Unimat SL 1000

[Verne]

Since I have had some time I have been cleaning  up a Unimat SL 1000 mini Lathe that belonged to my dad.  Can remember as a kid my dad showing how to do different stuff with it.

 

I have to pull it completely down and clean the rails for the lead screw and carriage since they were gummed up.  Luckily the drive unit is working great on it

Where I need help is the Lead Screw and Carriage need to have the threads chased but having a hard time finding out what pitch they are.  I know it is a fine metric thread with a left hand twist.

 

Any insight or help would be great?  Heck if you have a tap and die set with left hand metric setup I would buy lunch for the chance to use them for a few minutes to get this back in tip top shape.

 

Thanks,

[billyscott]

You might check out this site:

 

http://unimat.homestead.com/

 

And Yahoo has a Unimat group:

 

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UNIMAT/info

 

If you have good eyesight you can determine the thread pitch with a scale. With a metric thread the pitch is the distance from the top of one thread to the top of the next thread.

Hope this helps. That looks like a cool lathe.

[RED333]

Chase?

Do you have to use a die?

Would a wire brush work to "clean" the threads?

OH, OH PICS!!!

[DaveTN]

the Lead Screw and Carriage need to have the threads chased

Why? You will have backlash and slop.

[Guest kingarmory]

Yup, oil and brush the threads, don't chase them.

[Verne]

You might check out this site:

 

http://unimat.homestead.com/

 

And Yahoo has a Unimat group:

 

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UNIMAT/info

 

If you have good eyesight you can determine the thread pitch with a scale. With a metric thread the pitch is the distance from the top of one thread to the top of the next thread.

Hope this helps. That looks like a cool lathe.

 

Thanks.  I have already been poking around on the the homestead site with no luck.  Will have to check out the yahoo group.

 

Chase?

Do you have to use a die?

Would a wire brush work to "clean" the threads?

OH, OH PICS!!!

 

 

Why? You will have backlash and slop.

 

 

Yup, oil and brush the threads, don't chase them.

 

A wire brush would have been my first choice except the threads on the end of the Lead Screw got marred up some how previously and it would only come a part by threading that end out.  The other end was not threaded all the way to the end so it was only coming out  the one way.  I can order replacement parts but wanting to see if I can get these in a semi usable condition. 

 

Right now I am just setting it up to run my Dead On Trimmer so the carriage is not even being used.

 

I will get some pics shortly.

 

Thanks again,

[RED333]

The Russian AK rifles are threaded left hand for the brake, 14 TPS I think.

I have a few thread files, one is metric, will work for left and right hand.

The file will clean up and cut threads with some work.

Picked up the set from e-gay.

[Verne]

That's an option but does not sound like fun.  There is a good length that needs to be cleaned up.

 

And now some pics.

 

[URL=http://s93.photobucket.com/user/verne3/media/Unimat%20SL%201000/IMG_0153_zps94b6f3a1.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s93.photobucket.com/user/verne3/media/Unimat%20SL%201000/IMG_0152_zpsae4d0dcc.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s93.photobucket.com/user/verne3/media/Unimat%20SL%201000/IMG_0154_zps6f165f7b.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s93.photobucket.com/user/verne3/media/Unimat%20SL%201000/IMG_0151_zps1ebeb937.jpg.html][/URL]

 

For give the quick pics not my best work.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I would also use a three sided file to clean the threads up. That is what I do to clean threads up followed by 1,000 grit sandpaper to really smooth things up.

Best way to do it is engage the thread then let the file ride down or up the shaft.

[Verne]

Thanks for the suggestions on the the three sided file. Have spent some time today messing with it and is slowly getting better.  At least I have free time right now to miss with it. 

 

Just hoping the drive belts show up Saturday so I can start trimming some brass with it.

 

Thank you,

[Dolomite_supafly]

You can buy belts at most auto parts stores. Take a string and tie it snugly around both pulleys. Take that to a local store and they have a device to measure it and get you the correct belt.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Probably cheaper too.

[Verne]

it was only $10 to have a set of nine shipped to my door.  Have never seen any as small as I would need at the parts house.  These are less than 10", probably closer to 6", round belts.  If I wasn't off work due to my foot for another month we keep all kinds of them there.  They are used as industrial drive bands for powered roller conveyers and line shaft setups. 

 

This setup is overkill to use the trimmer but I had it and love messing with it.  Brings back some great memories.  I have invested more in it than a 1/2" chuck drill would have run but not much.  Plus it has given something to do since I have been off since the September 2nd and wont be able to go back till the mid of November.

 

Thank you all for all the help.

[RED333]

I said thread file, not triangle file as the angle will be wrong.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/728512/general-tools-thread-repair-file-for-metric-075-10-125-15-175-20-25-30mm-threads?srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=34-253464573-2&ads=&cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google

Edited October 18, 2014 by RED333

[Dolomite_supafly]

I said thread file, not triangle file as the angle will be wrong.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/728512/general-tools-thread-repair-file-for-metric-075-10-125-15-175-20-25-30mm-threads?srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=34-253464573-2&ads=&cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google

 

Never knew those existed, really cool.

[Pat]

Man, I thought my lathe was small. Goodness. Good luck with your quest, friend. Restoring these older precision tools is a service to the world.