#Atlas lathe model 3996 serial number#

The fact that you can push it so easily tells me the carriage gib my be loosely adjusted.

Originaly was a square headed molt on mine. Is that normal for this lathe, or is that something that can be fixed once I have the carriage apart? Thanks again everybody!Д¬arriage lock is on the top right operator side of the carriage. It also slides away from the chuck when you're cutting a taper with the compound (at least if I don't hold on to the carriage handwheel). Oh, one other thing that I thought was odd.if I push on the carriage with my hand it will (easily) slide down the length of the bed, which doesn't seem normal to me. I'll have to figure out what all I need to get for parts and then have a go at it. The gears are so worn that the teeth come to a sharp point instead of the proper involute shape. Yeah, about the gears.well it runs, and you can cut with it (well, could, before I started dissecting it) but it was extremely noisy. Fourtunatly the bed/ways do seem to be in pretty good condition, so it should be worth doing.

050' cuts accurately I'll be pretty happy. If I can get it to the point where I can take even. You would have to make a closer or buy one from them and make it longer (theirs is for a mini lathe). If you don't have any collets, you can get a 3MT to 3C adaptor from: It takes 3AT collets, which can be hard to find. I have bought from Joe and found him to be good, as have several others I have spoken with. There's a fellow selling steel gears for Atlas at:Д«ut I do not know anything about him or his products. You can get some interesting stuff for it at: The atlas site has some service bulletins, including lubrication and spindle removal instructions.ДЄlso, check out the atlas craftsman yahoo group at:

#Atlas lathe model 3996 serial number#

BTW, the serial number should be stamped on the top of the ways at the end of the bed. It's on a plate on the opposite side of the bed from where you stand to operate it. You might even find it on believe it or not.Д«e sure to give them your model number. Look at the .uk site for more info.Д®mail them and ask for a parts list for it (it will also have diagrams). You can also find a lot of accessories, as Atlas made turret tailstocks, taper attachments, tool post grinders, etc. You can find gears on ebay, but they might cost a bit (but, you did get the lathe for free). Keep the compound in as much contact with the cross slide for maximum rigidity. Work within it's limits and it can do good work. It's a light machine (mine has the thinner ways) and if you try to hog something out, it will object strenuously. I have an older (1952) 12x36 Atlas (101.27440) with QC box and a QC toolpost. Since you are starting with $0.00 invested, and these machines regularly sell in the $500-$1000+ range depending on condition and accessories, a couple of hundred dollars would not be a bad investment.

The late model Atlas is not a Monarch, but it is well worth a minor investment in getting it into running condition. As long as there is not a great deal of wear on the bed, the lathe is worth fixing. It sounds like most of the problems are a matter of cleaning and adjustment. The crossfeed problem is probably a matter of cleaning and adjustment, there may be a detent that needs replacing, and the switch is a simple replacement. There are fifty & sixty year and older machines running on the original gears. The original will last quite a while if properly adjusted and lubed. Replacement gears are readily available on eBay, usually for about $10.00 each.

If it is the late model 12' as shown, it has adressed many of the deficiencies of the earlier machines.