Stringer EW lathe

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

…. And I use my Cowells for small animatronic components. I bought it for its portability but also bought a Compact 5 for the same reason and it’s much greater capacity to replace the Cowells due to the frustrations I’ve outlined.

Edited By Chris Trice on 16/01/2011 15:05:27

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Hi Tony,

 

Any lathe will have what you might call an ideal “range” – so if your needs include a very wide range of material sizes to be machined – then one machine may not meet them all.

 

The Cowells for instance is a 1.75″ x 8″ lathe (88.9mm x 203mm) lathe and is often described as a “minature lathe”. Some versions can run up to 4,000 rpm – very useful for some fine drilling operations. It would tend to be more useful for “watchmaking” than a larger lathe – and if your modelling included a great deal of ‘watchmaking’ sized operations, then it might be ideal. Since you wish to turn OD 85mm brass – then with a total swing of 89mm – this is probably not the one for you.

 

The EW should handle this however – as I’m sure most other larger lathes would also do, including the EMCO. It’s Horses for Courses. There is also the small matter of cost.

 

Chris make a good point about how much metal you can remove with a smaller lathe – but “all day” might be an exageration. Rex Tingey (of Unimat fame) used to recommend that a hacksaw was a very useful accessory for a Unimat – and he used to roughly cut away unwanted material before he started to machine down to final finish dimensions. I find this very good advice and have been known to do the same (even on work being done on the Myford S7). 

 

I’ve started to strip the EW down for cleaning and rust removal – but will set some shots up to give you an idea.

 

Regards,

 

Ian T

 

PS Ruaidhri – I’ll get some more MC articles to you before too long.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Hi Tony,

 

I’ve posted some photos as promised. Please note that these pictures are ALL posed – I was starting to strip the lathe down, so I’ve just placed things in postion (mostly) to give you some idea of what the tool is capable of.

 

Showing my crude (but useable countershaft and the backgear arrangement. The change wheel quadrant is not fitted. I have a full set of (steel) change wheels though. And yes, the wiring will be tidied up and everything enclosed!

 

4-Jaw with economy QCTH in place – boiler fitting in progress!

 

Side view of lathe – very solid cast iron construction – MT1 head and tailstock

 

The ER32 collett chuck works well – the diamond tool (from my Myford) is a bit big and therefore has limited travel – but is easy to sharpen and gives an excellent finish.

 

Didn’t actually fit them – but you can see that the boring table and vertical slide (with the ER chuck) will provide a useful milling facility for small parts

 

I mentioned this in an earlier post I think – but here is the Gauge 3 ‘Sterling’ driving wheel leaning against the EW 5″ faceplate. The casting is 118mm in diameter and in backgear with a tipped tool – I think I could turn this on the EW if I had to. I’d probably use a mandrel mounted in the collet chuck though..

 

So I hope this gives you some idea of what a potentially useful small machine the EW is and why I think it would be just fine for the majority of your modelling needs.

 

Regards,

 

Ian T

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Ian speaks wisely. The EW looks like it’s more than up to the job.

 

Metal removal speed should be considered though. For making one offs, it’s not such an issue if it takes a bit longer to machine a component but if you have several of an item to make (and it sounds like you have that in mind), it will rapidly become very long winded and tedious. It’s one of those things you may only appreciate when you come to use a larger lathe that zips effortlessly through the same job in a third of the time.

 

The concept of a size range is also worth noting. At the other end of the scale, you wouldn’t want to make watch components on a big Harrison.

[Ruaidhri MurphyParticipant @ruaidhrimurphy46564]

I won’t teach my granny to suck eggs here – most of my turning life has been with wood – only got the Myford a few years ago and am still trying to become a beginner

 

On the subject of the crinkle paint – can’t be had for love or money in Ireland – and can’t get a supplier to post aerosols. Unless someone has any bright ideas I’ll test out the sand idea on some waste. Bearing in mind that it will be dusted on to wet varnish, then sprayed/painted over, it should (??) be fairly well locked in.

 

As mentioned elsewhere, I am Irish, so expect some of my cunning plans to have the effect of raising the hair on Baldric’s head

 

Couple of pics added to Picasa Album

The newspaper underneath lends an elegant touch (SWMBO likes her dining room table!).

