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#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
if anyone could please help I'm looking for info regarding an antique Rockwell delta home craft lathe. I'm looking for what type h/p motor, motor pully and any other info I might need for face plates and what not. It was given to me by my grandfather to use and learn on and came as pictures show. If anyone can help me out it would be much appreciated! I plan to build a bench for it once I find out everything I can on it. Thanks in advance and pictures below to help.

Wood Vehicle Plant Automotive tire Motor vehicle


Motor vehicle Font Wood Bumper Automotive exterior


Gas Tints and shades Font Wood Rectangle


Wood Font Trunk Grass Forest


Wheel Automotive tire Wood Gas Asphalt


Wood Automotive tire Gas Machine Soil
 

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#2 ·
About all you're going to do on that is spindle turning. You could probably do some small bowls on it if you get a chuck for that spindle.
I'd say a 1/2 HP motor would be sufficient.
A similar pulley combination to fit the motor shaft will be necessary, unless you use a jackshaft arrangement.
If you want to turn bowls, whatever motor/pulley combination you have, should make the slowest speed at least 500RPM if not slower. That's still too fast but it's doable.
If bowls aren't your thing, then you can probably go faster on the lowest RPM.
I like to turn spindles around 1800-2000 RPM, but my lathes can run up to 3000 RPM or so. I rarely get it going that fast though…
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
It's a Delta 46-110, which is a 10" x 36" lathe made in the late 40's to sometime in the 50's. Yours also appears to have the outboard faceplate (which uses left-hand threads), so you are not limited to the 10" max over the bed if you want to turn larger stuff. Parts diagram can be found at the vintage machinery site ( http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1454 ). I haven't been able to find a manual specific for that lathe, but the previous 10" model (28-105) is almost identical and it's manual can be found there as well ( http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=3251 ) Before using it, it would be a good idea to disassemble at least the headstock and make sure the thrust bearing is greased… you can clean and re-pack it pretty easily. The headstock also uses bronze bushings and needs to be kept filled with oil. I use a light machine oil (AW32), but any good light/medium machine oil should be fine. There is a fill hole on top and a small weep hole on the side. Just fill until it starts to come out the weep hole, and give it a few squirts periodically after that depending on use. It's not difficult to take apart, and there aren't a lot of parts involved:

Tool Wood Gas Metal Nickel


It's a solid little lathe. Has a 60 hole indexing pulley and uses MT1 headstock/tailstock tapers. The spindle thread is a bit odd, 3/4"-10, but if you get a tap, you can make your own wooden faceplates, jam chucks, glue blocks, etc… out of scrap. A quick visit to a construction site dumpster will get you enough 2x material to make dozens of them :)

A 1725 RPM 1/2 HP should be fine. You will need to figure out a way to power it, either using a matching 4-step pulley or rigging something up to use a single pulley on the motor (or if creative, converting it to variable speed with a treadmill motor).

Cheers,
Brad

PS: Don't be afraid to turn bowls.. I've done a bunch on that lathe up to just under 10" - from pretty standard stuff to some really nice spalted oak live edge things. No chuck needed, just glue on a wooden faceplate and go for it.
 

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#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thank you both for the info! Much appreciated! I've been to vintagemachinery.org before and I downloaded those diagrams and manual before but didn't know if they were the same or would work. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I plan to "completely" restore this lathe and build a wooden bench for it. Looking for a motor now, kinda wanted to do a variable speed deal with it but also wanted to get the pulley that would work if I didn't do that. Was going to possibly do the jack thing. My grandfather gave me a 2 hp motor to use with it but I thought that was a bit over powering, he's one of those "go big or go home" "just nail it, your not gunna leave here" retired contractors that just wants stuff the work and be happy.

My intention is to turn bowl with this lathe and not so much for spindles but of course I'll around play with them. What's the recommend max size bowl I can turn on this lathe with the outboard face plate?

I just looked at the pulley that's on the lathe and although it has the indexing pin on the lather, there's no holes on the pulley for it. Can I find a pulley that has them or just keep an eye out on eBay?

Thanks for the info!
 
#5 ·
My intention is to turn bowl with this lathe and not so much for spindles but of course I ll around play with them. What s the recommend max size bowl I can turn on this lathe with the outboard face plate?

I just looked at the pulley that s on the lathe and although it has the indexing pin on the lather, there s no holes on the pulley for it. Can I find a pulley that has them or just keep an eye out on eBay?
I've never done more than 10" on it, but I don't have the outboard faceplate. I've been meaning to make one though (left hand 3/4-10 nut from Ace and some scrap plywood!).

