Author Topic: Logan 820 vintage shop lathe 10 x 24 (Read 7631 times)

stlaser · « **on:** August 08, 2018, 10:13:13 PM »

Ok, so I’ve been itching for a small shop lathe. I had a large Warner swasey engine lathe in my first shop years ago. At present time I don’t have space or need for that monstrosity & capability.

What I really wanted is a south bend heavy 10. I can find quite a few on the east coast and not much here local for sale. My requirements were 10inch swing min x 20-40 inch min work space between uprights with threading capability & single phase power. Good V ways were also a requirement. I wanted something that has been taken care of because I have enough projects. I am not looking at Mathews precision or grizzly as there are plenty of American made pieces in the small tool room size type of lathe of vintage heritage. Most of these the parts are available or can be made to fix just about anything on them. Then there was Ken’s issue that I do not want a repeat of either. Honestly, Ken’s issue wasn’t a factor in any way but giving him grief is always fun. I wanted American steel & structural rigidity. Unlike the American mills you can find vintage small American lathe units in good shape.

So after searching for a heavy 10 for some time I stumbled upon a Logan 10 x 36 in use. The Logan is a heavy machine at around 800# and by all rights comparable to the SB H10. It has a new motor on it with a few other things being touched up recently. It has a 24” bed on it now which was a new replacement part that this owner was able to find and install. Yeah, wish it was the full 36 but realistically I probably do not need more than 24” of work space.

The downside, it’s three hours up into the Rockies to inspect it, so after much discussion & back and forth I am headed there tomorrow with trailer in tow.

stlaser · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2018, 10:17:04 PM »

Picture of said unit. Comes with live center, 3 jaw chuck, real Jacobs chuck, tail stock is MT#3 taper, 3/4” thru spindle, lantern style tool post, spindle is threaded 1.5-8 I believe so should be easy to pick up a 4 jaw down the road.

Quote of what is new or upgraded

replaced the motor, and several gears in the screw cutting mechanism, plus cleaned and tuned the machine. It has new belts, and new electrical connections/switches etc. The bed is new vintage, just shorter than original.

KensAuto · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2018, 11:45:25 PM »

love that old iron. If I took machining more serious, that's the path I would've went down.
I might have an extra 4 jaw...china though

stlaser · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2018, 12:13:01 AM »

Ken, if I get this let’s discuss that 4 jaw. What diameter?

I like my MP mill, but still miss my BP with v belts. A lot of things I would sidestep and not fixture properly but could work fast on the BP. Granted I stopped the spindle on more than one occasion with one arm and 6 inches of leverage. I don’t dare try that on the MP with geared head....

Still recall a good friend / racer who passed almost two years ago now. I sponsored his race team & who was quite the character btw. He stops by one evening with a set of race beadlock wheels which needed the lug holes opened up so he could run larger studs and a Milwaukee impact which was stored in the truck. Funny part was he expected me to fixture those wheels 40 different times because his uncle machinist said so. I told him to grab the wheels with his d*** beaters and hold on! Pretty sure we knocked that out in under a half hour & no one lost any body parts either.

Hard to beat the old iron, when I get my next place with a real separate shop again I will be buying a BP mill & a larger engine lathe just because....

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2018, 06:44:51 AM »

Shawn I’d love to have a lathe about that size. I have a lot to learn and haven’t run one since metal shop in high school.

Keep me in mind if you get your new shop and want to off load that one.

Maybe by then I’ll have a good place for one. Gotta add onto the shop...

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stlaser · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2018, 07:36:56 AM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on August 09, 2018, 06:44:51 AM

Shawn I’d love to have a lathe about that size. I have a lot to learn and haven’t run one since metal shop in high school.

Keep me in mind if you get your new shop and want to off load that one.

Maybe by then I’ll have a good place for one. Gotta add onto the shop...

