Possible new lathe, drilling advice needed

[Jjver]

Hi all,

I'm in the position to take over a Boley lathe. It's 8mm with a cross-slide and faceplate I wanted. Apart from making balance staffs and winding stems, an important goal would be repivotting and drilling out worn pivot holes to rebush (oval ones making round again).

There is however no tailstock included with drillchuck or even just one with simple collets. What are my options? As it's also no WW, finding compatible tailstock will be next to impossible (and then there is the problem with alignment).

I know there are people doing it freehand but as a novice with not to steady hands (understatement) this seems extremely difficult.

It would be used for wristwatches and clocks.

 

Kind regards

Edited April 4 by Jjver
Added image

[caseback]

6 hours ago, Jjver said:

Hi all,

I'm in the position to take over a Boley lathe. It's 8mm with a cross-slide and faceplate I wanted. Apart from making balance staffs and winding stems, an important goal would be repivotting and drilling out worn pivot holes to rebush (oval ones making round again).

There is however no tailstock included with drillchuck or even just one with simple collets. What are my options? As it's also no WW, finding compatible tailstock will be next to impossible (and then there is the problem with alignment).

I know there are people doing it freehand but as a novice with not to steady hands (understatement) this seems extremely difficult.

It would be used for wristwatches and clocks.

 

Kind regards

You have a tailstock there and that is the basic thing you need for the type of drilling you want to do. Not having a drillchuck or collet chuck is no problem. Previously there have been several options mentioned. Check out this thread for instance:
 
https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/31637-tailstock-runner-specs-for-peerless-2/?do=findComment&comment=271873

Edited April 5 by caseback

[rjenkinsgb]

That is a nice lathe with a really good set of attachments!

 

You can use a hand guided runner through the existing tailstock.

There are various collet adapters for runners that take a taper insert, and there are also runners of different sizes with mounted chucks on ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266810651953

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405687866138

It should be reasonably easy (if not quick) to find a drilling tailstock on ebay - Original Boley parts for the same type bed do appear regularly.

There are two fixed tailstocks on at present, but not a drilling one. I'd set up a search so you get notified when one is listed.

(And from experience, WW ones are far less likely to be interchangeable! I've been trying to find matching WW parts for months; I have multiples headstocks, tailstocks & beds - and no combination that fits to make a complete lathe!).

[Dell]

On a Pultra 10 8mm lathe the the drilling is done by a tapered brass collet to fit the runner with a hole in to take the drill bit with a sleeve over to squeeze the collet to grip the drill bit , as carbide drill bits have all the same size shank you would only need to make one.

Dell

This is the tailstock 

[Jjver]

Thanks for all the quick help! Glad there are options available. I'll start with the basic turning first, but good to know the next steps will be possible too.

 

What do you guys think a fair price would be (in Europe). Don't need exact amount, but it's an older gentleman and it's not my mission to make the deal of the century. It's possible I need to upgrade to another model in the future (I want to do clock work and milling eventually), and just don't want to make a loss then, however making a profit is not needed for me.

[Jon]

32 minutes ago, Jjver said:

What do you guys think a fair price would be (in Europe).

Personally, I would be a bit wary of asking valuations on any forum. Without sounding obtuse, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and what the other party is willing to take, so I'm sure you'll have an idea of what to offer by looking on Bay what something like this has gone for in the past.

Someone might tell you that the lathe is worth £2000 and someone else might tell you £200, so you still don't have any idea what it is worth to you.

[Dell]

As Jon said your best bet is google it & eBay is a good sauce of price guide but some things go cheap so don’t take it as gospel, it looks to be a complete kit in good condition so something like that won’t be cheap.

[Jjver]

Thanks both, I understand completely your reservations. I just don't always understand the differences in quality and completeness on eBay and did not want to rip of this gentleman. But I will make an honest suggestion. Thanks for all your guidance here.

[Dell]

2 minutes ago, Jjver said:

Thanks both, I understand completely your reservations. I just don't always understand the differences in quality and completeness on eBay and did not want to rip of this gentleman. But I will make an honest suggestion. Thanks for all your guidance here.

Let us know how you get on, not price obviously but just if you purchase & any help with using it if you are unsure about anything 

[rjenkinsgb]

Looking through completed listings on ebay, a rather similar set sold earlier this year, for just over £1000; Someone got a bargain!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276874837398

 

[Jjver]

3 hours ago, Dell said:

Let us know how you get on, not price obviously but just if you purchase & any help with using it if you are unsure about anything 

That's extremely nice. You guys will certainly hear from me again.

 

PS: love your Youtube channel!