[ Return to Main Page ] [ Return to Projects Index ] [Doc's Machine & TWB Store] [ Contact Us ] [ The Whiteboard Webcomic ]

Tuning Up and Tweaking a 1956 Sheldon EXL-56 Lathe




Back in 2008, I was in fairly desperate need of a lathe somewhat more capable than the 11" Logan I already had,
and heard through the local grapevine of a Sheldon up for sale. What little the rumor could tell me had two problems;
one, that the info was weeks, if not a couple of months old. At the time, up here, any machine tool in the roughly
home-shop size tended to sell virtually instantly, so I assumed the thing was probably already gone.

And two, the seller was asking a steep-even-for-up-here $3,500.

However, it was the first decent lathe that had come up for sale in quite a while, so I chased it down.
The above photo is how I first saw it. The previous owner had passed away, and the widow was getting
ready to move South. The big benefit, for me anyway, was that it was very well and completely tooled.

3-jaw, 4-jaw, a handwheel collet closer and spindle insert, drill chuck, live and dead centers, a ton of
drill bits, square lathe bits, a set of indexible bits, a Phase II quick-change toolpost and eight or ten
toolblocks, even indicators, bore gauges, centerdrills, boring bars, you name it.

Plus it'd been fitted with a 3HP 3-phase motor and had a good quality ACTech VFD.
On the slightly negative side, it'd originally been a benchtop model, and the previous owner
had fabricated a steel stand with an aluminum drip tray. Then, at some later point, had
unceremonioulsy sawed off the legs and bolted a set of casters on, so he could roll
the machine around in the shop.

All told, I decided it was worth the cost, made payment arrangements, and hauled it home.





All text, photos and graphics Copyright 1998- 2017, Doc's Machine & Airsmith Services. All Rights Reserved.
Information contained in these pages is for reference and entertainment purposes only.  Our methods are not always the best,
quickest, safest, or even the correct ones. It's up to you to know how to use your own machines and tools.
Keep your fingers away from the spinny blades o' death and you should be all right.