Purchasing a Hendey lathe

New member here!

I'm about to embark on the wonderful adventure of my first lathe purchase, and its a Hendey!! How cool is that? I

I wanted to get some feedback from experienced members here to see if I'm crazy for buying this. The photos I have are blurry, so it's hard to see details. He is asking 1k, which I feel is a great price for my area.

The lathe is a 12x30 gear head, serial number 35392.
The guy I'm buying it from has used it for the last 20 years to polish crankshafts when needed, and nothing else. It's oily and dirty, but that's better than rusty!

This lathe will be something for me to learn on, it doesn't have be super precise, I'm just trying to make parts and have fun doing it. If all checks out, and it doesn't need major work, I plan on a full restoration. I love restoring vintage machines.

Here's a link to the photos, let me know if it works for yall.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Well as you say those are crappy photos! But it looks like it is all there and in relatively good condition. Can't see the ways or other important items like bearing but it if runs and drives for a grand I don't think you can go wrong. Buy it! You will learn and have fun to boot! Cheers!

Be sure and get the tail stock sitting on floor - and ANY other related pieces he has forgot about

Usual handy stuff here (Post #8) - links etc (excepting the first two SB related - I think they are dead)

new hendy lathe

have fun

Here is the "newer" manual

http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/docs/hendey/1940-Hendey-Op-Man.pdf

That is the L1 spindle nose when you get interested in more spindle tooling. Member WalterA will sell you a nice hook spanner if you don't get one with the lathe

Thanks for the info Johnoder. Good eye on the tailstock! In one of the pictures I believe I can see a wooden box on some kind of pole that is attached to the back side of the lathe. If my research is correct, that would be an original collet box, so hopefully I get lucky, and its full of collects.

So here is a question for the gurus here. The man I'm getting this from is going to borrow his neighbors forklift to get it loaded on my uhaul trailer (biggest trailer they have) so what would be the best method to lift it? I've read about the sling behind the spindle, and I saw a post where they just picked it up from the bottom, with one fork under the headstock, going through the hole in the leg, and the other fork centered underneath the pan in the middle. I'd like to get this done as safely as possible, while taking care not to damage the lathe. Any input is greatly appreciated

If you do lift with a forklift from below, make sure to put some rubber or carpet on the forks to keep it from sliding off! Lifting from above might be easier to get it onto the trailer, but maybe not possible if height limited where it is now. 'Proper' straps, not chains unless you can properly pad them, and add some chafe guards where the straps go over sharp edges.

Fork lifts, etc

Do pay attention to feed rod / lead screw - its a bummer when you BEND them

Sumo91 said:

Thanks for the info Johnoder. Good eye on the tailstock! In one of the pictures I believe I can see a wooden box on some kind of pole that is attached to the back side of the lathe. If my research is correct, that would be an original collet box, so hopefully I get lucky, and its full of collects.

...

Click to expand...

Yep, the box is for the collet set. In addition to any collets (which will likely have a 2H or 3H stamped on them if they go with the lathe), make sure that the collet closer (long pipe with hand wheel on one end) and the collet nose (short tapered tube with a shoulder on one end) are with the set. There might also be a long rod with some knurling on it, which is for knocking the collet nose out of the spindle. It normally hangs under the wood chest on a screw.

Any tooling that comes with the lathe is a plus, as if something doesn't belong you can ID it and sell it to someone who needs it. In addition to the tail-stock on the ground, be on the look-out for a steady rest and/or follow rest. Those are things that typically are "part" of the lathe as they are different between makes and models and not easy to find used when you need them. Even if you never need them, they should still stay with the machine. Most everything else tooling wise is likely generic and you can find new or used as needed.

As mentioned above, get the box and collets... also look for the collet holder and the draw bar.

I see the cover is off the headstock below the lever to engage/disengage feed/threading gear. Look for it as it will not be easy to make. Nothing holds it on, simply fits in place and holds itself.

Thanks for the great advice everyone. I have a much better idea of what to look for now, yall rock!!

Froneck said:

I see the cover is off the headstock below the lever to engage/disengage feed/threading gear. Look for it as it will not be easy to make. Nothing holds it on, simply fits in place and holds itself.

Click to expand...

Are you referring to the the piece that would cover the belts that are exposed? Or is there something else I'm not seeing?

Yes the opening that the belts are visible on the left side. However in front of the belts are the feed/threading gears.

Froneck said:

Yes the opening that the belts are visible on the left side. However in front of the belts are the feed/threading gears.

Click to expand...

That's great to know. Thank you for pointing it out. I'll keep an eye out for it when I go to pick up the lathe.

Sumo91:

Hendey lathe No.35392, a 12 x 30, Geared Head model was completed on July 30, 1943. The following information was taken from the original
Order Form. Information in parenthesis is my addendum.

