Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

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Glenn Brooks
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Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Not my machine, however looks like it's in pretty nice condition. If anyone is looking for a quality machine, this may be the one. Longview, Wa is north of Portland on I-5 maybe an hour by car, sort of along the Colombia River.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/t ... y=clausing
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Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

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GlennW
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by GlennW »

It looks like it has just been re-painted using rattle cans.

Look at the gray over spray on the plywood it is sitting on and the splotchy overall finish.

Also no wear or marks on any of the painted surfaces.

It's a trap for Steve.
Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by SteveHGraham »

BACK OFF! IT'S MINE!
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
spro
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by spro »

Sure but also notice the wide saddle is parked right over the bed wear area. Total coincidence :)
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Harold_V
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by Harold_V »

spro wrote:Sure but also notice the wide saddle is parked right over the bed wear area. Total coincidence :)
That may not be an issue, as those machines have flame hardened beds. Wear may be minimal, at worst.

H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
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SteveHGraham
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by SteveHGraham »

You can't go wrong with a Clausing.
Every hard-fried egg began life sunny-side up.
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Harold_V
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by Harold_V »

SteveHGraham wrote:You can't go wrong with a Clausing.
Heh!
Well, that all depends.
I've related this story before, but it's worth telling again.
The last job I held before starting my commercial shop was back in '67. I was with that shop (United Precision, in Salt Lake City, Utah) for 18 months. For about a year of that time, I chose to operate the sister to that machine, on which I performed some very precise work, often with a tolerance of less than a thou. I chose it because it had collets, a six jaw, and a spindle speed of 2,000 rpm, which was important, as the vast majority of the work was quite small, which was my specialty.

The machine I ran had been badly abused, rarely operated on a regular basis---it rarely got wiped and oiled, and was stiff to operate. In spite of that, by carefully wiping and oiling on a regular basis, within a few days it was free, and the way oil stayed clean with use. Because the bed ways are hardened, there was virtually no wear, in spite of the abuse.

So then, don't judge all Clausings by one with which a bad experience resulted. They were a decent machine for the price, and were capable of acceptable work, assuming one ran them within their design capabilities.

H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
SteveM
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by SteveM »

GlennW wrote:It looks like it has just been re-painted using rattle cans.
Look at the gray over spray on the plywood it is sitting on and the splotchy overall finish.
It looks like the base was painted with rattle cans, but if you look, they did a proper job of removing all the tags first, so I wouldn't throw it under the bus just yet.

Steve
spro
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by spro »

Of course I wouldn't dismiss it. Those hardened ways happened because of the earlier experiences with Clausing Colchester. Remarkable tough lathes but those tremendous beds didn't have hardened ways...back then. Something else goes on here which ties to clean bedways and proper oil.
In many cases the saddle is not as wide. In most cases the saddle surfaces are not hardened at all. They wear.
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Harold_V
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Re: Clausing 5914 Variable Speed Lathe on Seattle CL

Post by Harold_V »

spro wrote:In most cases the saddle surfaces are not hardened at all. They wear.
Indeed, but with very different results. So long as the carriage bears on the ways uniformly, the wear doesn't create issues the way it would if it was the same amount on the bed ways. Center height remains a constant, unlike wear of the ways.

H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
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