To continue a Ford motor analogy, LeBlond’s current metal lathe – the RKL – can be seen as the company’s Mustang, a model that adds flair and style to the company’s brand of reliability and efficiency blazed by the Regal and earlier lines.

In a series of posts, we are going to explore the differences between the LeBlond Regal and RKL. First, we will start with the history of the two machines.

The Birth of the Regal

The Regal was introduced by the LeBlond Machine Tool Company in 1931 as part of its commitment to produce a “better lathe.” The Regal was aimed at non-industrial users such as machine shops and wealthy amateurs and was lighter than the company’s heavier lathes, the smallest of which, until the late 1920’s, featured a 15” swing.

Word War II proved the mettle of the Regal as the machine was used in the United States and exported to allies like Great Britain in the war effort against the Nazis and the other Axis powers.

The Servo-Shift Innovation

The Regal was modified in the decades following the war. The website lathes.co.uk describes the innovation of the later Regal models:

Although late-model LeBlond Regal lathes all shared the same basic design (regardless of capacity), there were two types of headstock spindle-speed selection: a standard type with four levels and a “Servo-shift” model with speeds pre-selected and changed automatically by hydraulics. The ordinary model can be recognized by its 4-lever control and the Servo model by the use of two levers and a speed-selector dial.

The Servo-shift feature on the Regal enabled an operator to shift gears in the headstock easier and was innovative in increasing the efficiency of the manual lathe.

The Regal officially ended production in the 1995.

RKL Continues the Legacy of Excellence

Customers continued pressing LeBlond for a new metal lathe with the quality and tradition of excellence of the Regal. In 2010, LeBlond Ltd. decided to introduce the RKL.

“Our goal was to perpetuate the LeBlond legacy in terms of quality equipment and service parts support,” says LeBlond Ltd. President Jon Tallman. “We chose the designation RKL to honor the history of the original R.K. LeBlond Machine Tool Company founded in 1887 by Richard K. LeBlond.”

Don’t miss LeBlond’s promotion until September 15^th where you can save up to 20% off or as much as $4500 off an RKL 1300 or 1500 Series metal lathe. Check out the offer here. If you’re interested in larger LeBlond manual lathes, K.O. Lee grinders or need original OEM parts for LeBlond, K.O. Lee, Standard Modern, Johnson Press, Deka Drill and W.F. & John Barnes equipment, fill out a contact form here.

In this previous post, you can find out more about the history of the two machines. Today, we cover the primary difference between the two machines, that being variable speed.

V for Variable

There are three primary RKL Series models: the 1340V, 1560V and 1960V. The “V” after the RKL model number stands for variable as in headstock speed. The RKL’s are two or three speed machines that an operator can adjust the RPM’s one at time from as little as 20 to as much as 2500.

For example, with the RKL 1960V, the operator can supply high torque in a low range (30-125 RPM), medium range (125-450 RPM) or high range (450-2200 RPM).

Regal Was Geared Head

The Regal was basically a gearhead model. See this post about the difference between a variable speed and gearhead manual lathe.

“The Regal head was a 12-speed gearhead design,” says John Cook, Customer Service Representative at LeBlond Ltd. “A geared head with fixed RPM was the base of all the Regal designs. The RKL is a variable speed machine and that is the primary difference between the two models.”

Let’s Talk about Sandpaper

To understand why variable speed is a newer and more valuable feature, first you have to understand sandpaper.

There are different types of sandpaper like course grip (60 grid) or fine grip like 600 grid. The larger the grid or grit size, the more edges in the sandpaper and the smoother the finish.

If you are using fine grip sandpaper like 600 grid, you will be able to achieve a finer finish cutting away metal or paint when, say, doing body work on an automobile.

Variable Speed Means Finer Finish

A variable speed metal lathe like the RKL is like fine grip sandpaper and allows an operator to cut a finer finish on a workpiece. “With a variable speed metal lathe like the LeBlond RKL, you get the RPM to match up to your cutting feed rate and the surface finish you want on a piece,” Cook says.

So with a variable speed manual lathe like the LeBlond RKL, you have greater efficiency. Stay tuned for a future post where we discuss other differences between the two models like current accessories that make the modern RKL more like a CNC-type lathe.

Don’t miss LeBlond’s promotion until September 15^th where you can save up to 20% off or as much as $4500 off an RKL 1300 or 1500 Series metal lathe. Check out the offer here. If you’re interested in larger LeBlond manual lathes, K.O. Lee grinders or need original OEM parts for LeBlond, K.O. Lee, Standard Modern, Johnson Press, Deka Drill and W.F. & John Barnes equipment, fill out a contact form here.

And what is this comparison? We’re talking about the design of LeBlond’s classic Regal metal lathe to our current RKL model.

Modern RKL Design

The Regal was born of an era where motion pictures were just beginning to talk. The RKL is of a modern era where automobiles talk to you. See this post about the history of the two lines, and this one about variable speed being the primary difference between the two metal lathes.

The RKL offers customizable features that give the lathe CNC-like functionality without having to spend the thousands of extra dollars on a computer numerical control machine.

RKL Features Awesome Customization

For example, if you buy a current RKL model (don’t miss our promotion on the 1300 and 1500 Series that ends Tuesday), you can customize your metal lathe with a powered (pneumatic) tailstock and chuck.

A pneumatic tailstock comes in handy if you need to, say, drill repetitive holes in a series of parts. With this powered add-on, you can move the tailstock in and out on an air cylinder, automating the drilling process and reducing grind on the operator.

CNC Functionality Without the Extra Cost

“Customized add-ons such as the powered tailstock for our RKL line, enable lathe operators to load and unload parts,” says LeBlond Ltd. General Manager Aaron Juillerat. “With the design of the RKL featuring pneumatic chuck, tailstock customization and variable speed drive, you have a manual lathe with high production run at a cost lower than CNC machines.”

If you don’t have enough volume to justify a CNC lathe, you can customize your RKL metal lathe with add-ons to give you CNC-style functionality at nearly $10,000 off the price of a new CNC machine.

Don’t miss LeBlond’s promotion until this Tuesday (September 15th) where you can save up to 20% off or as much as $4800 off an RKL 1300 or 1500 Series metal lathe. Prices start at $13,940. Check out the offer here. If you’re interested in larger LeBlond manual lathes, K.O. Lee grinders or need original OEM parts for LeBlond, K.O. Lee, Standard Modern, Johnson Press, Deka Drill and W.F. & John Barnes equipment, fill out a contact form here.