Project: I have a South Bend 9" Model A with tooling in my shop to resurrect!

Canuck Bob

Active Member
I have a South Bend 9 A to get in shape for gun work. It has a 4.5' bed with 3/4" spindle hole. It has lots of tooling including steady rests and follower, thread follower, collets, and 3 chucks. It is complete with a QC gearbox and tight spindle bearings I think.

I have a great deal to learn!

The first project is clean, inventory and test the lathe then build a spindle outboard spider.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Learn away!
I knew essentially nothing about running a metal lathe when I got mine. I will as kinda shocked at how easy threading really was.
Got any pics?
 

Canuck Bob

Active Member
Not much for posting pics but maybe my daughter can help tomorrow. I did some production lathe work 40 years ago so not a total greenhorn. The lathe belongs to my best friend but he stores it here and he has told me to treat it like my own. I started working on it a few years ago but got sick. This forum sparked my interest.
 

Intheshop

Banned
Just take your time Canuck,it'll come back to you like riding a bike.Keep it wet with lube.

I hear ya on the pics,if it isn't point,shoot,post......well,put it this way,I've got more funner things to do (lathe?) than trying to decipher a computer workaround,haha.

A little collet system,not too unlike a bullet puller from RCBS....also,similar to a vertical 5C closer (milling machine)...makes a nice project.Holds CB's as part of fixturing for hollow points,bumping and other nose work.Quality lathe time and setups with minimal head scratching but,touches several project areas.Tapers,threads,internal and external turning,fits,etc.

Have fun,slow and steady wins the race.
 
Last edited:

KeithB

Resident Half Fast Machinist
Congrats on the lathe Bob, there's a lot you will enjoy making with it.

I scanned a version of the South Bend Lathe operators manual. If you want a copy I will be glad to put it on a CD or a USB memory stick and mail it to you. It's 64 files and totals 38.2 Mb, so it's a bit much to send over a slow connection. Just pay for the postage and a USB drive, CDs are free.
 

Canuck Bob

Active Member
I'll take you up on that. Will send a PM. Thanks!
Bob

Edit: It turs out I have the original operation manual "How to run a Lathe". I found the same as a PDF online. My download speed is up to the task. Are these the same?

Bob
 
Last edited:

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Good news. My first lathe was an ancient 11" SB. It taught me to thread and turn. Good old machines.

With collets and three chucks, you have a good start there. 4.5 foot bed.....that ought to be enough!

Bill
 

Canuck Bob

Active Member
Online specs indicate the lathe will turn 37" between centres. The spindle through hole of .75" does limit things I suppose (what is this feature normally called).
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
It goes by the highly technical term of 'spindle through hole'. :D
At least, that is all I have ever heard it called, even in specs on lathes.

Bill
 

Ian

Notorious member
With 37" between centers I would think there would be very little call in the gun machining world for passing anything through the spindle, assuming of course you're ok doing chamber work in a steady rest.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
If a lathe has taught me anything it is that we often have to make do. Ideal often doesn't exist. Find a way to get the job done and move on.

My lathe has a 1.5" spindle thru hole which is nice but I bet many fine rifles were chambered on a lathe identical to yours.

Never forget that it isn't the machine, it is the man that matters.
 

M3845708Bama

Active Member
I have a South Bend 9 A to get in shape for gun work. It has a 4.5' bed with 3/4" spindle hole. It has lots of tooling including steady rests and follower, thread follower, collets, and 3 chucks. It is complete with a QC gearbox and tight spindle bearings I think.

I have a great deal to learn!

The first project is clean, inventory and test the lathe then build a spindle outboard spider.
There was a yahoo forum on old tools that had the gov downloadable manual for this lathe. Several hundred pages