If your headstock pulley doesn't have the index holes, it's probably one designed for the motor (check the pulley - it should have its part number cast into it). You can keep an eye out on e-bay, or put a WTB ad out over at the OWWM site in the BOYD section (buy/sell/trade area). Here is what it looks like in person, along with the original faceplate and drive center that the machine shipped with:

Nickel Tool Auto part Composite material Metal


Cheers,
Brad
 

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#6 ·
Grizzly has right and left had threaded inserts in 3/4" 10 TPI on page 148 of its catalog. They are threaded
for attaching bolts and I have used the 1" version to make several sanding discs and other attachments
for my lathe.
 
#7 ·
MrUnix, I have another question for you. I found a headstock and also tailstock on eBay. The headstock came with the right pulley for the lathe. My question is the pulley for the motor (I messed the one in the picture up) do it need to be the same size steps and the ones on the pulley that came with the lathe or does it not matter so much? The pulley I have is a 3/4 bore and the motor I just bought is 5/8. The 3/4 pulley does match the same size steps as the headstock pulley. Does this matter much as far as finding one online that's close?

Thanks.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
My question is the pulley for the motor (I messed the one in the picture up) do it need to be the same size steps and the ones on the pulley that came with the lathe or does it not matter so much? The pulley I have is a 3/4 bore and the motor I just bought is 5/8. The 3/4 pulley does match the same size steps as the headstock pulley. Does this matter much as far as finding one online that s close?
The easiest way (and way it shipped) is to have the steps on the pulleys the same size, although they are reversed in direction between headstock and motor like here:

Wood Gas Plant Machine tool Machine


That lets you have a fixed motor mount (like the one above) and to change speeds, you just 'walk' the belt over to the next sized step. If you have different sized steps between the two, then you would need to figure out a way to pivot the motor in order to maintain tension based on what step you are on. If the pulley you have matches the one on the headstock correctly, you can just get a reducing bushing for the pulley (5/8" ID, 3/4" OD). They can be found online pretty cheap (~$10) at places like Grainger, McMaster Carr, etc…

Cheers,
Brad
 

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#9 ·
The pulley that was on it (one I post a picture before on the lathe) was 2×3x4×5 steps. So It doesn't match. What's the original pulley step down? Can't seem to get a good measurement on mine. Looks like 2-1/2×3 x 4×4-1/2, can't be right?

Thanks
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
If you are looking for the OEM pulley - best bet would be to ask over at OWWM. I'm sure you could get that pulley from Amazon to work though. You might need to have a way to release tension to do step changes, but maybe not. Won't know until you try. Anything is possible with al little creativity :)

Cheers,
Brad
 
#13 ·
I'm going to try and use the weight of the motor and gravity to put tension on the belt. My grandfather told that's how it was setup on a bench when he got it and just lifted it up and moved the belt that way. I've seen pictures online where people have done that with their tools. I just wasn't sure weather or not it matter about the pulley size or not. I know the speed will be different. I just don't know how much slower or faster. Just about have this lathe restored and about to build a bench for it. This is just about my last hold up besides the bench.
 
#17 ·
MrUnix, have yet another question. I'm try to reassemble headstock and don't remember where the fiber washer is supposed to go. also, whats the best grease to pack the bearing with? I picked up some high temperature wheel bearing grease (blue grease) and didn't know if that was the right stuff to use.

Thanks for the all the info and assistants!
 

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#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
I found a working one of these in the wild. Owner says he wants to basically give it away, make an offer…. How much would you offer for one of these in usable condition of the person is just trying to get rid of it?
- XDSub
Then tell him you will haul it away for him for free! I paid $50 for mine off CL. It needed a good cleaning, but also came with a bunch of extra stuff (OEM stand/motor, line shafting, all original accessories, complete Delta moulding head set with 6 sets of knives, etc…). Hard to say what to offer without seeing it though… does it run? Is it on a stand? Anything else come with it? $20 would probably be a good starting point without knowing anything else about it.

BTW: I had a blast with that little lathe and used the crap out of it. Simple no frills functionality that just kept on working no matter what I threw at it, from bowls and spindles to cleaning and polishing.

Cheers,
Brad
 
#23 ·
I got lucky and my thrust bearing was in very good shape.. so i just cleaned and re-lubed it without having to replace it. I never looked into getting another one, but if the number you have (5774) is correct, it's still available for sale - although it's a bit pricey! I'd suggest first taking a good look at yours and see if it really does need replacing. You might also want to take some measurements (OD, bore and width at inner and outer race) to see if you can find a cheaper alternative.

Cheers,
Brad
 
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