 

Finally – I’d be interested if anyone knows where I can get a couple of the handles re-chromed CHEAP. Again I’m afraid our little republic (??) leaves something to be desired.

 

Fond regards,

Ruaidhrí

Edited By Ruaidhri Murphy on 17/01/2011 13:17:34

Edited By Ruaidhri Murphy on 17/01/2011 13:18:55

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi Ruaidhr,

This Italian company has a website in English and will supply cans of a decent wrinkle finish paint, not sure about pricing but perhaps worth a try.

Best regards

Terry

 

[IanTParticipant @iant]

That’s beginning to look a lot better Ruaidhri!

 

Interesting to see the original countershaft in more detail. If I need better bearings (than the plain ‘Picadors’) I might build a Mark 2 C/S and that looks like a neat arrangement – how does the “tensioner” work do you think?.

 

BTW – If you do have the original motor and pulleys – I’d be interested in what you think the original available “speeds” were (as sold). I’m probably running mine a bit fast.

 

Regards,

 

IanT

[Ruaidhri MurphyParticipant @ruaidhrimurphy46564]

Terry,

 

Checked that out (thanks). €73 per can of non-aerosol, and needs oven baking. Having nearly killed SWMBO’s last microwave *  during a wood seasoning ‘experiment’ I dare not do the same with the cooker

 

Ian,

 

Not sure about the tensioner yet – I’m very much on a wing and a prayer here

Haven’t got the motor yet, but I can measure up the pulleys if you don’t mind waiting a day or two – my woodturning classes are about to start & I have students ringing & calling every ### five minutes. Also need to get blanks, fittings etc. organised. And an article on “design considerations – catenary curves” to write up for our newsletter on Thursday. And a tailstock to fix for a mate. And …….

 

I thought retirement was supposed to be feet up and relax!!

 

Cheers,

Ruaidhrí

 

* You can season wood really quickly in a microwave. Trick is NOT to answer the front door  to chatty friend in the middle of the proceedings – couldn’t see from one side of the kitchen to the other. 

 

 

 

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Hi Ruaidhrí

2 possibilities for getting the paint – do you know anyone traveling to and fro by ferry who could buy a few aerosols in the UK and take them over to you, or ask one of the suppliers here to ship to you by courier. As far as I know the problem is that normal small parcels would go air freight which is the NO NO for aerosols. Surface transport should be OK as I assume you can buy other aerosol products there.

I don’t know where you’ve tried over there but  do you have any car restoration places you could have a word with, that’s one of the bigger markets for the stuff here – re-finishing dash panels and instrument housings.

Keith

[Ruaidhri MurphyParticipant @ruaidhrimurphy46564]

Thanks Keith – I’ll look into having a nephew pick some up before his next visit to the Oul Sod (Ireland , that is, not me – although it could well apply!!).

 

Checked out car restorers. bike restorers. I have a 2000 Jag XJ8 and nobody in the club has any ideas either.

 

Crinkle paint and good quality chroming seem to be something we Irish can’t get to grips with

Luckily I’ve gotten sidetracked sorting out GHT’s attachment to allow use of the Myford dividing head on the headstock (nearly there – just to turn the taper and slot the collar for the spindle) so I’m not at a loose end.

 

Cheers for now,

Ruaidhrí 

[Tony BorlandParticipant @tonyborland25225]

Thanks IanT for the advice and pictures.Lets see if i can now find a EW Lathe for sale.

 

Best Regards

 

Tony

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

You can get a pretty good gloss wrinkle finnish by spraying with Hammerite, leaving it for 24 hours and then giving it another coat (as what it says NOT to do on the tin !).

 

It worked well for me – this was with a spray gun mind mind – usining the recomended thinners. Might need a bit of trial and error depending on technique, ambiant temperature etc.

 

w.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I don’t see them advertised too often Tony – but I’m sure there must be a few around.

 

It’s possible they are being passed around in ‘Modelling’ circles as treasured possessions. They are a good sized little lathe for any railway or marine modeller.

 

Why not try the ME “Wanted” list on here – maybe an Model ‘Engineer’ will have moved up in lathe sizes and has an EW lying around not doing too much these days?

 

Worth a try & doesn’t cost anything either. Perfect!

 

Regards,

 

Ian T

[Ruaidhri MurphyParticipant @ruaidhrimurphy46564]

Nearly ready to get back in action again chaps

 

Away looking after grandkids – and evicted (with Sheila) while the two lads paint the house for us – inside and out!!!

