Cheval de Fer / March 2026

[Julian Murphy]

Couple of good takeaways from this months club magazine.

Oh 3 actually. Yet another good quality magazine - Quality articles, quality presentation. Well done to the editor and the contributors.

I found the article by Simon H, 'Beyond Spanners; interesting from the point of view that I trod a similar path a couple of years back in selecting a lathe and went for one from Chester Hobby Store.

First modification : Modify the cross slide and fit a quick release tool post. (Tool post from Euro Trading , SIEG agent in Leicester, now recently closed, but lots of other tooling purchased from them).

Spotted the mention of the Morris Oils discount code on page 37.
Good timing, needed some 20/50 'classic' oil for my BMW R80.
Local Wilco selling Comma 20/50 £31.00
Morris Oil, with discount and shipping +VAT £21.53, delivered to my workshop door !

[simon.holyfield]

Thanks for the compliments Julian. Lathe modifications are coming in the fourth article and yes, that does include an OXA quick change tool post!

[klaus gerhard]

I also think that the report about the lathe is very interesting. My Myford super 7 is now running well and helped me doing little jobs already. I would be interested to hear what kind of "quick release tool points" are usable on the type of lathe.

[nevhunter]

Make sure the toolposts are very rigid. ANY springiness s not good, A Myford is Not a Hardened Bed Lathe so look after it carefully. Nev

[simon.holyfield]

Rigidity is always the challenge with these lathes, not purely because they are small but because the build quality is, well, reflected in the price.

On the other hand, if I didn't have it, and hadn't learnt to deal with the issues over the years based on experience and the help of many other owners of these lathes, I would have missed out on a very enjoyable side to my motorcycling life. There will be a fourth article dealing with lathe modifications coming later in the year.

I'm particularly pleased with this, my latest machining project - it's the kickstart shaft for my Model A, machined from scratch on the mini-lathe:

On to quick change tool posts: I had one of these for a while; the 'quick change' bit works fine, but the 'toolpost' bit less so - they are aluminium and have a smaller footprint, so they do wobble especially when parting off.

I'm currently using this all-steel 0XA toolpost, which is much better:

[Bernie Blundell]

Agree on the OXA toolpost Simon, my aluminium one got 'relegated' to the 2X12 Sherline.
I'll have a look in the EMCO cabinet later, there should be a fixed &/or traveling steady to fit your lathe luxuriating in there somewhere.
Have you looked at .. The Complete Mini-Lathe Workshop .. by Ted Hansen ? A sort of compilation of his articles in The Home Shop Machinest magazine that are pertinant to the mini-lathe, well worth a look for info on lathe improvements & making accessories to suit, with drawings & lots of photo's.

Also if anyone wants one, I have a Chester Conquest Super lounging under the benchthat needs selling (been there for 2 years since changing to a Chester DB7VS) 'herself' says I gotta stop buying lathes & bikes LOL

[simon.holyfield]

Thank you Bernie - I have both steadies though!

Ted's book is one of the best reference works for users of these lathes - I've done his recommend torque upgrade recently, which is basically a larger motor pulley & works well. I've also changed my feed gears - not quite in the way he suggests, but using some 3D printed gears I had done locally, reducing the minimum feed by half.