Last year my dad, a tool-and-die man, passed on. As we go through the slow process of cleaning up his home workshop, I've started to develop an interest in his Maximat Super 11 lathe. Here it is as he left it:

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/509/Maximat_Super_11.jpg

It hasn't been run in about a year-and-a-half.

Initially, we were just going to clean it up and sell it, but now I'm seeing the opportunity to machine small aluminum parts for my plastic model building, and even some things around my mom's house. I'm finally seeing the enormous potential of the lathe.

The thing is, I've seen Dad run it many times over the years, but much to my regret, I was never interested enough to really learn the ins and outs of turning, boring, milling and so on. Bit-by-bit, I'm picking up information on the web, but don't yet feel confident turning it on and actually cutting into something ... mostly because of the safety issues.

I have the manual for the lathe, but it's aimed at guys who already know what they're doing, so it's more of a service manual. I'd like to take a shop course, but around here, they seem to be aimed at guys making a career of it, not a hobbyist like me. I'm not interested in turning screws, cutting steel or making high-tolerance working machines yet ... just some static model parts. I'm not as young and impulsive as I was, so I'm ready to approach the lathe nice and easy, slow and carefully.

So, can anyone recommend a good book or web reference on lathe operations?

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve!
Have you tried your local library yet?
Good luck,
Charlie

Little Machineshop has videos of basic metalworking. I used them to learn the basics. They are tailored to the Taig micro lathe or the Seig X2 but would probably do the trick. They're about as exciting as watching paint dry but they got me going on my mill and lathe.

Here's the page.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_category.php?category=-511675330

Wow. What a beautiful lathe/mill. I found the book "Machine Shop Practice Volume 1" by K.H. MoltRecht to be excellent. While not recent(machine usage techniques have not changed much in the last half century), it covers use of different cutters and lubricants for different kinds of metals, feed rates, and how to perform basic lathe operations.

Good Luck,

Andy

Thanks, guys -- I'll look into those references.

Backstory: I think Dad was about sixty when he brought the thing in -- himself. He set up a block and tackle with two 6x6 beams to slide it off the truck and down into the basement through a window. It was so well-balanced that he was able to sit down for an ice cream break mid-job. He was so proud that he could bring in the lathe himself. Clever fellow.

Where was I at the time? If I recall, Dad didn't tell me about the job until it was done. That was Dad.

Thanks again,
Steve

SteveR, your dad sounds a lot like my dad...in the independence and strong self will. My dad's been gone for 11 years now, and I still can see him doing and creating all sorts of things around the home. My dad was part machinist & part sheet-metal smith, and he taught me everything that I know about working with metals. Thanks Dad!

p.s. Beautiful lathe you have there. I'd give my eye-tooth to have one that nice and clean.

Thanks, cub. Every now and then I turn on the drill press or belt sander just to recall the sound of his working. My mom is looking forward to hearing the lathe and Shopsmith again.

You're lucky to have learned at the master's knee, as it were. Here's to your dad!

Once you turn it on... and are trying to cut, Please feel free to contact me. thru PM or email.
I am a tool maker with 30+ years experience.
That is a beautiful machine. You will enjoy learning to use it.
Get some aluminum bar stock to start with. 1" diameter would be good to play with.
Clean off the head and all the tools laying around it for safety. You wouldn't want something falling off the head and into the chuck while it is running.
Your Dad had it set up nicely with the quick change tool post.
Familairize yourself with the charts on the head for RPM and feeds.
700- 1000 RPM and .003-.007 per revolution feed are good starting points for 1" aluminum.

You don't need material in the chuck to learn how to operate it. I would recommend that after you clean it up.. that you turn the spindle on. manually move the saddle away from the chuck and engage feeds to see what they make the machine do. You should find the proper way to engage the saddle- (Right to left movement) the cross feed ( in an out movement standing at the front of the machine) Forward (counterclockwise rotation) and reverse (Clockwise rotation) of the spindle from the tailstock end of the machine.
Get comfortable with making the machine move manually and with power feed before you try to cut anything.
Hope this helps.
Have fun and be careful.
Remember this.. This machine is designed to cut. Don't be afraid of it... but repsect it. It doesn't care if it is cutting metal, plastic, wood or you.... so you need to respect that.
Never engage a lever or turn on the spindle unless you are sure what is going to happen.

DJ1978, thank you very much for taking the time to reply. However, since my last post, I've found that I simply do not have the time (between work and staying healthy in middle age) to learn to operate Dad's lathe properly, nor do I have his level of desire to make things. If I were retired, I might consider it, but right now, a machine of such capability is simply in the wrong hands.

So ... I've released my mother from the obligation of keeping it at the ol' homestead, and she's found a buyer for it from the local Model Engineer club. In fact, once word got out, a number of buyers have appeared. This is what Dad would have wanted, for the machine to go to an appreciative buyer in some kind of hobby -- he had a lot of respect for live steamers, so he'd be happy.

An additional concern is that my Mom has been very kind in letting me find my way on this, but I suspect that she wanted the lathe and metalworking gear out of the house all along since Dad's passing and was just being patient. However, after three years, it's time to move on.

Once again, thanks for the offer of help -- sorry I won't be taking you up on it.

By the way, thanks again to all you guys for your help. You're a great community. My wife says that she can hear the kindness in your posts.