1.1. Are you the same people who made
the lathes? History?
1.2. What is the taper inside the
spindle?
1.3. How can I find out the model number
of this lathe?
1.4. How can I find the serial number of
this lathe?
1.5. How can I find out the age of this
lathe?
1.6. Is this lathe worn? Worn out?
How can I tell? What goes wrong
with Logan lathes?
1.7. How much does this lathe weigh?
1.8. What size motor should I put on
this lathe?
1.9. How can I move this lathe?
2.2. How can I get the lathe to cut
straight?
2.3. How can I add collets to this
lathe? Which collets fit this lathe?
2.4. Is a Logan spindle nose the same as
a South Bend nose?
2.5. How can I make a backplate for a
chuck?
2.6. Where can I get replacement gears?
2.7. How can I replace the vee belt
without removing the spindle?
2.8. What color paint did Logan
use? How can I get something similar?
2.9. Why won’t this chuck hold parts
exactly on center?
2.10. What
can I do to fix a 3-jaw scroll chuck with worn jaws?
2.11. Where
can I get new jaws or different jaws to fit my old Logan chuck?
2.12. What
size pulley goes on the motor?
2.13. What
is the right size chuck for this lathe?
2.14. What
should I use for oiling the lathe? Oil
level in reservoir?
2.15. What
should I use to replace a flat leather drive belt?
2.16. Why
is the drive on the Logan lathe from a vee-belt pulley to a flat pulley?
3.1. Which size Quick Change toolpost
fits this lathe?
3.2. What is this used lathe worth?
3.3. How do Logans compare to South
Bends or Atlas lathes?
3.4. Does this steady rest fit a
10", 11" or which?
3.5. Are parts from one Logan lathe
interchangeable with those from a different model?
3.6. Where can I get cheap parts?
3.7. Where can I get good parts?
4.1. How can I cut metric threads on a
Logan lathe?
4.2. How do I eliminate chatter when
cutting?
4.4. Where can take classes on using a
lathe?
4.5. What books are good for teaching
how to use a lathe?
4.6. What should I use for cutting fluid?
4.7. How do I use the threading dial on a Logan or Wards lathe?
1.1..
Logan
Actuator Company is very closely linked to Logan Lathes. Read the history here:
http://www.loganact.com/history.htm
1.2..
http://lathe.com/ll-group-archive/spindle_nose_data.html
1.3..
Many
Logan Lathes have the model number stamped on the nameplate attached to the
front of the headstock. Other Logan
Lathes have nameplates, but the model number wasn’t
stamped on the nameplate. For those
lathes, you can deduce the model number by knowing the features and dimensions
of the lathe, and matching them to the model number table at:
http://www.lathe.com/models.htm
1.4..
The
serial number is stamped on the ways of the lathe, at
the tailstock end, between the vee section and the
flat section, in a spot that is not worn by lathe use. You can read it by looking straight down on
the lathe.
1.5..
Find
the serial number of the lathe as directed in question 1.4. Then look at the table of serial numbers on
the web at:
http://www.lathe.com/ser-no.htm
1.6..
There are a few things on
The most severe form of wear is bed wear.
This happens even faster if the bed isn’t
constantly lubricated with a good coat of “way lube”. Lathes with hardened beds typically have very
little bed wear, but you can’t be sure. It is very hard to tell bed wear
visibly.
One good way to test for bed wear is to set up the machine so the bed isn’t
twisted as described in question 2.2, then take a test cut on a long bar. If the bar diameter remains constant
throughout the length of the cut, the bed is not worn. Alternately, you can put a long, straight,
precision bar in the lathe, put a dial test indicator on the carriage, and
crank the dial test indicator across the precision bar, watching for deviation
in reading.
If your lathe bed is worn, it will be very expensive
to repair. Grinding shops can precision
grind the bed, but it will cost between $350 and $750 for a good bed grinding job.
Another form of wear is bushing wear.
This is evident by a grumbling sound from the gearbox. Worn bushings can be easily
pressed out and replaced. New
bushings are available from
Another form of wear is wear in the tailstock ram. This could allow the ram to droop or wiggle
during the cut. To repair this, you need
to bore out the tailstock casting, insert a bronze or cast iron sleeve, and then
bore it to precise diameter.
