tired old Powermatic #90 Lathe question
I’m looking at an older Powermatic mechanical variable speed lathe that I found locally. I believe its a #90. Its mostly complete, has the tailstock but no centers or faceplates. It has no handwheel ,a homemade tool rest and no power switch. It just runs when you plug it in (on 110 volt power). The paint is dull and in the dark location I’m not even sure what color it is. The bed casting has the word POWERMATIC cast right into it. The bed sits on a matching sheetmetal base that appears to be original. The spindle is large with 1.125″ threads I believe. He uses other more modern lathes in his business and says that all he uses this big boy for is to lay out his lathe chisels on. He wants $450 firm for it. I’m seriously tempted to buy the thing for his asking price and embark on a full restoration.
The lathe runs and the variable speed works but its kind of loud sounding. I think that replacement parts could be bought or made.
I like US made products and am willing to spend several hundred dollars more to make it everyday usable. What do you tool veterans think? Do you see any red flags in what I described? Thanks for any replies.
Replies
I bet the bearings need replacing- Powermatic makes some good stuff and bet you can get all parts pretty easy for it maybe some from the factory. I really don't know much about Powermatic but If I were you I would go to
http://www.oldwwmachines.com/Default.asp
ask the guys there- they do lots of restoration on old woodworking equipment and bet they will be a great help to you. Also they have a want adds and might find some parts for sale for the lathe.
I have an old Boise Crane that I use and want to restore but can not find parts
Good luck it will be lots of fun restoring the Lathe
Ron
Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins
Wood lathe?
Sounds like an awful lot of dough for an old worn, incomplete wood lathe with bad bearings.
I think the url is http://www.owwm.com, and that is THE place to get opinions on problems and restoration advice on old iron. 450.00 does seem a bit high compared to what I've seen at auction.
Bill,
The lathe sounds like it could have been beaten up. The missing parts and lack of a switch suggest, and this is just a gut feeling, that the tool wasn't owned by someone who took care of it.
Worn driveline parts, are to be expected, and can almost always be repaired. Often the parts just need to be cleaned up and lubricated. Gears, bearings, belts, pulleys, etc. can usually be replaced from stock machine parts, you don't have to hope that they're still available from the manufacturer.
Machines that have been abused are a different story. Bent and broken castings, stripped threads, or a damaged taper in the spindle will require finding manufacturer only replacement parts, expensive if you can even find them, or having a machine shop remachine or duplicate components.
In my experience, if you find that one part is beaten up, a closer look will show that everything has been damaged by heavy handed use. In the end, it usually isn't worth the time, money, and frustration to restore an abused machine. It is often impossible to get them working well despite heroic efforts.
If the lathe has been beaten up, you are better off to keep looking for an older, but well cared for machine. Good vintage machines are out there, you just have to be patient and do some searching. An additional bonus: if you find a good machine it will probably cost less to buy than the beater, it just seems to work that way.
Good luck, feel free to ask more questions.
John W.
Edited 11/28/2003 1:10:20 PM ET by JohnW
John or to all interested.
I hope that you can repair this lathe.I bought the same model new about 25 years ago. I designed and installed a jack shaft between the spindle and the motor to reduce the speed for large outboard turnings. I had to install a lower shelf for the motor down lower in the metal cabinet.I also installed a reversing switch in the motor housing.
The only problem that I have had was with the switch that turns the motor off and off with the speed changes.The manual for this lathe is pretty complete and all inclusive,although fitting the speed change unit back into its` housing can be a little tricky.
I bolted the stand to the floor and ran an outrigger from the head stock to the wall for additional stability.I mounted the lathe so that the work on the outboard face plate would pass through the door way.The largest turning so far was a foundry pattern for a sewer manhole and cover.If I remember correctly,the diameter was about 64 inches. I have several machines by Powermatic.I may be a little biased, since I built several casting patterns for their early models when they started their production in McMinville Tennessee.
Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Hi Bill, Most of what is missing is no big thing, I take it that the tool rest that is missing is just the rest and not the compleat assembly? If is whole assembly would be maybe a tough thing to find or costly. I think his price is pretty high though for what you are getting. I see ones on e-bay that are missing things and don't seem to be that high. I also bought one for a friend of mine about 12 years ago form a college and paid $170 for it, variable speed, 1hp motor but was missing the center out of the tail stock. Even had part of a duplicator with the machine also, but it still sits in the corner of his garage! Face plates can be bought many places and other parts as well. The Old machinery web site can be of help as a locator.
good luck
Marsh
The Banjo seems fine its just the tool rest itself thats homemade. Its probably Ok too except that the rectangular piece of steel is welded that is welded to the post is not contoured in any way and the edges are sharp, not rounded. The Banjo part appears original and fine.
The indexing button doesn't lock the spindle, any idea what might be wrong there?
Heh, thanks for your feedback!
Does the Powermatic company make literature or parts for this lathe anymore?
Most the time bill the indexing pin is just a 3/8 or so pin with the very end turned down to about 1/8 or less that will go into the indexing head or end of pulley how ever the 90 is set up. Usually what happens is while the machine was still running someone pushed the pin in and sheared the end off the larger pin. Don't know if that one is spring loaded to stay in the released position or if it is just friction. Once removed some one with a metal lathe could pot a tip back on it for you or you could even grind it down if you are good, by chucking the pin in an electric drill and then grind the tip in it.
As far as a tool rest you ought to be able to find one on e-bay I see them all the time some times the price is ok and some times they are outta-site! I would bet that a Delta on would work as long as the shaft dia. is the same. I have built 2 or 3 rest for mine to do some thing different than what I can do with the factory ones.
Marsh
Powermatic
I recently bought two of these from a guy for $330 total who purchased them at a school auction and didn't do anything with them. They are 208V, 3 phaze but that isn't a problem as you can buy an inverter with frequency control, overload functions, etc for a little over $200. They came with scads of chizzles, faceplates, live centers, etc. I put one in my shop and am debateing whether to keep the other for parts or sell it, recouping most of my original investment. I think the price you are stating for the beater is pretty high. Keep looking.
Tom
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