Good deal in Houston

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:01 pm

I'll measure each tube and see what I have. Most of it is sitting in my attic hiding from swmbo

She called the first one a "monstrosity" so I'll have to make sure the second is a small footprint.

At first glance I think the OD is the same on all 4 with one having thicker walls. I'll measure them when I get home from work today.

If it is indeed from an ER, I hate to cut the tube for a shorty, but would there be any benefit from using one thicker tube on the bench of either a regular or mini?

Would cutting it in half provide enough length for a mini? At least then I could use the two halves for the mini bench tubes.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:30 pm

joshh wrote:I'll measure each tube and see what I have. Most of it is sitting in my attic hiding from swmbo

She called the first one a "monstrosity" so I'll have to make sure the second is a small footprint.

At first glance I think the OD is the same on all 4 with one having thicker walls. I'll measure them when I get home from work today.

If it is indeed from an ER, I hate to cut the tube for a shorty, but would there be any benefit from using one thicker tube on the bench of either a regular or mini?

Would cutting it in half provide enough length for a mini? At least then I could use the two halves for the mini bench tubes.

I have a 'personal' distaste for cutting 10E/R tubes, but that is 'my' burden to bear.]can[/B] be created from a single tube by cutting it 3/8" off center creating tubes that vary in length by 3/4", but table/carriage and headstock becomes impractical(not enough room). By not including the table/carriage an excellent 'power station' is created.

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:41 pm

I have 2 way tubes that are 1.75" outside diameter, 1.5" inside diameter, and 52" long.

I have 2 bench tubes that are 1.75" outside diameter, one end of each tube is 1.25" inside diameter and the other end is 1.5" inside diameter, 52 & 5/8th inches long. These two also seem as though they were painted / coated with something long ago. Each tube is scored 5/8th of an inch from the thick walled end. The cut is < 1/32nd of an inch deep. I'm fairly certain someone attempted to cut this pair to the same length as the way tubes and changed their mind after starting.

I'll have pictures up tonight, only have access to my iPhone at the moment. I don't know what to think about this pair of tubes.

The stuck tube was not that stuck. . . some PB blaster in the set screw hole, it slid right out.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:46 pm

Why would the tube walls be thicker at one end than the other end? Was one end reamed out for some reason? What reason could it have been?

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:20 pm

I really need to post pics, will do ASAP.

The thick end is only thick for the first 1.75" then the inside diameter opens in a straight drop off.

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:59 pm

Here are some pictures:

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:07 pm

I would hazard a guess that the 'bench' tubes are NOT SS issue.

They will do quite well if straight!

The original greenie bench tubes were of a different steel and were originally painted. They tended to rust very well, so yours have most likely been replaced.

Do not be surprised when the bench tubes are not centered in the base casting holes. I predict they will be 1/16" off center and 1/8" further apart than 'usual'. If that matters to you, a 1/16" shim between the tubes and the casting will correct that. The shim goes on the outer side of the tubes. There are two 'islands' in the casting that the tubes bear against.

52 5/8" ?????????????

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:24 pm

JPG40504 wrote:52 5/8" ?????????????

Yes, I just remeasured in several places. Measured lengths were 52 & 5/8th to 52 & 11/16th.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to use them or not. I'll decide when the time comes.

Thanks!

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:47 pm

It looks to me as if those "score marks" came not from an abortive effort to shorten the tubes, but rather from a successful effort to LENGTHEN the tubes. To wit, someone skillfully turned a couple of short pieces of thick-walled tubing to size, and pressed them into thin-walled tubes in order to lengthen them. This would explain the sudden step in the ID. The apparent "score marks" then presumably result from nicely-matched chamfers on the mating tubes.

Why, I haven't a clue.

But I can't resist speculating anyway ... perhaps for adapting a way tube for use as a bench tube? Or adapting a tube from a different vintage ShopSmith?

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:28 am

I would have never guessed that:eek: