Sears Lathe Question

[me]

Hi,

I'm an amature hobbyist. I just picked up a Sears Long Bed Wood Lathe, Model Number 28955 and six chisels off of Kijiji. I have been searching the net for information and manuals on the lathe but with no success. Does anyone have any information they can share with me?

Thanks, Sheldon

[Len]

Is this a 'Craftsman' lathe? If so, what's the full (8 - 10 digits) model number? There should be a plate or sticker somewhere with that info.

Len

[me]

Hi Len,

I believe this pre-dates Craftsman. It doesn't have the Craftsman label. It only has the old Sears label. The only model number on it is 28955.

Thanks.

[Nova]

You might find something over the "Old Woodworking Machines" web site at:

[David Nebenzahl]

On 5/30/2009 11:07 AM Nova spake thus:

nothing on machines made by Sears, Roebuck and Co., at least none that I could find. Anyone else have better luck? Maybe your lathe is listed under the actual manufacturer, if you can determine who that was.

[me]

Maybe I should post a bit more detail. It has a capacity to turn a

12" diameter and 41" between centers. It has tubes that the tail stock moves >Hi Len,

[Len]

If it's that old, I suspect it may have actually been made by Emerson for Sears.

Emerson now makes the 'Rigid' line for Home Depot, so you might want to take a look at the manual for the Rigid Model 14773 lathe to see if it's close enough. Click on the "book" just about the picture at

to access the owners manual.

If that's not it, try looking for a Emerson lathe manual instead of Sears.

Len

[LD]

Try posting to rec.crafts.woodturning. Odds are that somebody over there owns or once owned one.

[Martin H. Eastburn]

[guillemd]

The number that you found (28955) is more similar to those found on Atlas metalworking lathes:

also supplied Sears with lathes using a prefix =93101=94 in the model number. I can=92t say for sure who made your lathe but, Atlas made both metalworking as well as woodworking equipment: you know, but =93Sheldon=94 is also a brand of lathes: )

-DG

[Ed Edelenbos]

Try looking here:

[charlessenf]

I googled "beginning lathe turning" and got lots of results:

# Wood turning lathe tips:techniques: woodturning instruction It is our hope that this web site will help both beginning and advanced turners to increase their skills in wood turning, tool sharpening, and lathe use ... aroundthewoods.com/ - 16k - Cached - Similar pages - Make your own Contents Beginners Tips

Free Video Intermediate to Advanced Woodturning lathe maintenance Gallery More results from aroundthewoods.com =BB # Shopsmith - Articles and Projects - Lathe Turning Tips Practice, sharp tools, and a reliable machine - these are the surest avenues to beautiful lathe turning results. And here are several tips, hints, ... drillpresstips.com/ownersite/proj_articles/lathetips.htm - 22k - Cached - Similar pages - # Wood Turning - Beginning by Choosing a Lathe - Seven Points to ... Wood Turning - Beginning by Choosing a Lathe - Seven Points to Consider. ezinearticles.com/?Wood-Turning---Beginning-by-Choosing-a-Lathe--- Seven-Points-to-Consider&id=3D542794 - 50k - Cached - Similar pages -

[David Nebenzahl]

On 5/31/2009 7:38 AM [e-mail] spake thus:

So how, exactly, is that mish-mosh of results supposed to help the OP? So much for the usual lame-brain "just Google it" advice.

[charlessenf]

That "mish mosh" was simply an example of what the OP could easily have found to answer his question in the first place.

Its one thing to bring a serious query to the group after researching and finding a dearth of information or conflicting information and quite another to use an OP here to substitute for a little personal effort and responsibility.

Hell, he could have gone to most any decent Book Store and found three or nine books on beginning turning and browsed through them while sipping coffee and deciding if any were worth purchasing.

Then, after buying a basic set of turning tols and experimenting, he might have formed a question or three worth the efforts of the readers here.

[David Nebenzahl]

On 6/1/2009 1:20 PM [e-mail] spake thus:

Could have easily answered *nothing*. There wasn't one single link in that bunch that addressed his lather (a Sears).

Maybe.

A couple of people suggested the Old Woodworking Machines (OWWM) site. While it is an interesting and useful site, it has ABSOLUTELY NO information on his specific make of lathe (I searched it), so even that was not very good advice.

Like I've told others here: if you can't help someone, then it's best to just STFU.

[Max]

I'm disinclined to favor "dittos" but..........ditto.

Max

[me]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I have checked all the suggested sites. I haven't found anything that has matched.

I emailed Sears directly to see if they had any information. After half a dozen frustrating emails the closest they could find in their database was 101.28950 where I was looking for 28955. Their model number was for a 12" Craftsman Metal lathe made by Clausing Corp Services. It seems that they are now Atlas.

The writing on the lathe is both in English and French. Would that make a difference as to who made it?

>(Maybe you know, but ?Sheldon? is also a brand of lathes:

[me]

Hi There,

Maybe I didn't word my OP correctly. I'm looking for information on the lathe itself, not about woodturning.

[phorbin]

Is it Canadian manufacture or just marketed in Canada?

Either way, there may be a different numbering system for Canada.

Why not post a picture of the unit along with all the identifying marks somewhere and ask people to have a look.

Antique Atlas owners could probably tell you whether your craftsman was in that lineage.

You may find some of them at

[phorbin]

The Craftsman brand goes back to 1927.