Thread: My 7x12 Mini lathe...first item

Looks pretty good for your first try and I know how much it sucks turning long tapers on a 7x12

Did you use a 4 jaw chuck or is the block simply bolted on? My biggest gripe is the small through hole in the spindle and the even smaller hole in my chuck.

Originally Posted by DeltaNegative

Looks pretty good for your first try and I know how much it sucks turning long tapers on a 7x12

Did you use a 4 jaw chuck or is the block simply bolted on? My biggest gripe is the small through hole in the spindle and the even smaller hole in my chuck.

yep 4 jaw chuck. Why is the small hole a problem?

Its impossible to fit anything bigger than 22mm through the headstock, 18.5mm in my chuck (3/4" is a tight tight fit)

It makes turning anything bigger than 3/4" next to impossible for me when the object is longer than a few inches. I was offered a job of making some 1lb rocket tooling (3/4") and had to turn it down as It was impossible (without spending $100+ on a new chuck) to face and drill out the long rammers. I'll probably end up selling my mini lathe and getting something bigger, only cost me $250 (ebay bargain eh)

i know its something for a car right?

looks good

Originally Posted by new_guy90

i know its something for a car right?

looks good

yeah, its to make installing dust boots over drive shafts stupidly easy.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBZ3jbJT1-U"]YouTube - mini lathe on aluminium[/ame]

Nice video Martrix

Don't want to come across as a "safety nazi", but I cringed every time that hand with the glove went to the spinning lathe.

Was polishing some brass rifle cartridges the other day and didn't want to get black fingers, so used some very tight fitting surgical gloves, still managed to get gloves caught, just as well they stretched!!!

Generally not recommended to wear gloves around spinning machinery

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Nice video Martrix

Don't want to come across as a "safety nazi", but I cringed every time that hand with the glove went to the spinning lathe.

Was polishing some brass rifle cartridges the other day and didn't want to get black fingers, so used some very tight fitting surgical gloves, still managed to get gloves caught, just as well they stretched!!!

Generally not recommended to wear gloves around spinning machinery

yep fair point and well understood. That hand was generally always a good 7" - 8" away from the chuck at all times. I had to wear the tip-less gloves that day because it was dead cold, so I proceeded with extra caution and took a risk. The old 400watt motor is not overly powerful anyway, but point taken. Not to mention also that my feet were absolutely frozen cold from standing still on a cold concrete slab for hours on end. I'm definitely going to get some of that thick rubber flooring stuff.

I forgot to post the pics of what I was making in that vid, here they are. They lift the roll cage up 1/2" to clear the hot exhaust pipe.

Originally Posted by martrix

Not to mention also that my feet were absolutely frozen cold from standing still on a cold concrete slab for hours on end. I'm definitely going to get some of that thick rubber flooring stuff.

I can relate to that

Nice work BTW.

latest off the mini lathe. I had a bit of problems with chatter on these ones, mainly I think because its a little harder? than other brass Ive turned? plus I was chucking the piece from the internal diameter because I didn't realise the lathe came withe bigger jaws which you can use which would've enabled me to hold the outside of the piece....lol, newbie.

The outside dia. is about 55mm. Also was my first crack at turning mild steel using HSS cutter. Works well with a little cutting oil brushed on before each pass.

The items are holding sleeves for my MIG torch, of which I will post later.

Latest off the mini. This was to solve the old "odd" size dust outlets for some power tools. Normally I would stick the vac pipe on and wrap masking tape around it to hold it there, pain in the ass.

So Ive turned up these adapters to suit with a 2.5° taper push-on fit. I think next time 1° taper would be better. Spun out of Acetal or 'Delrin', awesome stuff to turn, so easy.

Had a play with throwing some grooves on it for looks and to add a little extra grip to them. Need to grind up a tool specifically for this as I used my parting tool on a 45°.

Originally Posted by martrix

Latest off the mini. This was to solve the old "odd" size dust outlets for some power tools. Normally I would stick the vac pipe on and wrap masking tape around it to hold it there, pain in the ass.

Nice work Tim, Those mini lathes are just the thing for doing those sorts of tasks.

I have found a 40 year old basic hercus I might be able to get for next to nothing - looking forward to having it in my shed but will have to enlarge shed first!

Originally Posted by BobL

Nice work Tim, Those mini lathes are just the thing for doing those sorts of tasks.

I have found a 40 year old basic hercus I might be able to get for next to nothing - looking forward to having it in my shed but will have to enlarge shed first!

indeed Bob, your shed needs some serious growth hormone! Grab yourself a lathe, they are so friccin handy, Ill be getting a bigger one for sure when the space permits.