In Chapter 1, we covered the complete disassembly of the 1974 Lagun FTV-2. Now, we bring it full circle with the final phase: reassembly. With the exception of flaking and scraping the gibs, and the detailed precision work of fitting assemblies—none of which are shown here—the process mostly followed the reverse order of disassembly. But there were still some key highlights worth capturing, including the installation of the newly ground knee onto the column.
Installing a freshly flaked and scraped knee gib.
New bevel gears for the vertical leadscrew assembly
New rubbers for the old style, original way wipers- saddle
Easily cut to fit for maximum performance in keep oil in and keeping chips out
Using Prussian Blue to mark high spots when fitting the X axis gib
Flake and scraped, with oil pockets and bearing surfaces fit by hand
Another view, showing the detail and beauty of a hand scraped surface
Using a magnetic vise prevents warping of the gibs during the fitting, flaking and scraping process
Lagun had a unique lubrication system- which we have refurbished and used in our Vintage 1974 Model FTV2
Another satisfied customer
Fifty years after its original commissioning, this 1974 Lagun FTV-2 is back on the floor—rebuilt and recommissioned in 2025 inside the Republic-Lagun Machine Shop. Every effort was made to keep it true to its original form, down to the smallest detail. It now features power feeds on the X, Y, and Z axes with a Newall 2-axis DRO, an air drawbar, and a rapid index quill handle. Overall linear accuracy comes in at ±0.0003” over 12.0”, with perpendicularity at 0.0003” (8.0” x 12.0”) and a table flatness better than 0.0004”. Masterfully brought back to life by Gary Trapani, this rebuild isn’t just about restoration—it’s a tribute to precision, craftsmanship, and the machines that just don’t quit.
