Central Machinery lathe

[MarkBillesbach]

A friend recently purchased a Central Machinery metal lathe Mod# TD1236B. The lathe is like new but was made in 1993.It has all the accessories and chucks.He purchased it on an estate sale and thus didn't get any manuals with it. I assumed it came from Harbor Freight,but that mod# won't come up on their web search.Does anyone have any ideas on where to purchase a owners/users manual for this lathe? All help is appreciated,Thanks, Mark

[SnuggleBunny]

If your new lathe was indeed made in '93 then that may well be the problem.I'm sure the manufacturer has had many new model since that time.

[ronm]

Mark, you might try posting your question here...
www.chaski.org/homemachinist/
Lots of good people.

[Peter]

I wonder.... assuming the manual is not available from HF, then probably parts are not either. In which case the manual will be pretty useless and your friend be better off with an old copy of "How to Run a Lathe" by South Bend. Those run about 5 or 10 bucks on a good day.

I might call of visit a HF and check on the parts situation. The quality of that stuff is real gamble. BIG GAMBLE. That is not to say its all junk, but no quality control. No standard of quality. Unbelievable variation form lot to lot - all over the map. I took tools home from HF and broke then in one day and other stuff wore out in a few months and some things just go and go. HF is real good about returns, no question and I have a local store.

[MarkBillesbach]

Thanks for all the replys,I reposted the same question over on the Home Machinest web site so hopefully someone can help.The main reason he wants the manual has to do with the set ups and gear changes for cutting threads. Bruno(the owner of the lathe) is a machinest by trade having worked with lathes and mills for the last 30 years.

[Jeff in PA]

Another website is http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

Plenty of good ideas / people over there.

Jeff

[Peter]

The main reason he wants the manual has to do with the set ups and gear changes for cutting threads.

A machinist will not need a harbor freight owners manual for this. No way. The only value in the origional paper work is a parts listing. And that he may need.