Sieg C0 Baby Lathe with attitude

Details for modifying a Sieg C0 Baby Lathe to enable it to better machine mild steel.


The first thing to do is to slow down the spindle speed and increase low speed torque with a new motor pulley. This also allows moving back the motor and the rear guard which impinge on the machining space. With the increased area the original 2" chuck (which had an unacceptable run out) was replaced with a 3" chuck mounted on a back plate as an adapter that has a very acceptable 1 thou run out.


The tool post height as delivered is too low so a spacer was added and some good quality tooling is now used. The tail stock was more than 1mm high and required the tail stock housing to be machined to make it usable. After considerable work it is possible to drill fine material as shown drilling a 1mm hole in 1.6mm diameter styrene rod.


With all the modifications the C0 is now proving to be a capable and useful machine.