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stlaser · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2018, 08:19:27 AM »

Kind of a cool thing I stumbled across in researching this Logan 820 Lathe is a website run by Scott Logan who sells parts / manuals etc for the lathes his family produced.

http://www.lathe.com/

The other website I have been using a lot for information is home shop machinists

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum.php

Charles, on occasion these guys are selling machines I have found too. So you may be able to pickup something nice in your area from here.

stlaser · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2018, 10:54:03 PM »

Got the lathe home and unloaded onto shop floor (threw ramp down and slide it out), long day. Inspection of unit went well. Guys wiring was a bit sloppy but it runs. I will clean that up, he did use nice switches and electrical parts though. Lathe is pretty tight, the left cover was busted and someone tried to weld it. I’m going to find a solid replacement & swap it out. Back lash is about half a turn on the Y axis, so not great but not a full turn so definitely useable. It disassembled easily, older retired guy has 5 lathes roughly this size & this was worst one by far. He’s a former marketing executive who’s main client was Coca Cola. I got along with him well & we had a great discussion / banter as we broke this down. He wanted $1200 for this unit & I paid him that no haggling on my part. I believe at first he thought he was going to have to break the unit down & well I just kinda took over and he let me. Very helpful and I’m happy so far with my purchase.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2018, 10:17:40 AM »

I think that is cool!

stlaser · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2018, 10:38:33 AM »

Made my first purchase from lathe.com this morning which is Scott Logan's website, I order a manual and parts list. They allow you to either just download a manual ie no shipping cost or add shipping cost and you can download the manual and they will then ship you a printed spiral bound copy too. I opted for both, I like hard copies in shops, it's like wet dew in the morning and just smells right!

First project on this will be a mod to Baylee’s XJ’s steering. The bolts need drilled for press in grease zerks as the xj has become a little squeaky as of late.

stlaser · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2018, 10:20:33 PM »

Here it was as of 3pm today, was able to get a couple hours on it. Let me clarify that last statement, two hours cleaning rearranging my small work space and half hour of assembly. Still need to mount motor, install both belts and the covers. Then maybe or maybe not address wiring, may get it going to for a bit then do that on a slow day once kids are back in school.

I did get all 4 leveling bolts removed, odd looking socket head cap screw as the head is tapered toward the wrench provision & they were 9/16 fine thread. Took a little penetrating oil, some heat and a couple raps with a 2# er on a small pipe wrench to get them free.

stlaser · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2018, 10:41:54 PM »

So question for the masses, my shop is small. This lathe will never go back to be 36 inches between the uprights. The prior owner installed the new 24 inch bed but he had no welding capabilities. The chip pan is sheet metal. I’m considering shortening the pan and in the process welding up the two former leg holes. I don’t run coolant on anything, it’s messy and for low production work not necessary really in my opinion. My miter band saw has the pump and sump factory installed but I’ve never used it. So from my view shortening this is more a matter of aesthetics and maybe the next owner wants coolant? The only thing I’m slightly concerned about is mig welding it and warping the pan slightly. I could probably weld a pice of 1” channel under the seam to help mitigate that too come to think of it. So what say ye knuckleheads cut and weld or leave it be?

KensAuto · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2018, 01:05:45 AM »

If it dont fit, you must aquit.

I'd leave it as is

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2018, 06:06:25 AM »

Time for a tig machine.....

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stlaser · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2018, 07:16:46 AM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on August 11, 2018, 06:06:25 AM

Time for a tig machine.....

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Technically, my welder will do arc, tig, mig & air arc but I only have it setup for mig.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2018, 08:21:43 AM »

Just small welds at a time. Let it cool and weld the next one inch. Easy enough to keep things cool while welding.

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2018, 09:13:52 AM »

I'd leave it as is Shawn. You won't be there forever. It will fit your next shop mo-betterer!

stlaser · « **Reply #17 on:** August 11, 2018, 09:25:18 AM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on August 11, 2018, 08:21:43 AM

Just small welds at a time. Let it cool and weld the next one inch. Easy enough to keep things cool while welding.

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What is this blasphemy you speak of!?!

Sounds like patience?

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 11, 2018, 10:05:34 AM »

After losing 16 pounds in two days patients is waiting to eat and planning the first meal. Waffles it was.

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Nate · « **Reply #19 on:** August 11, 2018, 10:39:57 AM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on August 11, 2018, 09:13:52 AM

I'd leave it as is Shawn. You won't be there forever. It will fit your next shop mo-betterer!

stlaser · « **Reply #20 on:** August 11, 2018, 10:46:29 AM »

Well for a group that supposedly likes to modify things you all are a bunch of Debbie downers this morning!

KensAuto · « **Reply #21 on:** August 11, 2018, 11:05:28 AM »

Someone like me that likes to have a place to lay wrenches, tool holders, Chuck's, bits, and a soft drink, during a job, would consider that shelf priceless. :toolazy

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Sammconn · « **Reply #22 on:** August 11, 2018, 11:14:53 AM »

Oh no, I have to agree with Ken.
Tool table or drink spot is handy.

