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Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

I knew a Tool and die maker how had one home shop.
I said it was a great lathe.

The old American is far better that new Chinese junk.

Dave

Originally Posted by lakedrum03

Dream Team,

Long story short: I was given the option to receive a Sheldon Lathe with a 56" bed. It is very old. Best I can tell it is from the 1940s. Unfortunately, it is in my aunts basement, so it will not be easy to get anywhere. It has about a half dozen chucks of various sizes and bits, etc.

The question: is this machine worth my time and effort to tear down, remove from the basement and reassemble? I am just a hobbyist fabricator.

Also, what do you think it would be worth?

Thanks,

Seth

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Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Originally Posted by lakedrum03

Yessir. A gentleman picked than up and restored it. He sent a video when it was up and running. Really awesome.

Drat! Well, at least it's back in use!

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Originally Posted by G-ManBart

That's a bargain for all the tooling! Did you already sell the shaper? I'm not sure why, but I really want a shaper!

Yessir. A gentleman picked than up and restored it. He sent a video when it was up and running. Really awesome.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Originally Posted by lakedrum03

Hey guys - I have decided to sell this lathe and the tooling to go with it. I also have a new motor still in the box. Nothing wrong with the old one and it still runs fine.


$1,500, pick up in Uniontown, OH

That's a bargain for all the tooling! Did you already sell the shaper? I'm not sure why, but I really want a shaper!

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Hey guys - I have decided to sell this lathe and the tooling to go with it. I also have a new motor still in the box. Nothing wrong with the old one and it still runs fine.


$1,500, pick up in Uniontown, OH

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

That's one heck of a find! That version is the 11.25" swing model. With the long bed and with the cabinet it's going to be close to 2,000lbs. I have a 13" Sheldon with the long bed and it's much heavier than I expected. Sheldon lathes were considered the smallest of the true commercial lathes and the biggest of the homeowner lathes and were often favored by gunsmiths.

A 10" Sheldon is far heavier than something like a South Bend Heavy 10...not really in the same ballpark.

I paid $1K for mine, drove three hours each way to get it and felt like I stole it! The seller listed it on FB Marketplace and I was lucky enough to be the first to contact him and set up a time to get it the next morning. He said he had a half dozen people trying to get him to sell it before I got there, so I'm pretty sure the price was more than fair. Yours has a lot more tooling than mine....makes a big difference.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

There is a LOT of stuff in that basement! That drill looks great from here, and as someone stated, the oven is cool... if you ever wander into knifemaking, you will certainly appreciate it.

Mikel

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Originally Posted by bhound

You got you a table top shaper too?

Yes, but selling that one. Dont have a clue what its worth, though. Any idea?

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

You got you a table top shaper too?

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Originally Posted by Zimm

You are a lucky man. Work slow and carefully.

You might want to lose the crocs for some steel toes. Jest sayin.

These are OSHA approved crocs.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

You are a lucky man. Work slow and carefully.

You might want to lose the crocs for some steel toes. Jest sayin.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

That oven is going to open up a whole new world for you. Be able to harden, anneal, etc...………………… You've come into a real treasure trove. And, you can think about the previous owner while using it. That means a lot.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

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Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

More photos.

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Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Started the clean out yesterday. Here are some photos of the first load of of stuff. There is so much tooling that you couldn't use it in multiple life times.

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Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

While removing some of the above mentioned items, include removing the motor. Definitely remove the tailstock, I've been there. Bob

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Thanks for all of the help. I am heading over there on Sunday to start this operation.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

he got it in there somehow it will come out the same way figure out a weight if its under a 1000 lbs just the lathe unmounted use a refrigerator dolly and stand it on end.and 3 tough guys. I helped pull one out of a basement that had a 90 degree bend in the stairs we built a skid for under the lathe then a track down the stairs then just rolled it up the ramp on rollers with the help of a 4X6 crossed the top of the stairs and a com-a-long. just make sure you are pulling against studs not drywall.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

It's an old fashioned American made machine, the headstock is probably mounted on the bed ways. Alignment depends on the ways, not any adjustments on the base of the casting. So, it's safe to remove the headstock. It should line up fine when re-installed.

All the Chines lathes have adjustable headstocks, which makes it a bit hard to re-align them.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Value, where is, is negative. You are in a used machine tool Utopia. You will be doing your aunt a big favor getting it out of her house. It will be a useful piece once installed in your shed.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

2x12s cut to length to lay over stairs top to bottom. Make a sled out of 10 ga. with the nose rolled up like a bobsled. weld a pulling ring in each corner in front and have the width wide enough to weld rings on the sides to strap the bed down tight. Legs, tail stock and chuck taken off.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

My first thought was to drag it up the steps over a ramp. I would try to get it out in 2 parts. Base and lathe. Minus all the removable stuff like Chuck, crosslide, tail stock... I wouldn't be keen on separating the head unless I absolutely had to. Lathe are extremely unbalanced

What is then status of the steps, can they be removed?

A duct lift might be a option. If weight capacity will match and you can get it down there.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Sure, it comes apart. Just make sure to get a digital camera, and take pictures of every teardown operation you perform. I mean DETAILED MULTI ANGLE PICS whenever you remove a component...….prior to, and after removal.

Headstock comes off. QC gearbox comes off. Saddle, and apron comes off. You can strip it down to the bed.

Build a wooden sled, or something with a metal bottom, that slides easily. Then using the doorway at the head of the stairs, or something else that'll anchor a winch...….winch it up the stairs. 4x4 piece of lumber across the doorway is good for a winch anchor, although you'll run out of room when you top the stairs. Then ya gotta find something else to attach to. Even consider running anchor cable/rope/chain from another room. Or get a good rope, and your buddies, and just pull it up the stairs.

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

Hey guys, I am reviving this thread, as I have to move this lathe from out of my uncles basement.

How in the world am I going to get this up a set of stairs? Does it all come apart?

Re: Sheldon Machine "Quick Change Gear Lathe" ESWQ 56"

If anyone gave me a lathe I would take it!