The headstock bearings could also be worn. On
Here’s a good article on how to check out a lathe:
http://www.mermac.com/advice.html
1.7..
The
shipping weight of a
The shipping weight of a
The shipping weight of a
The shipping weight of a
The shipping weight of a
The shipping weight of a
1.8..
You can use a larger motor, but the belts may not allow you to take advantage
of it.
1.9..
Lathes
are heavy. You can seriously hurt
yourself moving heavy machinery. You can
also damage the lathe if you drop it. To
be safe, hire a professional rigger. If you’re going to move the lathe yourself, get proper
equipment and get a few strong, healthy people to help you. It requires at least two healthy people to
move a lathe.
The best way to move a lathe is to disassemble it, transport the parts, and
then reassemble it in the final location.
The more you disassemble, the lighter the parts. Decide for yourself when you have the lathe
into small enough parts and stop disassembly at that point.
First, remove the tailstock by sliding it off the end of the bed. Next, remove the leadscrew
support and crank the carriage off the tailstock end of the bed. Now remove the motor. The motor mounting assembly comes off next. Once the motor support assembly is removed, you can remove the headstock from the bed.
Next, you can remove the bed from the base.
If the lathe has cast legs, support the bed well before unbolting the
bed from the legs. Two average, healthy
people can carry an 11” lathe bed. Two
strong people can carry an 11” lathe with headstock in place.
Reassemble the lathe in the opposite sequence.
You will need to disconnect and reconnect power to the lathe when you move
it. The power line contains enough
potential to kill you. To be safe, hire
a licensed electrician.
2.1..
http://lathe.com/ll-group-archive/logan_lathe_back_gears.html
2.2..
The
classic way to set up a lathe is to use a precision level capable of indicating
a slope of 0.0005” in 12” and two matched parallels. Place the parallels on the flats of the lathe
bed near the headstock, place the level on the parallels at right angles to the
lathe bed, and adjust one headstock foot for level. Then place the parallels on the flats of the
lathe bed near the tailstock and repeat, adjusting one tailstock foot for
level. After doing this, the bed should
be free from twist.
An easier way to do the same thing is to put the precision level securely on
top of the lathe carriage, perpendicular to the lathe bed with the carriage
near the headstock. Adjust one headstock
foot for level. Then crank the carriage
towards the tailstock and adjust one tailstock foot for level.
If the lathe feet are not adjustable, place the right size shims under the foot
for level.
Another option for leveling is to use adjustable machine mounts. Logan Actuator sells a high quality mount,
made by Royal, which will allow easy adjustment, and secures the Lathe to the
floor without the need to drill holes in the floor, and/or add anchors.
Once you have the lathe level, it should cut straight. Check this by putting a 1” straight, constant
diameter bar in the chuck or collet, putting a dial test indicator on the toolpost, and cranking the indicator across the bar. The needle should not move. If it slowly drifts from one end to the
other, the lathe bed is still twisted.
Adjust for no change. If the
needle varies nonlinearly, then the bed is worn. This can’t be
effectively corrected by leveling.
Here’s another effective way to adjust a lathe, courtest
of Rollie’s dad:
http://www.john-wasser.com/NEMES/RDMLatheAlignment.html
Here’s a good article describing how to set up a lathe:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~chrish/tsetup.htm
2.3..
You may be able to find used collet adapters to fit a
One article from 2004 shows how to make a collet adapter that fits over the
spindle nose. This is a much more
advanced project. Over-the-nose collet
adapters allow a 10”
You can buy new draw-in collet adapters made by Royal or new over-the-nose
collet adapters made by Bison or Sjogren from Logan
Actuator or other dealers.
2.4..
Each
lathe manufacturer made their spindle nose slightly differently. The 2¼ - 8
2.5..
You
can learn about this simple process from one of these excellent articles:
http://www.lathes.co.uk/latheparts/page7.html
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~chrish/t-chucks.htm
2.6..
There are many used machinery dealers that have used gears available.
You can also buy new gears directly from
2.7..