Nate · « **Reply #23 on:** August 11, 2018, 11:28:14 AM »

Quote from: KensAuto on August 11, 2018, 11:05:28 AM

Someone like me that likes to have a place to lay wrenches, tool holders, Chuck's, bits, and a soft drink, during a job, would consider that shelf priceless. :toolazy

Quote from: Sammconn on August 11, 2018, 11:14:53 AM

Oh no, I have to agree with Ken. Tool table or drink spot is handy.

i can get behind these comments, otherwise you could end up with a red dog situation and have spilled beverages and/or missing tools

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 11, 2018, 12:33:51 PM »

Seems like that is where our tool chuck always ended up too

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stlaser · « **Reply #25 on:** August 24, 2018, 12:06:03 PM »

Ok, finally got this setup finished for now. Built anti vibration floor mounts (carriage bolts and hockey pucks). Leveled it up, threw on rear chip guard and hung the last Costco led 4’ light I had.

stlaser · « **Reply #26 on:** August 24, 2018, 12:07:55 PM »

Gained 2.5” on front side of lathe. At more than 6 foot tall this couple inches was a great improvement.

cruizng · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2018, 02:05:01 PM »

That I really like!

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TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2018, 02:39:13 PM »

What level of accuracy do you expect out of it?

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stlaser · « **Reply #29 on:** August 25, 2018, 02:55:12 PM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on August 25, 2018, 02:39:13 PM

What level of accuracy do you expect out of it?

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Better than the operator is capable of!

stlaser · « **Reply #30 on:** August 25, 2018, 02:58:52 PM »

Quote from: cruizng on August 25, 2018, 02:05:01 PM

That I really like!

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Thank you, and to answer Charles the machine is solid. I think I read where the runout on it from the factory was .002

My goal is some simple products (wide tolerance) and saving money on prototype work. I have machine shops that can provide whatever tolerance is needed for production work.

stlaser · « **Reply #31 on:** August 30, 2018, 07:50:11 PM »

Picked up a used face plate for $40 off of eBay. Still looking for a reasonable 4 jaw

KensAuto · « **Reply #32 on:** August 31, 2018, 07:37:54 PM »

Did you look into thread adapters yet?

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stlaser · « **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2018, 08:09:27 PM »

Quote from: KensAuto on August 31, 2018, 07:37:54 PM

Did you look into thread adapters yet?

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From what I gather you need to buy the adapter with the specific chuck. I’ve called a couple places who sell adapters and it’s a crap shoot.

No one seems to sell the adapter I need for your spare btw.

JR · « **Reply #34 on:** September 02, 2018, 02:51:55 AM »

Looks nice. Threaded adapters can be a bare to use on larger machines. I think you can get a Bison for a reasonable price.

stlaser · « **Reply #35 on:** September 02, 2018, 08:40:02 AM »

Quote from: JR on September 02, 2018, 02:51:55 AM

Looks nice. Threaded adapters can be a bare to use on larger machines. I think you can get a Bison for a reasonable price.

A decent 4 jaw is under 2 bills, hoping I can find a used original for half that possibly.

JR · « **Reply #36 on:** September 02, 2018, 11:21:21 AM »

2 bills is not bad at all. Good luck on used though.

I can find used for my Emco all the time, but the price kills me!

stlaser · « **Reply #37 on:** February 11, 2019, 05:55:21 PM »

Picked up a 4 jaw chuck on eBay off of a south bend 9 (supposedly) lathe. It is 6” od but for $53 couldn’t pass it up. Had tried to buy several others w/o success lately.

JR · « **Reply #38 on:** February 11, 2019, 06:06:37 PM »

Great price and the 4 jaws have there place for those odd parts. I think mine is an 8in.

Long as the mount is clean you should be good.

stlaser · « **Reply #39 on:** March 01, 2019, 04:32:52 PM »

Finally had time to unbox the 4 jaw. No chuck key so need to locate one of those but otherwise looks to be in working order.

JR · « **Reply #40 on:** March 01, 2019, 05:12:19 PM »

Tools are always cool. Does it bolt up like it should and checked runout?

stlaser · « **Reply #41 on:** March 01, 2019, 09:45:56 PM »

Quote from: JR on March 01, 2019, 05:12:19 PM

Tools are always cool. Does it bolt up like it should and checked runout?

I laid it on the end of the lathe and went back to welding and machining parts until I had to get boxes over the USPS late today. Hoping to level up the lathe (yeah haven’t done that since I moved it) and toss this on to check it out next week.