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Author Topic: Unimat lathe  (Read 687 times)

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    • Emco Unimat
Unimat lathe
« on: September 08, 2022, 10:15:45 am »
The market for beautiful steam engines has pretty much dried up. Only at the auction houses there is something to see - but very high prices are paid and that is just no fun. So I decided to restore this beautiful old Unimat. However, I do not want to paint over the traces of time - but the function must be perfect. It is a very rare model from the time around 1960 when there was no importer for Switzerland - so every dealer could buy directly from Emco. These small lathes work well with brass and light metal work. But they are also very nice on the shelf and really small jewels.
Arnold :D

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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2022, 12:14:42 pm »
The Unimat! I have fond childhood memories of that lathe. Not OWNING one, mind you, but of longing to own one. It's probably just as well, as I would have quickly outgrown it! :D As you know, they also made a ton of accessories for the Unimat, even a milling head, as I recall.

That one looks to be in very nice shape. I agree, I wouldn't repaint (unless I could find the exact hammertone color.)

Looks like a fun project!

Paula
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2022, 05:53:23 pm »
Very nice Arnold,
I have done a couple of them, and all parts and oodles of accesories are widely available.
But beware, restoring and accesorizing them can be as addictive as buying steam engines ;)

Bill
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2022, 09:16:58 pm »
Very Nice Unimat.

Is this a Cast Iron Base or is it Zamak.

I have a few..

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Jim in Minnesota
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2022, 04:51:52 am »
Quote from: Quickj on September 08, 2022, 09:16:58 pm
Very Nice Unimat.

Is this a Cast Iron Base or is it Zamak.

I have a few..

(Attachment Link)


Jim in Minnesota



Hello Jim - it is the Cast Iron version not the Zamak or light alloy.
Very nice display you have - but there is a hand wheel missing on the
tailstock (the one on the right) - these are sometimes on ebay. You
also have a lot of accessories - that makes fun too!
Arnold
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2022, 04:56:46 am »
Quote from: AirSpyder on September 08, 2022, 05:53:23 pm
Very nice Arnold,
I have done a couple of them, and all parts and oodles of accesories are widely available.
But beware, restoring and accesorizing them can be as addictive as buying steam engines ;)

Bill

Hello Bill - that is so true - I already have the Virus since a long time...
Arnold

some are on a table in my office:


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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2022, 06:43:25 pm »
That puts a smile on my face.
Nice collection. ;)
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2022, 07:26:07 pm »
WOW ... Don't believe I've ever seen more than two at the same time in the same place.

THAT is impressive to say the least!!!

Great little machines that are far more capable than their small size might lead you to believe ..... but they do have their limitations for certain and for sure.
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2022, 06:07:38 pm »
Here's another one which was apparently set up for some specific job with an index table mounted on the cross slide and a collet chuck (missing its 'nose'?). Any idea what this was for? Missing too many parts for me to use. My "daily driver" has been a Unimat 5 for over 30 years now.
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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2022, 02:11:59 pm »
Quote from: parallelmotion on September 18, 2022, 06:07:38 pm
Here's another one which was apparently set up for some specific job with an index table mounted on the cross slide and a collet chuck (missing its 'nose'?). Any idea what this was for? Missing too many parts for me to use. My "daily driver" has been a Unimat 5 for over 30 years now.

This is the watch maker spindle - no nose missing - it uses B 8 collets
and a drawtube. I guess someone made gear wheels with the index table
and a modules cutter in the collet. For normal use many missing parts...
most of them can be find on ebay.
You may have a look to my website: https://emco-unimat.tumblr.com/
(sorry all in german)
Arnold :D

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Re: Unimat lathe
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2022, 02:41:27 pm »
Thanks Arnold. Spare parts seem to be quite expensive, so I probably won't keep it, although I suppose I could make a gear cutting machine out of it.
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