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the search goes on for a Boxford 280 lathe

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HalifaxHerbert:
Hello everybody,

You may recall that I recently retired my Edgwick Mk1 to a good home.

Now the search continues for a BOXFORD 280.

I drove a long way to inspect a 280 which I must say was in excellent visual condition BUT ...........
The owner let me do all the visuals , measurements with the dti etc. no problem.
When the machine was powered up, WOW at high speeds super smooth but anything below 1000rpm it sounded like the African Queen, to put it mildly. This was very noisy at low speeds. When compared to the Edgwick which I gave away it was like chalk and cheese. The Edgwick was like a Rolls Royce but the Boxford was like a "lawn mower" to put it mildly.

Thats it, I did not say anything to the owner, who was a nice chap but I walked away with my hard earned cash in my pocket.
 
So you may say "why did you get rid of the Edgwick". Because of moving house and a downsize of lathe was required to fit into the new workshop.

I am still looking for a BOXFORD 280 with a quiet gearbox but unfortunately not at London prices.

All I can say is "buyer beware", I may have been unlucky but perhaps one day I may find a good one for the right price.

philf:
Hi HalifaxHerbert,

I have a Boxford 11-30 (same as a 280).

Mine runs very quietly and smoothly.

It's a very nice machine to use.

I run mine from an inverter giving a 20% to 120% range.

Good luck with your search.

Phil.

HalifaxHerbert:
Hi Phil,

You are a very lucky man indeed.
The new type of Boxford 280 is a gem of a machine.
As I understand, it was designed by the guy who designed the Harrison 300.
I will keep looking but there is so much "swarf" out there for the unsuspecting buyer.

Cheers and beers

philf:
Some photos of mine:



The 10 turn potentiometer for controlling the speed has a 15 turn dial which starts at 2 and finishes at 12 corresponding to the 20% and 120% speed limits.



The original topslide bottom dovetail was a bit on the slim slide and locking its rotation also locked the topslide! I made a new, much thicker bottom dovetail and thinned the block it was mounted on accordingly.



I have a BS-0 dividing head with a Myford nose. I made this adaptor so that I can turn parts and then transfer them still in the chuck to my dividing head.



The rear toolpost is a useful addition. I use it for parting off, chamfering and knurling.



The cross slide dial was graduated in diameter which I don't like so I made a dial which shows the distance moved. (My DRO shows the diameter removed.)



The original topslide handwheel had two handles much too close together and at too small a radius to be able to turn smoothly. This mod puts the single handle out a lot further making smooth movement possible.

Cheers.

Phil.

HalifaxHerbert:
Phil,
The photos you posted up would make the home engineer " drool ".
You have a spot on machine and you indeed are a very experienced engineer.
The type and make of machine that you have is fetching " mega bucks " and out of my price range.
There are some good machines on the market but overpriced and the majority  are non negotiable ........
I still am unable to comprehend why the boxford 280 which I looked at had such a noisy gearbox..
Perhaps the seller forgot to mention this.
Thank you for all the info which has steered me in the Boxford direction.
Watch this space.

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