email: tony@lathes.co.uk
Home   Machine Tool Archive   Machine-tools Sale & Wanted
Machine Tool Manuals   Catalogues   Belts   Books  Accessories

"Union" L.1.A.S. Lathe
- restoration in progress -
 Union Lathes Home Page   Harrison Home Page   
L.1.A Photographs

A series of self-explanatory pictures showing the on-going restoration of a complete and absolutely original Union lathe from what looked to be scrap condition back to a very smart and useable machine. The lathe appears to have had little use, with even the nuts and bolts looking as good as new with no rounded heads. The bed, once the rust was removed, showed only a few minor marks; all the backgears and changewheels were intact and unbroken and the compound slide feed-screws unworn..




As found--rusty but complete and original

The bed and slides look beyond recovery…..

...however, careful work with a stiff-backed, diamond file soon has things looking much improved

.....many more hours of work saw the saddle lapped to the bed using fine aluminium oxide powder mixed with WD40 oil. The resulting finish allowed the carriage to glide down the bed with minimal resistance - a state of affairs probably better than the ex-factory fit

Cleaning of the carriage reveals the let-in brass protractor sale for top-slide set over and a pair of heavy-duty T-slots in perfect condition

Evidence of minimal use and an easy life - only one scuff mark where the chuck has contacted the cross slide

Bronze nut let into the roof of the cross slide. Only three gib-strip adjustment screws were used - a penny-pinching approach on what was otherwise a well-specified, decently-made lathe

The top slide as found. Note the crisp thread for the toolpost clamp and lack of damage around it, further evidence that this is a lightly-used machine




Further cleaning and adjustment see the lathe begin to approach a useable state

Considering the length of time it spent abandoned, rust damage is surprisingly light




Union Lathes Home Page   Harrison Home Page    L.1.A Photographs

"Union" L.1.A.S. Lathe
- restoration in progress -
email: tony@lathes.co.uk
Home   Machine Tool Archive   Machine-tools Sale & Wanted
Machine Tool Manuals   Catalogues   Belts   Books  Accessories