CovMac Lathes

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

First Covmac swarf! finally found half an hour at 4-30 yesterday to put a tool in the covmac and do some turning to asses the lathe. turns really well, no chatter, no play on bearings, excellent finish and a surprisingly concentric 3 jaw chuck. the lathe is still hunting a bit on speed, but the oil is so gluey I am not really surprised. I also found that I had got the toolholder from the original pics and used that for its return to use excercise. I was rushing, and the tool was good, but not brilliantly sharp, i had touched it up on a diamond plate and went with it!

original tool holder

and some new swarf!

[John LapthornParticipant @johnlapthorn83182]

Just found this link……

**LINK**

I make this approximately 7 left of both models

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Interesting John, although this one looks to have been modified for some particular purpose, note the big pulley in the quick change box. That is the 13" geared head model, like mine!

Phil

[Thomas SchweizerParticipant @thomasschweizer29606]

Hi everyone, new to the site and live in Australia. I have read on a covmac thread that these lathes are rare and that their is only one in Australia. I just bought one, so I am thinking there must be two. Unfortunately my new (old) lathe is missing the gear cage door, the screw in cap on the headstock and the jaws from the four jaw??? Does anyone know if these parts are available in England – in any condition? It would 've so good to be able to have the lathe complete.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

To search for the jaws for your 4 jaw chuck, you need to know the make of chuck, and its size (ideally the maker's number) .

Then, you can either appeal on here, or Google, and possible sources may become known.

Howard

[Thomas SchweizerParticipant @thomasschweizer29606]

Thank you Howard, I thought it may have been original from covmac, Good to know I may still have a chance

[Pete RimmerParticipant @peterimmer30576]

I have several sets of 4-jaw chuck jaws. No idea what they fit as they came in a bag with a load of others,

Measure your screw pitch, jaw width and slot width Thomas and I'll see if any of mine are close.

[Doug GodingParticipant @douggoding64449]

Posted by Thomas Schweizer on 24/03/2020 10:25:23:

Hi everyone, new to the site and live in Australia. I have read on a covmac thread that these lathes are rare and that their is only one in Australia. I just bought one, so I am thinking there must be two. Unfortunately my new (old) lathe is missing the gear cage door, the screw in cap on the headstock and the jaws from the four jaw??? Does anyone know if these parts are available in England – in any condition? It would 've so good to be able to have the lathe complete.

Hi all, this is a very informative post with some great detail explained throughout, with little information available on these machines, this is a great resource.

I’m not sure if this officially counts, but I too have a what I believe is a Covmac 13” geared head Lathe, it’s just branded SELSON on the end of the bed (does that make it a COVMAC or SELSON). I have only had my machine a couple of months and don’t know any of its history and I am also located in Australia.

Mine matches pretty much exactly the picture shown on Tony’s website with the matching legs left and right, however there are a couple of components missing. Mine is not equipped (or no longer equipped) with the clutch and overhead bar and the gear cover has been replaced with a very crude cover, I assume it’s been damaged over time.

Another item of note, compared to the pictures throughout this post, mine does not have the hole through the bed below the spindle for lifting.

It only has a few minor modifications, a tool and junk holding bench and quick-change tool post that I have added and more interestingly a fully plumbed oiling system, operated by a small pump at the back of the headstock. It is also missing the thread dial and what I assume is a swarf protecting cover on the left of the carriage.

For its age, it is in excellent condition, with no detectable slop in any of the bearings or slides.

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