Date Ordered: May 30, 1942
Date Started: September 9, 1942
Sold to: Finance Officer, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio
Ship to: Depot Supply Officer, Army Air Corps Storage Depot, 900 South Broadway, Denver, Colorado
Wanted: Urgency 328
Via: Government Bill of Lading
TO BE INSPECTED BY AIR CORPS
Description: 12" x 30" - 12 Speed Geared head Lathe CR (Compound Rest) - To swing 14-1/2" (Raised Swing model)
Oil Pan
Regular Equipment (as shown in catalog)
Timken roller bearings on main spindle - Multiple splined shafts
Taper Spindle Nose (L1)
Spindle Speeds - 19 to 598 R.P.M.
High speed reversing Mechanism
New Style follow Rest (Bridge Type)
Taper Attachment
Furnish and Fit 10" 4 jaw independent chuck for direct mounting on #1 Taper spindle Nose
Drawing-in Attachment and set of 15 #6 Collets from 1/8" to 1" inclusive by 16ths complete with Cabinet (No.68)
Arranged for vee belt connected motor drive with motor in cabinet leg
Furnish and fit ball bearing motor, 3HP (changed to 5HP), 220 volts, 3 phase, 60 cycles, 1200 RPM, frame 254
(changed to 284), together with reversing magnetic starter and push button stations

There are very few Patterns, Castings or Repair Parts left in inventory for this lathe, but all of the original drawings are still in
the files, so parts can be made if required.

Hendeyman

Thank you very much for the information Hendeyman! I greatly appreciate it. That's really interesting stuff. Hopefully I won't need any repair parts, but I do I'll be I touch for any drawings or other information I might need

Don't want to Pirate the OP's thread but what is the High speed reversing Mechanism Hendyman? Having 4 Hendey lathes I assume it's something to do with lead screw reverse. My No. 1 Hendey will reverse the feed/lead screw at higher speeds and my late model C P&W lathe will reverse the feed/lead screw at 1000RPM.(though I have never reversed the lead screw at that fast speed) But other Hendeys only at slooow speed.

M.B. Naegle said:

Yep, the box is for the collet set. In addition to any collets (which will likely have a 2H or 3H stamped on them if they go with the lathe), make sure that the collet closer (long pipe with hand wheel on one end) and the collet nose (short tapered tube with a shoulder on one end) are with the set. There might also be a long rod with some knurling on it, which is for knocking the collet nose out of the spindle. It normally hangs under the wood chest on a screw.

Any tooling that comes with the lathe is a plus, as if something doesn't belong you can ID it and sell it to someone who needs it. In addition to the tail-stock on the ground, be on the look-out for a steady rest and/or follow rest. Those are things that typically are "part" of the lathe as they are different between makes and models and not easy to find used when you need them. Even if you never need them, they should still stay with the machine. Most everything else tooling wise is likely generic and you can find new or used as needed.

Click to expand...

Would you be able to help me out and post pictures of the collet closer, collet nose, and the long rod with knurling? I googled them, but I honestly don't know what I'm looking at exactly, and I don't want to accidentally miss anything important.

I was able to identify a steady rest hanging up on the wall in one of the pictures after reading your post. It's been very helpful.

Sumo91 said:

Would you be able to help me out and post pictures of the collet closer, collet nose, and the long rod with knurling? I googled them, but I honestly don't know what I'm looking at exactly, and I don't want to accidentally miss anything important.

I was able to identify a steady rest hanging up on the wall in one of the pictures after reading your post. It's been very helpful.

Click to expand...

Hendey 4C Lathe

About 2/3 down the page shows the whole set. I'll see about getting some pics of my Closer and Nose pieces for reference.

M.B. Naegle said:

Hendey 4C Lathe

About 2/3 down the page shows the whole set. I'll see about getting some pics of my Closer and Nose pieces for reference.

Click to expand...

Now THAT is some quality info. I don't believe I've seen that page yet, I've been trying to read everything I can about this lathe to get familiar with it.

So from that depiction, it looks like the knurled rod hangs on the post by a screw like you stated, and if I'm looking at this correctly, the piece with the "wheel" drops down inside the pipe stand, and the wheel rests in the box, which can then be closed? Just a guess. Thanks again for your help!

Sumo91 said:

Now THAT is some quality info. I don't believe I've seen that page yet, I've been trying to read everything I can about this lathe to get familiar with it.

So from that depiction, it looks like the knurled rod hangs on the post by a screw like you stated, and if I'm looking at this correctly, the piece with the "wheel" drops down inside the pipe stand, and the wheel rests in the box, which can then be closed? Just a guess. Thanks again for your help!

Click to expand...

You've got it. The Nose piece will typically be in there as well.