If
the vee belt on your lathe is worn
out, you can replace it with a Fenner PowerTwist belt, available from many dealers. This belt is made of many identical belt
links. You buy it in bulk and snap
together the length that you need. In
some cases, a Fenner PowerTwist
belt will run smoother than a continuous vee belt.
http://www.fennerindustrial.com/products/powertwist_ind.html
2.8..
The early Logan Lathes were
painted a very dark Blue-Gray.
Sometime in the early 1960s, the color was changed
to a Medium Gray or Machinery Gray. It was a very common color for machine
tools at the time. The Medium Gray is readily available from many sources
still. The Blue-Gray is not. The closest
I've found is from Grainger, a
spray paint
called Dem-Kote Blue Gray, their stock number is
5FX11. This is what
In 1971, the lathe manufacturing operation was moved out
of
Joe Schulte found a paint that matches his 1952-vintage Model 200
perfectly: Benjamin-Moore High Gloss
Metal & Wood Enamel, Oil Base (Alkyd), Deep base C-133 3B, Color ID. 2119-30, Color Name. Baby
Seal Black, Color Book 133. Any
Benjamin-Moore dealer can mix this up for you. The smallest size he could get was
a quart. The name makes the color sound black when it
is really Blue-Gray.
Many industrial or auto paint stores will match color if you bring them a
sample. Some will even load a rattle-can
for you. I had good luck with the local Sherwin Williams dealer and their
“Industrial Enamel” paint. Bring along your tailstock and they can match the
color, complete with age and dirt stains.
2.9..
No
chuck or collet is perfect. Even a new three-jaw
chuck is only good to 0.002” or so unless it is adjustable. If your chuck won’t
hold parts that closely, something is wrong.
Here’s a list of possibilities. Any of these could cause a good lathe to
wobble.
It could be that the jaws of the chuck are worn. Letting parts spin in the jaws wears the
chuck quickly.
It could also be that the scroll of the chuck is worn. The scroll is a flat spiral metal plate
behind the jaws.
Another possibility is that the chuck is mounted on the backplate
wrong or that there are dirt or chips between the
chuck and the backplate. Take it apart, clean it carefully, oil it,
and reassemble it. That may help.
Still another possibility is that there is dirt or chips between the backplate and the spindle.
Unscrew the backplate from the spindle, clean
the threads in the backplate and on the spindle, oil
both, and try assembling it again. Screw
it together gently. It should not be forced together or spun on fast with a snap.
It could be that the spindle is bent. Put
a dial indicator on the spindle nose to check it.
It could be that the spindle bearings are bad or that the spindle is improperly installed.
Good bearings will feel smooth and have no play.
2.10..
If the scroll is worn, there’s nothing you can do without a CNC machine and a lot
of time. If the scroll is worn and you fix the jaws, the chuck will be true at the
diameter that you used for the repair, but nowhere else.
If you’re sure that the problem is just the jaws, then
you can set up a toolpost grinder or boring bar and
regrind or bore the jaws true. However,
you must do this with the jaws pressing against something. One way to do this is with a piece of sheet
metal having holes for each jaw. Another
way to do this is to drill holes in each jaw for a pin or screw, and have these
pins or screws tighten down on a piece of pipe.
Tighten the chuck on the sheet metal or pipe and the jaws will be locked in the right place.
http://lathe.com/tips/chuck-jaw.htm
2.11..
Before you buy used chuck jaws
sight-unseen, you need to know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of
different jaw sizes. It is nearly
impossible to find replacement jaws for a particular chuck unless you go right
to the chuck manufacturer.
Logan Actuator Co. sells new chucks, made by Bison. These are high quality chucks, made in
2.12..
The
For 10” lathes, the motor pulley (LP-1885 or LA-349) is approximately
2.31" & 4.28" in diameter.
For 11” lathes, the motor pulley (LP-1551 or LA1037) is approximately 2.5”
& 5.25” in diameter.
You can buy these pulleys from Logan Actuator.
Specify motor shaft size when ordering.
2.13..
2.14..
There are many
places on your lathe that require frequent lubrication.
