Metal lathe for children

**jhovel** · 20th July 2015, 02:11 AM

My grandchildren aged 5 and 7 are now taking a great interest in projects involving me letting them use one of my lathes.
I've allowed them to operate some of the handwheels under close and direct supervision from an early age. So the operation of the machines, chips flying, their temperature etc. are not a particular issue now.
They also regularly and comptently use sharp hand tools and battery drills, both at home (under their father's supervision) and in my workshop. So my concerns are not that they would immediately 'maim' themselves.....
They will never use it without supervision, of course.

Given that, I'm considering a small and unsophisticated lathe, e.g. no automatic feeds or threading ability. I would like a it to be a semi-portable machine to set aside for their use, so that it can go to their workshop sometimes at least, and can also be put away in my workshop when not in use.
Does anyone have any suggestions what I might look for and what to avoid? Cost is another factor I have to consider, so a nice little Emco is probably out

I will power it appropriately, i.e. minimal sensible power, rather than brute force, so that if something goes wrong, it will stall rather than smash...
If someone has a machine on offer, I'd also be interested discussing that.

**BaronJ** · 20th July 2015, 02:29 AM

Hi Joe,

Its funny that you mentioned "EMCO" I'm just about to post another scrapyard find. Unfortunately I didn't find the rest of it

I would think that a watch makers lathe or something of that ilk might be suitable for a youngster. Very capable without the bells and whistles.

**jhovel** · 20th July 2015, 03:38 AM

Thank BaronJ.
Maybe a little bigger than a watchmaker's lathe, but that sort of capability.

**steamjunkprops** · 20th July 2015, 09:11 AM

http://m.ebay.com/itm/281661330515

Something like this?

**nearnexus** · 20th July 2015, 11:03 AM

Look around for a "Delphin" Universal lathe.

These can be got cheap (from $250 - 500 on Gumtree) and are a good little portable lathe that's passed by because it's made in Russia.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/russian/

They were imported and sold throughout Oz (in South Oz by Redwood Machinery).

If I didn't have my Schaublin 102 as a second lathe, I would definitely get a cheap Delphin.

Plus they come with a huge kit of extras that can do milling, wood work etc.

Seen four come up for sale this year in SA - quite common.

Rob

**wheelinround** · 20th July 2015, 11:06 AM

Why not http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/1617...pid=107&chn=ps

**KBs PensNmore** · 20th July 2015, 07:50 PM

Hi Joe, what sort of $ are you thinking of spending?? Have you thought of a 7 X 12 lathe, they have screw cutting capability, but removing a gear under the cover fixes that.
Kryn

**jhovel** · 20th July 2015, 07:54 PM

Hi Steampunkprops and wheelinround, both of you pointed to the same kind of TINY toy. They seem to be very adaptable but have a very very small envelope - 135mm between centres and 25mm centre height....
Nearnexus, I had a look at the Delphin lathe. That looks a lot more like what I had in mind...
I'll keep my eyes open.

**greg_n** · 13th August 2015, 08:21 PM

More like this maybe ?

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/merry...he-/1086515373

greg

**Keith_W** · 14th August 2015, 06:21 AM

Hi jhovel,
I liked your post on what your doing with your grandkids, reminded me of my childhood where a close family friend who lived across the road taught me to turn on a lathe at a very young age.
I just make a suggestion you might consider, make it a project with the grandkids to build a lathe. You could look on ebay, gumtree etc for an old small second hand lathe that you rebuild with them taking into account what you said before about power and tuning capability.
It will give them great lessons in building a machine and give them sense of ownership in the lathe as they were part of its restoration and modification.

Keith_W

**jhovel** · 14th August 2015, 06:30 PM

Yes, Keith, that was my plan really. Not building one from scratch, though I considered it.... Finding an older one with either missing bits or wear would be my hope and budget. Trouble is, the older ones are rapidly becoming collectors' items instead and increasing in value....

Greg, that would have been in budget, a little on the physically larger side, but it's been sold already.

**kodiak** · 14th August 2015, 09:18 PM

I saw a peddle powered one at a second hand machinery place out in the bayswater area a while ago will try to remember what they are called.

**KBs PensNmore** · 14th August 2015, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by kodiak

I saw a peddle powered one at a second hand machinery place out in the bayswater area a while ago will try to remember what they are called.

Hard work

????

Hi Joe, saw this on gumtree Home
Lake Macquarie Area
Edgeworth
Miscellaneous Goods
Ad ID 1085952700

Metal Lathe

$700.00 Negotiable

Edgeworth, NSW

Lathe - Metal Colchestor
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Time Time 2d 17h (17 Aug, 2015 16:21:56 AEST)
Current bid:AU $500.00
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**Blu_Rock** · 23rd August 2015, 10:51 PM

Hiw about this one on eBay http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Micro-Lathe...-/191671407231

**jhovel** · 24th August 2015, 12:05 PM

Thanks for the link!
I will be bidding for this lathe. Looks perfect for the purpose.

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