Photo Index - Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl. - 46-140 gap bed lathe

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Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta Specialty/Delta Mfg. Co./Delta-Rockwell/Rockwell Intl.
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

True Manufacturer:
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Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	11" x 36"
Submitted By:	John L

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	46-140 gap bed lathe
Date of Manufacturer:	1986
Serial Number:	GU559374I86
Last Updated	1/3/2010 1:43:18 PM

Comments:

I bought this on eBay several years ago from the original owner for $85, with a full set of Delta chisels. It had sat unused in the owner's barn for some 15 years or so. I cleaned some light rust from the ways and went straight to work. The factory stand that came with the machine is adequate for spindle work but I really had to weight it down with log sections and sandbags when rough turning larger, out of balance items to keep it from walking all over the shop. One of these days I'll build a heavy duty stand for it.

The inboard headstock threads are 7/8-14 tpi, an unusual size. The scroll chuck was an addition of my own; it's a Teknatool Nova G3 and it is sold with your choice of headstock adapter. As far as I know Teknatool is the only company selling adapters of this pitch for its line of scroll chucks. Faceplates seem hard to come by, or are too expensive (for me), so I fabricate my own from wood. The tailstock accepts standard #1 Morse Taper tooling. The tailstock live center shown in the photo is from Sears. I have very nearly worn it out in just a few years so I will likely buy a new and larger one from Penn State Industries one of these days.

From digging around OWWM it is my understanding that this machine was likely made by Rockwell but is tagged as a Delta owing to a corporate buyout around the time the machine was built. Rockwell had in turn bought Beaver Tools of Ontario, Canada some time earlier and judging by the serial number tag this machine appears to have been made at the Beaver/Rockwell factory there in Guelph, so if you're looking for parts (e.g. factory spur center, faceplates) then you will find that many Beaver, Rockwell and Delta parts for their respective 11" gap bed lathes are often interchangeable.

I turn everything from pens to bowls and table lamps with this lathe. It's a very well made unit. Don't let the odd thread size stop you from taking one of these home. It is my experience that the "odd" thread size and the perceived lack of accessory tooling is the primary reason why you should be able to acquire this lathe inexpensively.

As to turning pens, I bought a plain end pen mandrel from Penn State Industries. By "plain end" I mean it's just a straight shaft, without a morse taper or threaded end for mounting in the headstock. The mandrel can be grasped in a number of ways: 1) directly by the pin jaws of the G3 (usually a separate accessory). 2) A block of wood mounted in the G3 into which the mandrel is inserted and held by a set screw. 3) A block of wood tapped for 7/8-14 into which the mandrel is inserted and held by a set screw.

I have found that with the purchase of a simple machinists tap there is no end to the number of headstock accessories that can be fabricated out of hard wood and/or plywood for this lathe. Strictly speaking you can do without the G3 (but I like it - it's quite convenient) and you absolutely do not need to have a machinist custom create a 7/8-14 to 1.25-8 TPI headstock adapter out of O1 tool steel for you. Likewise, the purchase of a hot melt glue gun has also been invaluable.

Over the years since I originally posted this information I have received a number of private messages via this page concerning various aspects of this lathe and its uses. Since much of that email correspondence has been lost (to me) via a change in service providers I thought I'd create a separate web page on which to recollect much of what has been privately discussed for the benefit of whoever may encounter a lathe like this in the future. So for what it's worth: http://46-140-lathe.blogspot.com

Photo 1:

Comments: 46-140 with Nova G3 Chuck
Source: my camera

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Photo 2:

Comments: 46-140 closeup
Source: my camera

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Photo 3:

Comments:
Source:

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Photo 4:

Comments: As set up for pen turning.
Source: my camera

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