Check your
The ways (bed) of the lathe should be lubricated with a heavy,
sticky oil called way lube. This is
available in a few different viscosities (thicknesses). The right oil for
All other oil spots on the Logan Lathe can be oiled
with ISO 22 grade spindle oil or SAE 10-weight non-detergent motor oil. Don’t use common
“detergent” motor oil. You can get SAE
10-weight non-detergent motor oil from large automotive parts dealers for under
$2 per quart. You can get ISO 22 grade
spindle oil from industrial suppliers like MSC for under $10 per gallon.
2.15..
Logan Actuator supplies a synthetic
belt that is the right size for your
If you want to use leather, you can still buy leather belting
materials from McMaster-Carr Supply.
2.16..
This arrangement is
called a “V to flat drive” and was very common on machine tools of this
type. The primary reasoning was so that
the belt could be shifted from one position to the
other without having to release the tension, requiring another adjustment.
3.1..
For
Logan Actuator Co. sells Phase II Toolposts
and will machine the T-Nut to fit your lathe at no extra cost upon request.
3.2..
This
is a very difficult question for many reasons:
3.2..
Different
parts of the country (and world) have different demand, so different values;
3.2..
Lathes
vary tremendously in condition, from broken, to worn out, to like-new, and
everywhere in between; and
3.2..
Lathe
accessories can be worth more than the basic lathe so value is strongly dependent
on what comes with it (tooling, attachments, motor, etc.)
3.2..
To
get some idea of lathe values, check eBay under sold items for similar
lathes. Also
check the classified advertisements in the Sunday newspaper for your region to
see sales prices for similar lathes.
With that information, your lathe is only worth what someone else will
pay you for it.
3.3..
For an objective description of lathes of various manufactures, read:
http://www.lathes.co.uk
3.4..
Steady
or Center Rests for Logan and Wards Lathes are unique to their respective swing
size. In other words, one for a
One way to check is the height from the flat to the center
line of the Steady. The heights
are:
Logan 10” Lathe – 5-1/4”
Logan 11” Lathe – 5-9/16”
Logan 12” Lathe – 6-1/8”
Follow Rests are a bit trickier to figure out, but the Logan 10” and 11” use
the same Follow Rest.
There have been several reports that a South Bend 9” Steady will fit a
3.5..
Some
parts are interchangeable, while others are not. Here’s a few common parts:
3.5..1.
Generally
speaking, the
beds are interchangeable for 10" and 11" and 12”
3.5..2.
Most
http://lathe.com/ll-group-archive/adapting_a_qc_gearbox.html
3.5..
In
addition, many parts from one Logan Lathe will fit another, if they are the
same basic size or swing. One very
serious exception is between the Logan 200 Series and 800/1800 Series 10”
Lathes. The 200 Series (and the Wards
Lathes) used a different spindle, which is smaller on the OD than was used on
the other
3.6..
There are a large number of used machinery dealers that take apart
machines and sell the parts. Many have a large
collection of
When buying used machine parts, make triple-sure that the part they are selling
is the part you need. Also, make sure
that you know the condition of the part.
“Looks good” could mean many things.
Reputable dealers will sell you the part with a guarantee of return if
defective. If they won’t
give you a guarantee, find out why.
3.7..
There’s
some risk when buying used parts. Logan
Actuator is selling many new replacement parts for
4.1..
Some metric threads are close to inch threads.
Slight inaccuracy can be accepted in some
cases. In those cases, try the nearest
inch thread. For example, if you need a
metric pitch of 1.0 (1.0 thread per millimeter) you want 25.4 threads per
inch. The
To cut precise metric threads, you need to have a 127 (or multiple of 127)
tooth gear in the geartrain.
For detailed advice on setting the geartrain of a
http://lathe.com/tips/met-thd.htm
4.2..
A
tool that is cutting only at a small point will not chatter. A tool that is cutting over a large edge,
such as a form tool, is more likely to chatter.
Here are some ideas for reducing chatter:
4.2..
Reduce
the amount contact between the tool and the work.
4.2..
Sharpen
the tool.
4.2..
Increase
tool back rake. Hard materials need 8
degrees of back rake. Free cutting
steels cut with as much as 16 degrees of back rake. Use zero back rake
for copper and copper alloys (brass and bronze).
4.2..
