learning to use a lathe...

[missionaryman]

I am having great difficulty getting a relaible source for some of the custom stuff I get done and was thinking to just get myself a mini lathe and teach myself to use it.

I have never used a metal lathe before and don't know very much at all but I'm pretty handy and did used to turn wood so I think I might be able to teach myself.
Is it possible or would I need to go and do some training?

I would use it mainly to modify Maglite torches and make small components for torches, materials would be aluminium and ertalon (plastic) to make spacers from.

Is this realistic, what type of lathe would I need to get (obviously I need absolutely minimum outlay because I might be no good and have to give it up), what bits would I need to shape tube and cut threads etc?

[snowyskiesau]

I'd suggest looking at some of the metal working groups on Yahoo. They're full of useful stuff about the smaller lathes and will give you an idea of what their limitations are.
As far as training goes, try TAFE. They run a number of courses that cover lathe use and millling.

[durwood]

Geoff is on the money, go to your local TAFE college most large ones have a fitting and Machining section.

Their courses start in February so you should be able to get organised and be ready to enrol next year. Unless you are in a big hurry wait till you get into a class then pick everyones brains, others in the class will be in the same boat as you or have been there and using the TAFE's gear is a good way to get started. You may even find you can do what you want using their lathes instead of buying your own.

[Grahame Collins]

Missionaryman,
being somone who instructs beginners in lathe work, I'' stick my bib into this one. Bear in mind though, I am from a boilermaker background ,schooled in heating up things and beating them with a Fb hammer.

Tafe is of course your best option, but having taught at one I am aware that sometimes they don't run the specific course when or where you want it. Even if the course you want is not being run, you may well benefit from a phone call to an tafe fitting & turning instructor who may be able to put you on to a decent text book.
Or advertise for someone, perhaps a retired fitter to help you with the basics.

Other options are to learn from a book.
Some book stores carrying old 2nd hand books may have the South Bend book " How to run a lathe " or even the Australian Hercus book entitled "Text Book of Turning".
Or there's allways the local library.


I teach myhigh school kids the following basics of turning

Facing Off
Centre drilling
Drilling a centered hole
Parallel turning
Turning to a Diameter
and
Taper turning
Turning with a tailstock mounted center

I would suggest that those topics would be a good start.
Hope this lot helps
Grahame

[graemet]

Missionaryman,
I was in your position about a year ago. I bought myself an "entry level " lathe, a Hafco AL50a, a set of tools and got hold of a pile of scrap metal, old rusty half inch bolts etc. and proceeded to scare myself. A few good books, "Introducing the Lathe" by Stan Bray, "Machine Shop Technology #1" by Maskiell & Galbraith and a load of help from RodM on this forum - read his posts for his advice, I'm sure he doesn't want to keep repeating himself.
I've since "improved" the lathe by using it to upgrade its performance (again see Rod's advice) and, with a bit of hands on advice from a mate, I'm having a great time. It's not rocket science and I don't pretend to know one percent of what an apprentice fitter would know, but give it a go. You will make lots of mistakes, but that's the way you learn.
Cheers
Graeme

[warren]

This may be of some help

http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/Operation/operations.htm

Warren

[forge]

[QUOTE=missionaryman;385210]I am having great difficulty getting a relaible source for some of the custom stuff I get done and was thinking to just get myself a mini lathe and teach myself to use it.end Quote
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have brought some dvd's from this place
http://www.homestead.com/tool20895/VideoPrices.html
.After years of trying to learn from books,tafe etc.a lot of things become clear.And one can wach them over and over.:)
Regards ,Bela

[snowyskiesau]

There are a number of excellent books on using lathes:

Plough Books *http://www.ploughbooksales.com.au. (http://www.ploughbooksales.com.au/)
Minitech http://www.minitech.com.au (http://www.minitech.com.au/) - They also sell lathes/mills

The two books mentioned by Grahame Collins - South Bend book " How to run a lathe " or even the Australian Hercus book entitled "Text Book of Turning" are great and both are available online as PDF's.

[missionaryman]

wow lots of info, thanks I really appreciate it. I think I need to buy me a second hand lathe from ebay and I have a freind who was once a toolmaker that might be able to coach me a little. I definately need some sort of training as there is far too much to know before you can start.

So these are available now - can anyone aadvise me on these particular ones, should I steer clear, are they good, will they be suitable?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CompareItems

I'm probably not going to buy anything for a while but good to get looking now

[snowyskiesau]

So these are available now - can anyone aadvise me on these particular ones, should I steer clear, are they good, will they be suitable?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CompareItems

I'm probably not going to buy anything for a while but good to get looking now

Link doesn't work.

[savage]

M/man, try this link as I am in a similar situation as your self but I already have gone the expense and bought a lathe, just for fun at the moment but it is amazing what you can teach yourself. The main thing's to remember is all of the safety rules because if it get's a hold of you it will do damage big time.
The main rules I look at are 1. Wear eye protection. 2. Don't leave the key in the chuck. 3. Don't wear loose clothing. 4. Don't leave the key in the chuck. 5. Rotate the chuck by hand to make sure it has clearance, before starting. And finally, 6. Don't leave the key in the chuck.

http://www.nmri.go.jp/eng/khirata/metalwork/index_e.html

http://www.lathes.co.uk/index.html

http://metals.about.com/cs/metalworking/l/blproject_plans.htm

[peternl]

I would highly recommend the book Lathework, A Complete Course (you can buy a copy from http://www.minitech.com.au/).

Also, subscribe to the mailing lists:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aussie_9x20_owners/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe/

The latter has a lot of very good information. The former is an Australian subset, good for sourcing materials and tools.

[missionaryman]

those links are all very useful - looks like making threads on a lathe is very difficult. That's most of what I'll be doing when shortening and lengthening maglite bodies

[forge]

those links are all very useful - looks like making threads on a lathe is very difficult. That's most of what I'll be doing when shortening and lengthening maglite bodies

Once again i recommend the dvd ;http://www.homestead.com/tool20895/VideoPrices.html
He explains things very clearly and one can see the dvd over and over again.You can do it .Dont be discouraged , one can do realy good work on low price machinery with basic care.:)
Regards ,Bela