Note: These are CAD drawings and not photographs.
Upon buying my first lathe, a South Bend 9A, I was initially unable to turn threads due to the absense of a threading dial.
These things aren’t exactly easy to get hold of and, if you are lucky enough to find one in decent condition, it would carry a hefty price tag. Obviously strapped for cash (why else would I buy an 80-year-old lathe?) I decided to develop my own threading dial for the SB9.
I say ‘develop’ but, miraculously, the first design worked like a charm. There were no further revisions. The first one I built is still going strong after several years of use and hundreds, if not thousands, of threads.
Specs:
- Body: Engineering steel, with welded trunion and interference fit/grub screw-secured mounting pin.
- Spindle: Stainless steel.
- Dial Face: Choice of stainless steel, brass, aluminium or bronze.
- Spur Gear: Choice of Aluminium or Bronze .
- Finish: Paint or gun metal. (Hammered finish paint shown in images)