model makers lathe

[Billy]

Hi y'all, I'm going to the Woodworking show on Friday and can't wait:2tsup:. She who must be obeyed has decided I need a lathe to make timber wheels etc. rather than buying them from toysnjoys.:o:U:D
I looked at a Hare and Forbes lathe ( 180mm x 300mm ), nice, but at $990 a bit pricey.:( What are all you dudes and dudettes using?
I'm sure I don't want to turn anything long so I don't need a lathe with a 1 metre bed, rather I'm after a "minilathe" if such a thing exists.:rolleyes:
I would greatly appreciate your comments and input before I part with the cold hard.:?
Cheers,
Billy ( sawdust manufacturer ):doh:

ps. hope to meet some of you there, I'll be the one drooling over the tools.

[coffenup]

I have the woodfast 305 midi lathe It handles from small to 300 mm in diamiter this should do what you want.
regards Michael

[DJ’s Timber]

Sounds like you're talking about this metal lathe (https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products?stockCode=L194) going on what you've said.

If you're looking to turn wheels out of timber, you'll be better off using a wood lathe which will cost you less than half the price of a metal lathe

[radish]

I looked at a Hare and Forbes lathe ( 180mm x 300mm ), nice, but at $990 a bit pricey.

Billy ( sawdust manufacturer )



A bit pricey, I don't think so.

If you do happen to buy the mini lathe, then you will not be dissapointed with it at all. :2tsup:

This little fella will not only turn metal, you can use it for wood as well, now, try turning metal with just a wood lathe, you got to remember a wood lathe is ONLY half a metal lathe. :doh:

regards radish :D

[AUSSIE]

A bit pricey, I don't think so.

If you do happen to buy the mini lathe, then you will not be dissapointed with it at all. :2tsup:

This little fella will not only turn metal, you can use it for wood as well, now, try turning metal with just a wood lathe, you got to remember a wood lathe is ONLY half a metal lathe. :doh:

regards radish :D
Can you get wood lathe chucks to fit these lathes?

[Big Shed]

Carbatec does in fact sell a toolrest for wood turning for this lathe.

One of the best sites for this lathes is HERE (http://www.mini-lathe.com/Default.htm)

There are lots of other sites.

If you read the section under Chucks, you will see there are quite a few chucks available, including 4 jaw chucks.

[AUSSIE]

Carbatec does in fact sell a toolrest for wood turning for this lathe.

One of the best sites for this lathes is HERE (http://www.mini-lathe.com/Default.htm)

There are lots of other sites.

If you read the section under Chucks, you will see there are quite a few chucks available, including 4 jaw chucks.
I can only find chucks for holding metal on that site.What am I missing.
I have a small metal turning lathe and the chucks for metal aren't real good holding wood

[Billy]

Hey, thanks all,:2tsup: keep those thoughts coming, still researching. I thought the mini metal lathe would be the go as with 3 or 4 jaw chucks I could put round sections of timber in them and turn detail into the wheels.:D I dont have any experience with lathes so all info greatly appreciated.:)
Cheers, Billy.Future wooden wheel turner.:U

[AUSSIE]

http://www.cws.au.com/persistent/catalogue_images/products/GPW%20Economy%20Delux%20Chuck.jpg (http://www.cws.au.com/cgi/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=1107146818&product_id=1107452005)http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/Accessories/3inch_4jaw_y.jpg

A couple of pics.The Large photo is a metal working chuck (4 jaw) note the narrow and short clamping area
The upper chuck is a woodwork chuck.Note the wider,rounder and protruding jaws.
Different setup all together.
the metal work chuck is designed to hold hard items,and will crush wood or it will loosen .I make very small items from wood,like headlights ,and gearsticks for my model cars but soon as you have larget items in the metal chuck they loosen under load

[Big Shed]

Aussie, I have 3 wood chucks, a Nova G3 and 2 Nova Mini chucks, I have used all 3 on my 9x20 metal lathe.

I don't know which metal lathe you have and what headstock spindle it has, MT2 or MT3 internal taper? What external thread does the headstock spindle have.