No way was I turning down an offer like that.

 

Hoping to get back to the EW next week after I’ve gotten blanks & stuff readu for woodturning students.

 

I’ll bang up pics as work progresses and, once again, thanks for all the help and advice.

 

Fond regards,

Ruaidhrí

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Hello All EW owners

I’ve recently acquired an EW lathe – or at least part of one – bed, cross and top slides, headstock, spindle and lead screw, and subsequently manged to source a tail-stock of the correct pattern for the age of the bed. My original reason for getting the lathe bed, was to incorporate it into a tool grinder, but when I collected it and saw the tail-stock on offer separately, it became a restoration project! It even looks as though an old chuck and backplate picked up on the off chance about 12 months ago will fit as well!

The bed on my lathe is the pattern with the extension to the tail-stock end and it has a gap, so from lathes.co.uk it looks like a fairly late version.

However I could do with a bit of information about these lathes however before I go much further.

I’m missing the back gear bracket, shaft and gears, although I’ve got the necessary gears on the main spindle, so that looks like a manufacturing job. But looking at the pictures that you’ve posted and those on the lathes.co.uk website I can’t see any signs of a clutch any where in the lead-screw so it looks as though thread cutting under power could be “interesting” especially up to a shoulder. Do your machines have such a clutch and I’ve just not spotted, it or will this be an “owners modification” that I wish to carry out. At the moment I don’t have any change wheels for the EW but I do have loads for my Drummonds which at 14 dp rather than 16 dp are too big on the face of it but if I incorporate a clutch, then that has to go somewhere, and I think the easiest would be to move the change wheels further to the left of the headstock and make up a suitable banjo and mounting to suit with the clutch between the change wheel array and the end of the lead-screw. – I don’t want to modify any original parts if can avoid it.

Any advice or comments will be most welcome. This machine is too good to mess about, it deserves to be restored and set up as a lathe!

Keith

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Hi Keith – and welcome to the EW Owners Club!

 

The EW had no clutch fitted as such – the leadscrew is permanently engaged as built. This was addressed by Martin Cleeve in his ME articles on “upgrading” the EW by modifying the leadscrew and fitting a dog-clutch. This has the added advantage of helping screwcut more easily – as you don’t need a thread gauge on the leadscrew to pick up a thread correctly. MC was a big fan of (single tooth) dog clutches for this reason alone.

 

We (the other members of this exclusive club) have been sharing information off-line – and if you would like to read the MC articles for instance – that can be arranged.

 

Suggest you email me if you want to know more.

 

Regards,

 

Ian T

 

PS I know Ruaidhri – I guess you would liike the other bits scanned too?

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Hi Ian

PM sent.

Keith

[Ruaidhri MurphyParticipant @ruaidhrimurphy46564]

Hi again,

 

Slight delay, which can be blamed on one Professor Gleeson and Coeliac Disease.

Flaming nuisance, and God I’d kill for a fresh loaf with black crunchy crust

 

Ian, – yes, I’d really appreciate as much info as possible – email still the same.

 

Haven’t progressed at all, except for some tidying up on the countershaft.

 

More anon,

 

Regards,

Ruaidhrí

 

Edited By Ruaidhri Murphy on 21/02/2011 12:08:46

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

My father told me a while ago that he’d bought a small lathe from a local tool shop, and  that it needed a bit of work doing to it. Eventually he reported that he’d got it all cleaned up and ready to go – and I’m afraid that I clean forgot about it for a while after that, and didn’t go and look at it. This is perhaps slightly forgivable – he lives 90 miles away, after all. And then even when we went next time, I forgot again. Finally, last monday I got to have a look at it – and it’s an EW. It’s about the right size for him, because he builds and repairs clocks (when he’s able – he’s getting on a bit now).

 

His has a slightly weird chuck on it – like an oversized Unimat one, but nothing like any of the ones shown on the lathes site EW page. One thing that he complained about though was the toolpost, which looks original – he says that it’s a right pain to set up, and that he would definitely have used the lathe more if this had been more convenient to use. So I said “why don’t you get a quick-change toolpost for it?” “How much?” he says. So I looked on the Chronos website and told him that it was about £45 for the cheap starter set. “Blimey” he says. “That’s more than I paid for the whole lathe!”

