Atlas Lathe Restoration

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This is an Atlas TH42 lathe made by the Atlas Press Company, made at the Kalamazoo Michigan plant. The model number indicates it was made after 1947, has roller-bearings in the head-stock, and uses changewheel screwcutting. It has a 42 inch bed with 30" capacity between the centers. More info on Atlas lathes is available here: http://www.lathes.co.uk/atlas/. I inherited this from my Great Uncle Wilfred. He was concerned about his shop tools going to good use after he left us, I think this one will go to very good use.


Original condition

Lathe as it was received
Down the bed
Boiler Plate
Drive section - mounts behind the lathe
Drive pulleys
An old repair
Box of lathe tools


Initial cleanup

A couple folks immediately took to the lathe with a wire brush and some 3-in-1 oil:

Oil applied, debris cleared off


Electrolysis rust removal

In order to facilitate major rust removal, we built an Electrolysis_Rust_Removal_System. Simply leave the part in the bucket of solution for 24 hours with voltage applied and out comes clean parts. Amazing! Here are some of the early results, compare to the very first photo at the top of this page. Also notice the tailstock center, the rust is removed but the missing metal can't be helped - but you can read the indicators on the shaft now.

Rust gone from chuck
Tailstock cleaned up
Before: tailstock center, dial indicator, and thread counter
After: tailstock center
After: cross-slide components


Getting it running

This project fell onto the back burner for a while but it has finally come to completion. I acquired a heavy duty WWII-era table off craigslist which is large enough to properly support the lathe. I picked up a Power-twist V-belt and an EPO switch from Amazon as finishing touches and we're up and running.


Getting bolted to the table
Lathe in working order
Turning aluminum
Glory shot of the tools
Thread Chart on Head stock cover