There are people who has made the spindles themselves. For example, this gentleman in SHDesigns made one from tool steel, and has a page for it. But he turned it on an Atlas/Craftsman 12x36. I don't have a machine of that size or accuracy. All I have is a semi-working Craftsman 109. And even if it cuts, I am not sure if I can make the finishing smooth enough for the bearing surface.
I have been thinking and search for a while. And one day, I realized something. We all know that the spindle size of the Craftsman 109 is 0.551". That is a strange number. I have seen people doing things in strange numbers, but there has to be a reason. And it turns out that 0.551" is 14mm. The all American Craftsman has a metric heart. How interesting is that.
So all I got to do is to find a grounded 14mm rod, and that could be my new spindle. But what about the collar part? I have spent quite some time thinking about it, and there are a few ways I came up with. I did a few experiment to decide the precision of my cut and measurement, and decided that I can bore the hole precise enough for an interference fit (or shrink fit), with my BBQ stove as heating source (no need for a propane torch).
So here we go. First I got the 14mm rod from eBay. It is grounded 1144 steel. Even though it is not as hard as tool steel, I figured that it will do for me now. The piece I got is 24 inches long, just enough to make three spindles (the original spindle is about 7-1/2" long).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYeM3DRWFqKF-oYFxS86v8MBTmW8IDRNZ5I5Cg5J_9MsAINlATVCxMKsWCKyQWMYSABZihebw2ZineIm6LUCGRM0l38KKTO83k9A986Kh03uykwGhJyu2P-t317EBv2B-o7oCWL2HYho/s320/IMG_20151128_194056304.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj1T27Lffi0C3mOGyN0hBzYs9gw1Jr1jDKrw0alQsdyH605MLUDwdwE_WT_jwan9iZqdGJ7RjwCIYSK_5QThC3wU3PD77cZqpqCayD-gELd7Fw2lycfIa8tr7uaaMvIMlFDKD-KS7fQA/s320/IMG_20151128_225442721.jpg)
Next I put it on my lathe to finish the backside of the collar. The rest of it can be machined when the spindle is on the lathe.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTAvEuXE4sgamIHf3ajttKHPifdYlkzoNSanvi0jU07BNlTX-AAWE9tULjI8khSbMrVXm3CVXsiRWgT5AKGdDoH8zjBie12DAqhq74-ssJ4Jx42dCvAQBLaCBYPEhXKaJREVlevvzl9M/s320/IMG_20151129_144521896.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPNdpsm71fB24cc2TnlG7nPSXFDmRoyOkfRzSnEjp2EyA2mL9JVt01YtCgYy4KCObGSBcJ-efGdfLGNUMJigz61ma5KYewhMtVneGDMGLUHOH88SxP0VYhlK3Xk1TOrzYhoqahnLRmjY/s320/IMG_20151129_141403476.jpg)
The old spindle is shown here. As one can see, it has been worn out quite a bit on its bearing surface. I guess that this spindle might have never been replaced since the lathe is first sold in late 1940s. It is an old lathe.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjeSlVdvULd8Gvk1dpqqv5I2rT0ZPUzI9RmPs8Hlfnnrjki-VndlLGIpdNiWgAncksgwb-VuZqziXi0PXr-YAV7AGad6OUAtAJzDONoYXSbFCUxGGYkFxzUwBEYyfDpTexWIh77R06YM/s320/IMG_20151129_221636042.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6996pHv4nt9_ZTijHUDgURokb0Vb8hGzRY7AgnSi_dAKroGHmIY_hZDYipOq4nshBoL80q6_YtWlVw4QgwMDgT1IoK_kIAQ85HU067g8_wFtULqckXeJND_wXXqydp6dfdIya2ISNVzI/s320/IMG_20151130_212131189.jpg)
Cutting the threads are largely uneventful. I did have a few mistakes when the gear pops out. But I got it realigned easily. I finished the thread with a die. As always, that is not an easy work, and took significant force at the end. The die set I have is a cheapo set from Harbor Freight. Maybe I will need a better die set someday.
So finally, here is my new spindle on the lathe. All home made cheaply and proudly on the Craftsman 109 lathe I have.
3 comments:
I am enjoying watching your pilgrimage with the Craftsman lathe.
Hans
So far it has been great fun.
Yours looks like a nice fix, but someone refitted my Craftsman 109 with a spindle that's 0.750 at the bored-out front bearing, 0.544 at the back, threaded 7/8-9 UNC on the spindle and chuck, and poured the oil holes full of babbitt.
It doesn't leave much of an upgrade path.
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