 

So then he confessed that he’d only paid £36 for it. I know that’s not as good a deal as Ruaidhri got, but I reckon he’s got himself a bit of a bargain. And this QCTP thing is annoying – I’ll probably end up buying him the set for it…

 

When I go back, I’ll try and take a few pix – I don’t think he’ll mind.

Edited By Steve Garnett on 26/02/2011 11:34:01

[IanTParticipant @iant]

It sounds like your Dads got a really good deal there Steve.

 

The small “economy” QCTH will fit the EW quite simply and does make life easier. I’ve got mine fitted with my ‘brass’ tooling (i.e. no top rake) but I still use the original toolholder set-up for my ‘Diamond’ and other tooling better suited to steel.

 

I suspect the chuck that came with the lathe is a “scroll” type – there will be a knurled outside and no chuck key as such? Rather like a large self-locking drill chuck? They are usually of very good quality (I’ve never seen a cheap imported one) and if it has not been abused then should still give very good service.

 

Anyway – I’m sure your Dad will enjoy his new lathe – the EW is an ideal size for clock-making, being large enough for most (if not all) work in this area.

 

I’ve just been re-reading the John Wilding ‘beginner’ articles from ME (about 1980’ish?) and although I don’t make clocks – his advice has been very useful with my own work. I will admit that I had thought clockmakers used tiny lathes (‘turns’) but JW says not, only for pivots etc – he actually seems to use a Myford Super7 but I’m sure he would approve of the EW for this work too!

 

Please give your Dad our best wishes.

 

Ian T

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Thanks for the comments, Ian.

 

Posted by IanT on 27/02/2011 14:48:07:

 

The small “economy” QCTH will fit the EW quite simply and does make life easier. I’ve got mine fitted with my ‘brass’ tooling (i.e. no top rake) but I still use the original toolholder set-up for my ‘Diamond’ and other tooling better suited to steel.

 

I’m glad it goes on easily – because I reckon that I’ll end up installing it, and with relatively limited resources on site.

 

 

I suspect the chuck that came with the lathe is a “scroll” type – there will be a knurled outside and no chuck key as such? Rather like a large self-locking drill chuck? They are usually of very good quality (I’ve never seen a cheap imported one) and if it has not been abused then should still give very good service.

 

That sounds about right – it’s a very ‘silver’ looking thing, and I’m sure it doesn’t have a chuck key at all. He’s of the opinion that it’s pretty accurate. The shame is that this appears to be the only headstock option he’s got – no faceplate, no 4-jaw independent, or anything like that, and I suspect that he’d be up for trying a few more things with it if he had a few more options here.

[Ruaidhri MurphyParticipant @ruaidhrimurphy46564]

Some good news today – my friend rang to say he has finally found the original motor (buried in his workshop!) with switch, and the original chuck. Also found the motor bracket, so that should be a complete job

 

With the super amount of info from Ian (thanks again) it looks like I’ll be a busy bunny for some time to come

 

I hope to collect during the week & will post pics if anyone is interested.

 

Cheers,

Ruaidhrí

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Tony

 

I’ve sent you a personal message – please check your Messages in box.

 

Regards

 

Norman

[alan smith 6Participant @alansmith6]

Hi,

My first lathe at the age of 15 was an EW and I still have the original catalogue and receipt for it somewhere. Now 59 years later I just bought another EW lathe on Ebay! The countershaft is not original and I would dearly like to source an original gear cover and gears which I could not afford all those years ago. Can anyone help me with a copy of the Martin Cleeve articles as I would like to make modifications to help the useability of the lathe.

Thank You,

Alan

[Steve GarnettParticipant @stevegarnett62550]

Posted by me on 26/02/2011 11:31:42:

When I go back, I'll try and take a few pix – I don't think he'll mind.

I took a couple with my mobile phone, and then clean forgot to do anything with them! But seeing the thread pop up again I remembered, so here they are:

Overall view of it as it currently stands. Where did that chuck actually come from? I'm absolutely sure it's not original.

'Interesting' layshaft arrangement… also not original, I'd guess.

He doesn't appear to have anything much else for it other than what you can see – so no threadcutting or anything like that, and no means of self-act either. Nice as far as it goes, but really needs some work doing to it, I'd say.

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