

PS You have a press I now recall, you could use that with care with the spindle supported on wooden Vee blocks

Edited By Brian Wood on 25/09/2020 17:40:49

[RobCoxParticipant @robcox]

Hi Robert,

I may well be able to help you. I'm just south of Cambridge so not too far away.

If you PM me a phone number or email address, perhaps we can sort something out.

Rob

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

You could look up ‘Keith Fenner’ on youtube. He has straightened shafts on different videos. Gives fairly good instructions of how to do it.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

If you have a 12 ton press then I would have a go at straightening the spindle, of course it may not be practical to bring it back to a working condition but nothing to be lost by trying.

Mike

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

https://www.clarkeservice.co.uk/manuals/wood_lathes/cwl12d.pdf
41 Spindle, Headstock SD1241

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Posted by RobCox on 25/09/2020 18:47:12:

Hi Robert,

I may well be able to help you. I'm just south of Cambridge so not too far away.

If you PM me a phone number or email address, perhaps we can sort something out.

Rob

Thanks, Rob. I see there is actually a machine for sale in Cambridge at the moment. Sale end is Monday so I will see what price it goes up to and see where to go from there; at least that will give me a few spare parts etc. Many thanks for your offer.

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Posted by Ian Parkin on 25/09/2020 14:09:33:

Can you post a photo of what you have and some rough dimensions or what model lathe it is.

i make spindles and chuck adapters for many ww lathes

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/09/2020 14:19:38

Ian, I see there is actually a machine for sale in Cambridge (not far from me) at the moment. Sale end is Monday so I will see what price it goes up to and see where to go from there; at least that will give me a few spare parts etc. Many thanks for your offer.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Hello Brian Wood,

I love you simple "Hands-on" method ! A man after my own heart !

And yes, strange to say, it really does work ! I had to do something similar many moons ago when I had very little equipment and much to my surprise [and delight ] it worked, so it,s well worth a try.

[Robert Merwiak 1Participant @robertmerwiak1]

Posted by Brian Wood on 25/09/2020 17:36:11:

Hello Robert,

Is it badly bent? I ask because I have straightened a 3/4 inch diameter shaft from a screwcutting gearbox that had been abused by rough handling [forcing gears to ride over each other]

I made two softwood Vee blocks and belted the thing with a lump hammer via a length of 3 x 2 inch hardwood to the point where it ran true within a couple of thou over the length when held in my good lathe chuck. The job took most of the afternoon and I sweated off several pounds!

Perhaps worth thinking about

Regards Brian

PS You have a press I now recall, you could use that with care with the spindle supported on wooden Vee blocks

Edited By Brian Wood on 25/09/2020 17:40:49

Certainly an interesting option, Brian. It certainly would give me the opportunity to forgive my press seeing it was that which was at fault….ahem…

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Larry,

I have found such methods very successful in the past and only simple tools were needed. Two examples

A bent track rod on our old Landrover after some idiot put a tow rope on it yielded to nothing more than a hole in a fence post and putting weight on the component in strategic positions.

I straightened a 5 foot long lathe leadscrew on a commission job with two vee blocks and a bent steel yoke bolted to the workshop floor as the fulcrum point for a long bar I could lean on.

The beauty of these simple methods is that progress can be seen as it takes place and there is a " feel" to the job that helps prevent overshooting

It might even save Robert money into the bargain!

Brian

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, years ago I bent the shaft on my petrol lawn mower by trying to cut a piece of railway line, hiding in a long patch of grass. i looked at the price of a new one and it wasn't that much cheaper than a new mower. Both were out of my budget range at the time, so I stripped the engine down and stuck the end in the lathe to see exactly where it was bent and the only action i could take at the time was to stick it through the a hole in the piece of the railway line, where the bolts for the fish plate are bolted on, and with the bent part at the top, whacked the end with a copper faced hammer a few times and while checking it in the lathe for straightness. It ran for several years afterwards.

Regards nick.

[egaParticipant @ega]

My Willson lathe came to me with a bent gearbox input shaft. I was able to straighten this using my Hilmor pipe bender:

The shaft is not in the photo but was placed between the thrust roller and two pins protected by split copper tube, the deflection being measured by the clock whose light green back is visible. In this way, it was possible to get just past the yield point without going too far the other way.

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