24-11-2012, 05:10 PM
Hi,
The gallery in your woodworking club website has some beautiful exhibits David. I like the nut/set screw/washer made by Ivor Nicholson; the spalted beech bowl in the opening picture and the two goblets are outstanding by Derrick Watson and the meticulous segmental work by Eddie Allison are all to aspire to. The turned items you kindly gave to Bron and me are also finished to perfection and we show them to our visitors who are always as impressed as us. Joe is also producing excellent laminated pens whilst using a metal lathe which at the best is difficult; well done to everyone.
Drill lathe attachments used to be very popular Robin as they were cheap and plenty are still around in fact they pop up at Rufforth Auto Jumble that David and I frequent. Such a set up is fine for the odd turning job but I think after a while the noise from the drill will become a nuisance and eventually the drill might object.
I built my own first woodturning lathe over 30 years ago and building it was most enjoyable; money wasn't so much tight more that I didn't have any so I raided the scrap bins at work and in those days there were many old 1/4HP single phase motors being thrown away. Additionally you could buy a decent spindle with the bearings already fitted (Picador) which helped a great deal and these spindles would accept a Jacobs chuck just leaving the bed; tailstock and tool rest to sort out. I could not afford one of these spindles so pestered workmates into making the bits I needed. The bed can be made from timber; If my memory is correct I believe Conover or some similar name used to make substantial cast iron headstock; tailstock and tool rests and these were meant to be used on a heavy wooden bed the length of the bed to suit the customer.
Out of curiosity I've just had a quick look on the web;
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=conover+lathe&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=o_iwUNyVLsio4gTj84HYBg&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=677
Making a lathe is quite easy Robin but the problem comes in mounting the timber and driving it; a single speed 1425rpm 1/4" single phase motor if set up for direct drive (used as headstock) will turn lots of small diameter items but will prove too fast for things like bowls especially whilst in the rough. It will turn spindles though. You mention stair spindles; these are quite difficult to turn due to "whipping" as is any long slender work mounted between centers unless a steady is employed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwqwQMeJMUY
The above is a sample video from "You Tube" to give you an idea on how to use a direct drive motor but the guy in the video is taking quite a few risks; he could have ended up with a broken thumb whilst drilling the larger diameter hole in the wood block and also I'm amazed by how well he actually reduced the block to round whilst under power using nothing more than a common wood chisel (bring back any memories Joe?). There are lots of such videos on You Tube; the trick is to cherry pick the best ideas to suit you Robin.
If you had lived nearer Robin then I could have helped out with some metal turning to get you up and running but I'm sure you will enjoy the challenge in making your own lathe. please keep us posted of your progress.
Kind regards, Col.
The gallery in your woodworking club website has some beautiful exhibits David. I like the nut/set screw/washer made by Ivor Nicholson; the spalted beech bowl in the opening picture and the two goblets are outstanding by Derrick Watson and the meticulous segmental work by Eddie Allison are all to aspire to. The turned items you kindly gave to Bron and me are also finished to perfection and we show them to our visitors who are always as impressed as us. Joe is also producing excellent laminated pens whilst using a metal lathe which at the best is difficult; well done to everyone.
Drill lathe attachments used to be very popular Robin as they were cheap and plenty are still around in fact they pop up at Rufforth Auto Jumble that David and I frequent. Such a set up is fine for the odd turning job but I think after a while the noise from the drill will become a nuisance and eventually the drill might object.
I built my own first woodturning lathe over 30 years ago and building it was most enjoyable; money wasn't so much tight more that I didn't have any so I raided the scrap bins at work and in those days there were many old 1/4HP single phase motors being thrown away. Additionally you could buy a decent spindle with the bearings already fitted (Picador) which helped a great deal and these spindles would accept a Jacobs chuck just leaving the bed; tailstock and tool rest to sort out. I could not afford one of these spindles so pestered workmates into making the bits I needed. The bed can be made from timber; If my memory is correct I believe Conover or some similar name used to make substantial cast iron headstock; tailstock and tool rests and these were meant to be used on a heavy wooden bed the length of the bed to suit the customer.
Out of curiosity I've just had a quick look on the web;
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=conover+lathe&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=o_iwUNyVLsio4gTj84HYBg&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=677
Making a lathe is quite easy Robin but the problem comes in mounting the timber and driving it; a single speed 1425rpm 1/4" single phase motor if set up for direct drive (used as headstock) will turn lots of small diameter items but will prove too fast for things like bowls especially whilst in the rough. It will turn spindles though. You mention stair spindles; these are quite difficult to turn due to "whipping" as is any long slender work mounted between centers unless a steady is employed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwqwQMeJMUY
The above is a sample video from "You Tube" to give you an idea on how to use a direct drive motor but the guy in the video is taking quite a few risks; he could have ended up with a broken thumb whilst drilling the larger diameter hole in the wood block and also I'm amazed by how well he actually reduced the block to round whilst under power using nothing more than a common wood chisel (bring back any memories Joe?). There are lots of such videos on You Tube; the trick is to cherry pick the best ideas to suit you Robin.
If you had lived nearer Robin then I could have helped out with some metal turning to get you up and running but I'm sure you will enjoy the challenge in making your own lathe. please keep us posted of your progress.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
