[quick toy]

Hi guys,
I am completly new at this, and need to start somewhere. (Ok, I did take machine shop way back when the wheel was invented, and remember a little but...)
I am looking into picking up a Busy Bee 10 x 18 B2227L Lathe. I read through most of the posts regarding this lathe, and see that a few own it, and are on the whole pretty happy with it.
My questions are, what are the things I need to buy initially with it ( i.e. cutting tools, holders, etc?, I'm not sure what it comes with) to do simple things like threading rod, and turning down bar stock. Also, any other first hand advice and experiences you want to share about the setup, and things to watch out for?

Thanks
Paul

[in2steam]

A link is always helpful, I think that that lathe is the same one that grizzly offers in the 10x22 range. Since they are up in the great white north with you then that should work. I cannot comment on what it comes with, if contact the seller I am sure they can supply that.

At anyrate, take your budget for the machine and in most cases double that, and you will have a machine with tooling suitable to use for average operations. Its always hard to say what someone needs, and this of course is a debate in of itself. I always recomend that someone start with HSS toolbits, learn to run those then move onto carbide bits if the need arises, I would say that most of the operations done buy average home shop machinsts don't need anything more some find that carbide is all they use, but I prefer HSS. A decent drill index, and a set of center drills(the good quality ones) and counter sinks. I would invest in a quick change tool post, I cannot recomend one in particular as the toolpost itself determines what you need so you may want to see if the seller has one avaliable. A standard complement of mics and calipers of course, I find that a smaller surface block is handy for checking and laying out with a height or surface gauge. Vee-blocks, angle plates, and a decent 4-jaw(my assumption is that it does not come with one) chucks are pretty much importortant if you plan to do other then roundstock finishing operations. Milling attachments are handy esp if you don't have a mill, a full range of collets are nice for accurate work, and a decent clamp kit(its hard say what works best as you need determine that) for the odd to hold job. A decent level(machinst or better), a good quality combo square with angle and center finder, a ground finished piece of rod for checking setups, and nice set of files, all this in the last sentence should be of finer qaulity, the more you pay the better it is. Some other important things if you do alot of threading, a center finder, thread gauges, a turret is handy for those runs were you do alot of center drilling, drilling, reaming, tapping. For off center work, a good 4 jaw chuck, bison for instance, a wiggler, and possibly a few extra angle blocks and vee blocks. You can make alot fixtures, like tap holders, depth gauges for indicators, and test indicators. One thing I did buy recently and don't know why I never had it before was a indicator holder that can flex every which way one from Harbor freight the other from a company called flexbar, this makes mounting easy and you can move to any position you desire and lock it. For BTC work, a good live center, you can make dead centers from 12L14 or similiar, and if you can get one for that lathe a taper attachment(my geuess is no). A gallon of wd40, or similiar for degreasing the lathe, a bundle of rags for that job, and another for when you start to use the lathe. A box of cheap brushes, a few peices of flexible plastic for a way cover, a decent oil can, a nice small 6" bench grinder with a 60 and 100 grit wheel, an 8" would be better but not needed, lathes and grinders run hand in hand esp with HSS toolbits.


does this help?

I currently own a 9x20 grizzly and a smaller taig.
besides other machines.
chris

[quick toy]

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/pictu...&NTITEM=B2227L

Thank you! That helps a lot. I have a lot of info to look into.
Are there any online tutorials that you know of, that discuss the leveling and initial setup of a lathe?

Paul

[vulcom1]

Not sure what part of the country you are in but I buy from the Calgary store. They will help you also and don't be afraid to ask a question. Tell them you are new at it and want to learn. Besides the regular cutting tools(hss) to start I would also have a 4 jaw chuck. I have seen some of the smaller types where it was a problem mounting one and to me it is a necessity as a 3 jaw is only so accurate especially if you have to take the work out and then put it back.
I am going to look at one when I get to the city. I have an Atlas(old) and was thinking of something smaller.
John

[metalbyter]

The 10x18 is a great deal.
I bought one about 6 months ago and I love it.
I bought mine from the Busy Bee in New Westminster, and had the opportunity to see one beside the 9x20. What a difference the 9x20 is a lot smaller and lighter than the 10x18.
After some basic wiping the grease off I was using it with no modifications
I was parting off 1 1/2" SS. Not 1 or 2 pieces but 100s.
I use the 4 way tool post on my lathes and I bought 5 more for the 10x18
as well as a tailstock turret from the Little Machine Shop.
The best feature for me is the gear box for the spindle, I do a lot of repetetive work drilling, tapping, counter sink, turning and parting,
I could not imagine changing belts for every opperation.
I use carbide insert as well as HSS tooling.
There is a Yahoo group pm1027lathe that has some good info about this lathe.

