Very good, I've just made one myself. I've got the same knurling tool and got pretty much the same result. My only difference was using precision ground stainless steel for the rod as I had some available. Oh, and a second rod which will be tapped M4 and M2 to take brass inserts for various purposes.
Hi Matt. I had a chance at a beautiful Cowells like yours years ago but blew it off. That thudding sound you currently hear is me banging my forehead against the shop wall... Nice work as usual I wouldn't sweat that knurl - Difficult for small lathes like ours let alone a reg sized engine lathe. I've added a flat and another set screw @ 90 degrees to help prevent slippage. Well done.
Hey Mike. A Cowells lathe must be a rare find in the states! It really is a beautiful thing and so surprisingly capable! Of all the mini/micro lathes I own, it's still my favourite. Hell, it's probably my most favourite possession of all. 😊 The knurling tool is new and I hadn't used it before and to be honest it's a piece of junk! The arms aren't even parallel to the shank! 🙄 That said, it's still mostly my fault. I was rushing and didn't do my calculations properly. Oh well, it's not critical. 😬 I'll add another screw if starts slipping. 👍 So what about you. Have you been working on any projects? 🙂
@@machinist_matt ironically I just purchased a micro knurler from little machine shop identical to yours but I haven't tried it yet. I do have a vertical milling attachment vid I want to do too. Otherwise I've been on break a bit due to more surgeries but I'll be back for sure. The Cowells belonged to a retired engineer who lived in the UK for decades after the war but wanted to come home after he retired. He brought everything home. I had my chance in 1982. Yeah it was a great little machine I believe he wanted $150 bucks for it.😳🙄
@@machinistmikethetinkerer4827 Hopefully your knurling tool will be better put together than mine.🙄 $150! Wow, a good used Cowells would probably cost 10x that now! Ouch.😬 I look forward to seeing more videos from you! Stay healthy. 👍
@@machinist_matt Judging by the chuck on your ME lathe, you've still got the original spindle (M14 by 1.0) just like the 50+ years old second hand ME I bought on eBay about four years ago. I needed a 4 jaw chuck so I had to upgrade the spindle to M14 by 1.5 and replace the three jaw chuck. It cost me a fortune but I've never regretted it. I used the original spindle, some bronze bushes and a 30 cog worm gear to build a dividing head which utilises the original 3 jaw chuck. This was all machined on the ME lathe - time consuming but just about within the capacity of the machine. I've been a fan of the ME lathe and Cowells in general, apart from the prices., but you get what you pay for. I invested in a brand new Cowells vertical slide and vice and managed to do some simple milling of cast iron and gunmetal but, like me, the lathe is old and worn and rigidity is an issue. I've abandoned milling on the lathe in favour of a cheap and cheerful Chinese mill that so far has served me well.
@@lenroddis5933 Hello Len. Yes, I still have the original spindle. I have considered upgrading to the new spindle many times but since I already have all the chucks (3 jaw, 4 jaw & collet) I can't really justify the cost. Though it would be nice to have some cross compatibility with my other machines. 🫤
@@machinist_matt Into double figures! A couple, like an old Wade 2-inch round bed, are basically just parts that comprise potential restoration projects. I did acquire a Sieg M1 at a ridiculously low price because the seller misspelt 'lathe' and my bottom bid was the only one - I was surprised!
Hey everyone, thanks for watching. What's your micro lathe setup? Comment below. 👇
I have a unimat SL. I would love to see more small machining done with the unimat.
Excellent design and you made a superb job of it - cheers Paul
Hi Paul.
It was one of your Unimat videos that gave me the idea for this! I can't remember which one but I thought it was a great idea. Thanks. 🙂👍
Very good, I've just made one myself. I've got the same knurling tool and got pretty much the same result. My only difference was using precision ground stainless steel for the rod as I had some available. Oh, and a second rod which will be tapped M4 and M2 to take brass inserts for various purposes.
This was lovely. I wont pass up a Cowell if I see one now.
Thanks Colemine! They really are lovely machines! 🙂
Excellent job.
Thanks for watching. 🙂👍
Hi Matt. I had a chance at a beautiful Cowells like yours years ago but blew it off. That thudding sound you currently hear is me banging my forehead against the shop wall...
Nice work as usual I wouldn't sweat that knurl - Difficult for small lathes like ours let alone a reg sized engine lathe. I've added a flat and another set screw @ 90 degrees to help prevent slippage. Well done.
Hey Mike. A Cowells lathe must be a rare find in the states! It really is a beautiful thing and so surprisingly capable! Of all the mini/micro lathes I own, it's still my favourite. Hell, it's probably my most favourite possession of all. 😊
The knurling tool is new and I hadn't used it before and to be honest it's a piece of junk! The arms aren't even parallel to the shank! 🙄 That said, it's still mostly my fault. I was rushing and didn't do my calculations properly. Oh well, it's not critical. 😬 I'll add another screw if starts slipping. 👍
So what about you. Have you been working on any projects? 🙂
@@machinist_matt ironically I just purchased a micro knurler from little machine shop identical to yours but I haven't tried it yet. I do have a vertical milling attachment vid I want to do too. Otherwise I've been on break a bit due to more surgeries but I'll be back for sure. The Cowells belonged to a retired engineer who lived in the UK for decades after the war but wanted to come home after he retired. He brought everything home. I had my chance in 1982. Yeah it was a great little machine I believe he wanted $150 bucks for it.😳🙄
@@machinistmikethetinkerer4827 Hopefully your knurling tool will be better put together than mine.🙄
$150! Wow, a good used Cowells would probably cost 10x that now! Ouch.😬
I look forward to seeing more videos from you! Stay healthy. 👍
@@machinist_matt
Judging by the chuck on your ME lathe, you've still got the original spindle (M14 by 1.0) just like the 50+ years old second hand ME I bought on eBay about four years ago. I needed a 4 jaw chuck so I had to upgrade the spindle to M14 by 1.5 and replace the three jaw chuck. It cost me a fortune but I've never regretted it. I used the original spindle, some bronze bushes and a 30 cog worm gear to build a dividing head which utilises the original 3 jaw chuck. This was all machined on the ME lathe - time consuming but just about within the capacity of the machine. I've been a fan of the ME lathe and Cowells in general, apart from the prices., but you get what you pay for. I invested in a brand new Cowells vertical slide and vice and managed to do some simple milling of cast iron and gunmetal but, like me, the lathe is old and worn and rigidity is an issue. I've abandoned milling on the lathe in favour of a cheap and cheerful Chinese mill that so far has served me well.
@@lenroddis5933 Hello Len. Yes, I still have the original spindle. I have considered upgrading to the new spindle many times but since I already have all the chucks (3 jaw, 4 jaw & collet) I can't really justify the cost. Though it would be nice to have some cross compatibility with my other machines. 🫤
I've got too many lathes. Addiction is a terrible thing.
I know the feeling! Currently have 7. 😬😂
@@machinist_matt 7? You're lagging behind!
@@michaelmclachlan1650 One for every day of the week! 😂 Do you have even more?? 😯
@@machinist_matt Into double figures! A couple, like an old Wade 2-inch round bed, are basically just parts that comprise potential restoration projects. I did acquire a Sieg M1 at a ridiculously low price because the seller misspelt 'lathe' and my bottom bid was the only one - I was surprised!
@@michaelmclachlan1650 There might be a help group for that level of addiction! 😅 At least you made me feel a bit better about "only" having 7. 😂