Why you need a lathe

[cheb]

When all you can get easily and quickly are isolation valves with compression fittings and it's to fit a flat faced bsp threaded fitting. The problem is the compression fitting tapers to an edge and not a face.



A bit of brass scratching later:



I did two, one for hot and one for cold. The cold one has been fitted and is leak free. Now I proved it works I'll do the hot, I didn't want to risk wasting water I've paid to heat .

[Silly Car]

It does somewhat beggar belief that isolation valves are not readily available with flat mating surfaces, especially given the number of taps which are supplied with flexi hoses attached.

[kendo57]

I need a bigger lathe

[porter_jamie]

Good work my man

[cheb]

There's flat faced valves available but I don't like buying plumbing fitting from random sellers. Partly quality and partly 'picture for illustrative purposes only'

[cheb]

I need a bigger lathe

What lathe do you have? That's a 1964 Harrison L5, ex college. I don't get anywhere near what it's capable of.

[Screwdriver]

You're putting an isolating valve where tap should be.

Nothin' wrong with doing that but that's why they are different. I had exactly the same issue when fitting a water filter for a neighbour. Flexi hoses are the worst of both worlds. Compression one end, tap fitting the other...

[kendo57]

I have a nice Myford Super 7, its done me ok but it does have its limits . The biggest pain is the hole through
the spindle which is only about 14mm.

[Screwdriver]

I have a nice Myford Super 7, its done me ok but it does have its limits . The biggest pain is the hole through
the spindle which is only about 14mm.

I started out with a Myford. Best upgrade fosr size, bang per bucks and specifically for bikes - I went with a Colchester Student. They're still cheap, screwcutting, decent size and most important for motorcycle size stuff like shafts and spindles, they have a generous inch and a half (38mm) bore spindle.

[kendo57]

Colchester student is a bit of a sore point with me, i had the chance to buy a minter for £1500 with loads of accessories.
Unfortunately when it became available i was being treated for an illness and lathes were not top off my thoughts.
So i told a friend about it and he bought it , one day i hope he will get bored and sell it to me.
Picture of said lathe below

[Screwdriver]

eek. Don't hold your breath, that one looks like a keeper.

[cheb]

That looks lovely.

I started with my late paternal grandfather's ex WW2 repair lorry Atlas lathe. The spindle bore on my Harrison is 3/4", annoyingly small.

[Cousin Jack]

You're putting an isolating valve where tap should be.

Nothin' wrong with doing that but that's why they are different. I had exactly the same issue when fitting a water filter for a neighbour. Flexi hoses are the worst of both worlds. Compression one end, tap fitting the other...

I fitted an isolating valve and a tap. I don't trust taps.

[MrLongbeard]

Picture of said lathe below

Go and slap him upside the head with a shovel and hide the body, if that picture hadn't shown in running I'd say it'd never had been turned on.

[ZRX61]

I had three SouthBends at one point, A 9in, a Heavy 10 & a 13x60.

[cheb]

Another reason. I needed a drill with a 43mm collar for a single job. I've an old Wolf drill, courtesy of a skip, but the collar was 44mm.
Off we go. I ended up using friction drive, it was an awkward shape to clamp and I was only doing light cuts. Frightful bodge, lightly clamp the drill chuck stud in the tailstock chuck and off we go.



Done:



And I got to use these, left handed calipers. A boon and a blessing on a lathe.

[Screwdriver]

Funny thing is, I have no memory of doing this...