Atlas Lathe ID

admin

I'm going to look at an Atlas lathe on Saturday that somebody is selling and I'd like to see if anyone can identify it from one crappy photo that I was sent. The only thing the guy knew was it's an Atlas 36" lathe.  It'd be nice to research it a bit before I see it in person.Thanks for any help,JackJackFort Loramie, OhioMilermatic Autoset 180
Reply:I have the Craftsman version of that lathe.  It looks like yours is missing the aluminum castings that cover the motor. That shouldn't be deal breaker depending on price. Mine dates from the '70's and has a QCGB.  Since the photo is of the rear of the lathe I can't tell if yours has that or not.  If not, then it's a good deal older.  I've gotten a lot of use from the one I have.This a link to a site that has an Atlas/Craftsman Lathe section. Should be a lot of info there. http://www.machinistweb.com/forum/ Attached ImagesLast edited by hvw; 04-26-2013 at 06:51 AM.
Reply:Those little Atlas lathes are ok if its all you have,it's all I had for many years,but don't expect a nice surface finish regardless of what tooling you use.Why,my opinion is because of the flat ways.The other weak link is ZAMAC(die cast) gears they used.I still have my Craftsman/Atlas but don't use it any more after buying a South Bend Fourteen.
Reply:These lathes are pretty capable machines. Granted they aren't the best ever made but they are suitable for the average shop at a minimum.  I've found with mine that the quality of the finish depends on the set up of the cutting bit and taking your time.I've read about Zamak gears but mine aren't. My guess is they were used on the earlier machines. I'm attaching a photo (I think) of a knob I made for a high end dresser that my wife dragged home from a garage sale. The knobs weren't available any more. This one was made out of aluminum scrap. Not with the parting tool shown though.I'm going to attach one more pic in a second post of a knob I made for a mill owned by a friend.  It was cut from 1 1/4 bar stock and is just about shiny smooth. The key seems to be to set the cutting bit to minimize  flex and then go slow. Attached Images
Reply:Here it is. I couldn't figure out how to post both together. Attached Images
Reply:I ended up not purchasing the Atlas lathe.  Three of the gears in the headstock were missing multiple teeth.  There was also a much larger Clausing 5914 (12x36) lathe at the auction, I it found it's way to my trailer for a ride home.  A few small parts to replace, but overall, it's a great machine.JackJackFort Loramie, OhioMilermatic Autoset 180
Reply:Congrats on the lathe.Be careful it's a long way to the bottom of the slippery slope.......but the slide sure is fun
Reply:Sorry I missed the thread. I can tell from the pic the lathe is an atlas 10" TH36 (if it is a 36" bed, most are a 48" which would be a TH48) with quick change gear box. The QCGB is a big bonus!Glad to hear you got the lathe! You will have lots of fun and fix many many things with it!If you have any more questions about it or need help with tear down and cleanings or the like many of atlas owners hang out here: http://www.machinistweb.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=6
Reply:Oops, I read the post wrong, sounds like you came home with the clausing. Nice deal either way! Do you mind sharing where that 10" is and how much they were asking for it?
Reply:The lathes were at an auction and the Atlas sold for $250.00. I wish I would of bought it just for the parts.JackFort Loramie, OhioMilermatic Autoset 180
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3Congrats on the lathe.Be careful it's a long way to the bottom of the slippery slope.......but the slide sure is fun
Reply:A lathe is a lathe fo' all that.Ian.
Reply:Originally Posted by jmhoyingThe lathes were at an auction and the Atlas sold for $250.00. I wish I would of bought it just for the parts.
Reply:I have a beautiful, one owner Atlas/Clausing that sits in the corner of the shop unused with a complete set of accessories, some in the original cartons.  It is a nce machine with limitations.  The flat ways allow whats referred to in the trade as ;fishtail'.  Prismatic Vee ways eliminate that.  The trick, if you will, is to keep the gibs tight on the parallel and use a good way oil.  The change and transposing gears must be kept lubed with EP grease but that applies to all straight cut gear machines, not just the Atlas Clausing.  All my machines, including the production machines use straight cut transposing gears and change gears and all get greased.It's a nice hobby/ocassional use machine.  I fire it up ocassionally to circulate the lubricant.  One thing that Atlas Clausing did that was ahead of the curve was to install Timken pre loaded bearings in the headstock and provide an index pin and alignment holes in the bull gear.  They also incorporated and slip clutch in the leadscrew, great idea for the home shop user that isn't cognizant of what happens when the carriage becomes an interference fit with the headstock.......One issue that arises on all older machines is, the ways aren't flame hardened so bed wallowing from extended use (and no way oil) is prevelant on used (and abused) machines and levelling/rescraping ways and matching carriage height to the remachined ways is an expensive (and thechinical) undertaking, well beyond the realm of knowledge of the home shop machinist, which, is why I recommend the hobbyist purchases a new machine with hardened ways.The inherent accuracy of any machine is entirely dependent on the parallelism and accuracy of the ways, always.
Reply:My atlas gets worked daily.Some chips.
Reply:Thats a bit newer than the one I have.  Mine, or should I say the company's is a early 60's vintage cabinet model.  If I had my druthers for a hobby machine, I'd have a Myford.Like I said, the AC is for sale.  I have no possible need for it.  On the other side of the wall are 3 lathes, surface grinder 2 mills and a CNC machine. Attached Images
Reply:It;s in absolutely pristime condition.  I even have the original paid receipt for the machine and the 4 jaw has never been on the spindle.  I takes up no room actually so there it sits.  I usually have it covered up but it's uncovered for the picture.
Reply:That is a beautiful machine! I would love to have it but have no use for a second atlas. If I did get another lathe it would have to have 15+" of swing.
Reply:It was my wife's uncle's machine.  He bought it and maybe used it twice. to turn some brass. (It had brass swarf under the bed supports).  It's 110 volt, that makes it nice for a small shop.  Not in the picture is a complete set of Williams toolholders in the original box in the carton.  The taper attachment was never mounted and it has a follower rest and a steady rest plus the live center and the face plates and dog plate, of course, everything in the cartons.  It has a handwheel closer and some collets.  It takes 3AT's I think.  Look to be the same collets my resrtored South Bend 9" benchtop takes, I have a handwheel closer for it as well as a complete set of collets in the original hardwood case.The South Bend isn't for sale.  I spent 5 years bringing it (1941 build) back from the brink of extintion.  The bed has been resurfaced and scraped, Headstock bearings (babbit repoured and line bored as well as microfinished.  It has lots of new parts (I knew swome floks at South Bend before they went into receivership so I had access to spares.  South Bend did the bed for me and reset the carriage as well as recut the Vee ways on the cross.I consider it a toy.  I use it to ream primer pockets on brass and ocassionally part a case when I stick one.  I have a LeBlond and a Dashin Prince as well.  Those are my working machines.On the Atlas....Just after he bought it, he fell and broke his hip and was incapacitated.  He died a few years later from complications and when my wife's family liquidated the estate they asked me to dispose of it.  I trucked it to the shop and there it sits.In a way I hate to sell it.  It's American craftsmanship, Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan by craftsmen long gone, a testament to American Industry, something thats almost vanished today.  It's as American as apple pie and it's in showroom condition to boot.I don't believe I've ever seen a Atlas/Clausing this nice and believe me, I've looked.Tony at UK Lathes has been drooling for my South Bend for a long time and if he saw this Atlas, he'd probably pee his pants......
Reply:PM me a price for the atlas anyhow. I will always have a small lathe around and may just replace the one I have now if the price is right for me.