Mark

[quick toy]

Deleted double post

[quick toy]

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the info. I'm out east (Toronto Ontario) but have lived in B.C.

Paul

[Mansmithing]

check out the smithy you tube chanel, they have a whole sectionof setting up the machine, leveling, adjusting gibs, slides, and reducing play in everything... i dont have a smith machine (i have a craftex b2229 combo) but many of the adjustments are the same or similar enough ti give you a good idea of what your looking at and need to adjust. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCau...K4v20NzWlUTF0A

[GrahamC]

I just bought one of the 10x18 lathes and am just getting it set up. This is not my first lathe and I have used some other rather large industrial types as well. What made me go with this one was it's size and weight compared to the more common 9x20 lathes - obviously physically larger and hence heavier plus I liked the gearhead feature.

As to quick change tool posts, you wouldn't go wrong with the ones already mentioned however, busybee lists one:
http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/pictu...3&NTITEM=B1883

that is also a good option. Not as "quick change" as the others but better than the turret post that it comes with - it and additional tool holders are also on sale right now. I like it, works well for me.

cheers, Graham in Embrun near Ottawa Canada

[quick toy]

Thanks Graham
I'll take a look at it tomorrow.

Cheers
Paul

[quick toy]

Well I picked up the lathe yesterday.
I spent most of the day unpacking and cleaning the lathe. One of the
things I noticed that I want to change, is the tiny nuts and screws
used on the compound slide lockdown. Has anyone changed these? I
couldn't figure out how to get the slide apart to get at the screws. I
had the crosslide apart and the compound off, but couldn't get the
base off. I didn't want to force anything. I did have the handwheel off.

I pulled the gearbox access plate off to check inside and immediately
the rubber gasket came to life, distorting and growing...Yikes! I
killed it with a brick LOL. I guess the rubber isn't oil resistant. I
had a sheet of cork gasket material lying around and replaced it with
a cork gasket.I hope it holds.

I noticed that there is no reverse for the leadscrew, and I want to do some lefthand threading. Has anybody done a reverse leadscrew gear mod? I have found one that has been done to the 3in1 machine, and another to this machine, but not a lot of info about it.


Thanks
Paul

[GrahamC]

I noticed that there is no reverse for the leadscrew, and I want to do some lefthand threading. Has anybody done a reverse leadscrew gear mod? I have found one that has been done to the 3in1 machine, and another to this machine, but not a lot of info about it.


Thanks
Paul

Morning Paul,

Do tell me more about the reverse leadscrew gear mod the the 3in1 machine and this one that you have found. So far I have only found references to mods like this for the more common 9x12 and and smaller machines.

While the 10x18 has a reverse AC motor which will reverse the leadscrew it also reverses the spindle. I would like to be able to cut left hand threads as well.

I have had mine about 2 weeks and it's still it the garage. I removed what I could so I can get it in the basement; the stairs are steep and narrow and I am waiting on some hired muscle to lend a hand. In the mean time I am cleaning up, degreaseing and oiling those parts I have removed and rearranging and giving a good cleaning to the basement workshop (it needs it - new tools give me a good reason to do just that or does the need to clean it up give me reason to get some new tool )

cheers, Graham in Embrun near Ottawa Canada

[GrahamC]

Hey Nickm23 small world. My home email is [email protected]

As or the tailstock, I kind of like it as is. I am sure I would like a camlock or similar but I have a small box wrench I just leave on the nut and tighten and loosen when needed. the wrench is not so long that it doesn't extend much past the tailstock ram and so is quite convienient.

I have a a few mods to the tool holder and compound that I will post when I get some time and take some pictures.

So far I do like the lathe and am glad I didn't get the 9x20 size.

cheers, Graham

[dkp_design]

I just got delivery of a B2227L and am SHOCKED!!! It's WAY more lathe than I thought it would be. I mean, $1100CDN, what can you really buy of quality for that? Ive allready hogged some alumumum and scared the heck out of some grade 8 bolts with it LOL. Destroyed a HSS bit on the bolt, but I wanted to see what kinda power it has. Should be plenty fro me. I want to manufacture stuff, but not needind 100+ parts a day LOL

PS, what Tpi would that reverse feed mod allow? I LOVE it. But feel I would have a need for metric threads too.