tmj

Sign looks as though it has a proud wooden border / frame surrounding it...

"I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime;"

      Joe Walsh

3 hours ago, Keith Black said:

After viewing countless times under heavy magnification I'm certain that the lettering was done on canvas, you can see the tack strips on the edges of the name board. 

Scale 'canvas' = silk span! Scale lettering = "Hmm... you're on your own with 'that' one!" LOL

14 minutes ago, sheepsail said:

I did experiment with Fusion 360

I've been using Autodesk products since the days of DOS. I love AutoCAD, however. Fusion befuddles me. It's not very intuitive at all, it requires three times the work that 3D in Acad requires, and I find it just plain awkward and 'clunky'. Some folks really like it and produce great results with Fusion. I'm not one of those folks!

11 hours ago, Jeff59 said:

So, what's the deal, are they (both branches) still running business as usual,
should I try to contact them again or to give up??

Something tells me that if you send them money, they'll probably respond instantly by taking the money. As for actually shipping the goods?... I'm not so sure that I'd trust them.

Looks very nice with 'light' mascara! Very nice, indeed!

2 hours ago, Keith Black said:

The trick is, for me being one who is lettering impaired, to be able to make the lettering acceptable.

Don't feel bad. I think most 'everyone' struggles with calligraphy, even those artistic folks who tag train cars and bridges with spray paint! LOL

What about making water slide 'decals' of the letters on your computer/printer?

Does anyone make any small steam engines that would be appropriate for this model, at this model's scale? Don't tell me that you didn't look into this! I'll bet you did! 🤔

Very nice job! 

12 minutes ago, Y.T. said:

Just for you to compare. Sherline is also small and I keep it in my walk in closet on the floor. 

How much do you want for your Unimat? For the right price I'll give it a good home! That's an after-market motor. Is it brushless and variable speed?

Y.T.... I see what you are saying, however. I have large lathes and need no more. I want something that fits in a small box that will be used for nothing but small, not so precise model parts. Big and precise parts will continue to be machined at the factory/shop on the industrial grade lathes. 

Use "Birchwood Casey's 'Tru-Oil'." Give it two or three light coats of Tru-Oil, just until it starts to take on a sheen when dried, and then sand it with 400 grit sandpaper to knock off the glossy sheen and make things look proper. It'll work just fine over oil-based stains and give great character to the wood! 😉

On 12/3/2025 at 5:46 PM, druxey said:

My Unimat DB has done well  for me now for over 50 years - used, but not abused. The only drawback is that taper turning is a bit awkward.

Yes, I've seen how to adjust the Unimat for taper, and 'also' how to remove runout to within .0005" imperial. Not so bad. Not much different than trimming out the head on a Bridgeport mill after rotating the head. It's just one of those things that has to be done no matter 'what' machine one uses.  

2 hours ago, Y.T. said:

If I were you, tmj, I would think again buying Unimat.

I'm not understanding what you are saying. Are you saying that I should 'not' by a Unimat? Are you saying that I should 'reconsider' my choice of lathe manufacturer? 

8 hours ago, Keith Black said:

The name board height has been corrected.  I tried doing the lettering freehand, I've gotten close but not there yet. 

Looks pretty good to 'me'! What is it that you don't like about it?

How's about posting a repeat image of ol' Billy so we have yours and 'his' close by to look back and forth at? 

I'll continue to shop...

24 minutes ago, Glen McGuire said:

Swigging and rigging.  Does it get any better than that?

With scale rope in hand... "Hold my Beer and watch 'THIS'!" 😲

19 hours ago, palmerit said:

I’m curious if lathes are either sized for small work (like on a model ship) OR larger work (like turning a bowl, or if here are lathes that do both

You can easily do small work on a large lathe. I do this at work all the time, however. I want something small, for small parts and home use. Something that I can easily lift up and set on a table for use, then put it back in its case, for storage, when I'm through using it. Can't do that with a full-sized industrial grade lathe! 🫤 The Unimat SL is looking pretty good to me right now!

Please visit my "Go Fund Me" page and donate 'GENEROUSLY'!!! 😏

The seller of the Unimat sent me a video, with sound, so I could hear 'and' see the machine run. It looks quite smooth, no blurry wobble... but it's definitely a bit noisy. Sounds like the bearings either need to be re-packed with grease or possibly replaced with new bearings. I've contacted a source for new bearings... just waiting for a response. 

I'm actually eyeballing a used Unimat jeweler's lathe right now, wooden case and a handful of accessories included. Not sure if I'll ever want to cut threads, as so far I haven't yet had the need to do that. I typically use taps and dies when threads are required. I'm reading everyone's posts and simply trying to narrow things down. Keep the banter going and I'll surely land on something for certain real soon! Thanks for all of the feedback, so far!  

4 minutes ago, druxey said:

Well, there have been many good points raised. The most pertinent being what is the range of items you want to make on this hypothetical lathe? If it's only occasional small parts of medium precision, an old original Unimat will so the trick nicely. Mine is from the early '70's before they went to plastic parts.

Well said David! Small, occasional parts of medium precision will be my only use of such a lathe. I have large, accurate lathes at work, but they are no fun. I want a lathe to make small, not extremely precise parts while watching TV and relaxing at home with my 'unprecise' hobbies. Brass or steel cannons, wooden stanchions, aluminum doodads, etc. Fancy, 'yes'... 'precise', not so much! 🙂  

Very impressive, and 'also' quite informative, Julie! Something tells me that you also probably know what E=mc² 'truly' represents! 😏

2 minutes ago, LoydB said:

I love my Sherline.

What do you 'love' about it? Elaborate, please!

I want a lathe. There are lots of them out there. Some are good, some are bad... and prices are all over the place. I'm not interested in a wood lathe as I already have one of those. I also don't need a $3,000 dollar metal lathe. I'd never get my money's worth out of something like that! Have any of you guys bought any of those cheaper table-top 'Amazon' lathes, Proxxon, etc.? I'd like to know what your firsthand experiences have been with your machines. Please, don't respond with "I've seen," "I've heard," etc. I've seen and 'heard' too! I want to hear facts from people who actually own and use these machines.