Use
a very rigid tool holder.
4.2..
Use
a tool holder that will flex with the tool moving away from the work rather
than into the work.
4.2..
Sometimes,
changing cutting speed helps for a few passes, but then the chatter
returns. In these cases, use a different
cutting speed for each pass.
4.3..
The
cutting edge of the tool must be exactly on lathe center height. If the edge is slightly below center height,
the tool can be dragged under the work, which can
break the work, break the tool, or jam the lathe. If the edge is slightly above center height,
the tool angles will be wrong and the tool will rub rather than cut.
For a lantern (rocker) style toolpost, tool height is adjusted by rocking the tool holder. For a turret toolpost,
set tool height by adding shims (sometimes called “packing”) under the
tool. For a quick-change toolpost, adjust toolheight by
turning the stop nut on the tool holder.
4.4..
Locate
vocational schools in your area. Some
communities have adult education at night using the facilities of public
schools. Another good place to learn is
a local modeling club.
4.5..
These
are all good books for the beginner:
4.5..
4.5..
Atlas:
“Manual of Lathe Operation and Machinists Tables”
4.5..
LeBlond:
“Running A Regal”
4.5..
These
textbooks covers the lathe and other tools well:
4.5..
Moltrecht:
“Machine Shop Practice, Vol.1”
4.5..
Kibbe,
Neely, Meyer and White: Machine Tool Practices
Avoid books dating before WWII. Their advice is mostly outdated.
4.6..
Cutting
fluids keep the sharp tip of the tool cool, prolonging tool life. The sharper the tool, the less metal there is
to dissipate heat from the cutting process.
Liquid covering the tip conducts heat away from the tip effectively. Cutting fluids can also improve the quality
of the cut.
Cast iron cuts well without any fluid at all.
Alloys that contain lead, such as leaded steel and leaded brass also cut
well dry. When cutting dry, keep cutting
speed low to avoid overheating the tool.
Aluminum cuts well with kerosene, lamp oil, “A9”, or “WD-40” as a cutting
fluid. Aluminum can grab or stick when
cutting dry, so always use a fluid when cutting aluminum. If in doubt, read the cutting fluid container
to see if it recommends use for Aluminum.
Lead-free brass can also grab when cutting dry.
Find a cutting fluid recommended for brass.
Steel cuts well with many cutting oils. Monroe
Cool Tool II is one of many good choices and is also
good for aluminum and brass.
Water-soluble oils (flood coolant) work well in a production shop but are a lot
of hassle for a home shop. They can grow
mold and also rust tools, so cleanliness and cleanup
are essential.
When cutting with carbide tools, either cut absolutely
dry or cut with a flood coolant. If you use a small amount of oil or fluid on a
carbide tool, then the tool will cool non-uniformly. This can cause the tool to fracture or chip.
There is no such thing as a perfectly safe cutting fluid. If possible, keep your hands clean when
cutting. Wipe with a rag rather than
your hand. Continued exposure to
chemicals can lead to various skin problems and allergic reactions. Cutting can generate high temperatures, which
can cause oils to burn. The smoke from
oil can be hazardous to your lungs. If
you sense oil fumes or any odor from the cutting process, get more ventilation
in your shop.
4.7..
For cutting an even thread such as 24 TPI, restart the cut with the dial
set to any mark and it will restart the cut in the same place.
For cutting an odd thread such as 5 TPI, restart the cut with the dial set to
any number.
For cutting a half thread such as 7-1/2 TPI, restart the cut with the dial set
to to the same number every time. For example, if you made the first cut
with the dial set to "2", you must make every succeeding cut with the dial set
to "2".
For a quarter thread like 12-1/4 TPI or metric threads, you must leave
the half nuts engaged and reverse the spindle at the end of each pass.
(Note, if cutting a thread divisible by 8 (8, 16, 24, 32, 40 TPI etc.) the
threading dial is not needed at all. The half nut can be engaged at any
point)
This document was prepared with an incredible amount of help by Robert Neidorff. Logan Actuator would like to express our deepest appreciation for his assistance.
Version 1.01 Last updated March 07, 2005
© Copyright 2005
No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of Logan Actuator Co.
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