I have purchased an MT3 taper with a blank end and had the local machine shop cut a 1" x 8tpi thread on the end (wasn't confident of cutting such a big thread myself). This takes all 3 Nova chucks.

I also have a MT3 ER25 collet chuck, which takes from 1 to 16mm for smaller work, this I use mostly for my pen stuff.

I have also used the Nova Mini chucks clamped in my metal 4 jaw chuck and used it that way, this was before I had the MT3 arbor with the 1" x 8tpi thread.

There is always more than one way to skin a cat:2tsup:

Don't forget also that you don't always have to use a chuck to achieve the results you want, there are lots of things we can do with a faceplate and between centres using drive prongs in the headstock and a dead or live centre in the tailstock.

[AUSSIE]

Thanks BIG SHED
That is exactly the info I was trying to get out of someone.Thanks

[wheelinround]

try Proxon (http://www.proxxon-world.com/) shame they won't be at the show

[radish]

try Proxon (http://www.proxxon-world.com/) shame they won't be at the show




Hi Ray, now the way I see it, is that Proxxon are just overpriced bits of plastic, for the same price of one tiny Proxxon lathe, you can get a 'mini lathe' and all the tooling as well.

If you only ever want to turn small bits, like 1/12th scale dolls house bits, then maybe a Proxxon will suit you, but if you want to do more than that, then get a bigger better lathe.

Got myself a Proxxon saw, it's the earlier version of the PROXXON 27006 KS 230 SAW, now stupid me was a bit heavy handed on how hard I shoved the wood thru it, the motor let out the magic smoke, OK, now it's shot.
Pulled it apart and it has a very tiny 12 volt motor in it, so I get onto the Proxxon fella down toward Sydney way and he quotes me 180 bucks for a replacement motor.
Choke, choke, W.T.F. have a real good look at this shot motor and then it dawns on me where I've seen one like it before. So of to the local tip recycling centre and buy meself a secondhand battery operated hand drill, made sure it was 12 volt, paid 5 bucks for this drill. Back home and BINGO, exact same motor, right down to the same numbers marked on it, did not take long and that motor is now running sweetly in the saw.

So, go buy the expensive Proxxon little toy and pay heaps for very little, or go buy something with some attitude.

regards radish :D

[joe greiner]

If your immediate objective is merely to make small timber wheels, you can dip your toe in the water of woodturning with a bench drill press. Lay the machine back on the bench, with shims below the motor to adjust the centre axis parallel to the bench. Clamp a tool rest of just about any design to the bench. To make the wheels, drill a hole in the timber to engage a long bolt with nut and washer. Chuck the bolt in the drill chuck.

This can give you a low-cost taste for the sport, and you can still use the drill press for its intended purpose.

Cheers,
Joe

[Big Shed]

You might also want to look at Stu's video #11 on the Carbitool Wheel Cutter (http://stusshed.wordpress.com/stus-shed-tv/stus-shed-tv-videos-11-20/) (bottom of the page)

[AUSSIE]

You might also want to look at Stu's video #11 on the Carbitool Wheel Cutter (http://stusshed.wordpress.com/stus-shed-tv/stus-shed-tv-videos-11-20/) (bottom of the page)
http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=97547&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1235631763 (http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=97547&d=1235631763)You can click on photo.Then go to bottom rh corner and click again for full screen look.
Billy is not on tonight so far.From what he has in his Album the wheel cutter in the drill press may do him ,maybe!
What I want is to be able to turn inner rims,hubs and outer rims (3 seperate turnings)as in this photo from one of RUDDY's posts.Oh and drill the holes for the spokes.I have that part worked out.They are either side of 3" od:2tsup:
I should change my name to Hijacker,sorry Billy
Cheers Aussie:D

[Billy]

hey, thanks everyone for all the great info. I'll be sure to check out the chucks as well as the lathes.:) Thanks Aussie, great photo of the spoked wheel, I saw a model of an old Rolls Royce that had similar wheels. The "tyres" were wooden curtain rings slipped over the "rim". Looked pretty good. :DI guess I shouldn't let price scare me away from quality tools, after all it should last a long time.:U
Very excited about the show tomorrow, have to get away early to beat the morning nightmare on the F3,:( also looking at Sutton quick release arbors for holesaws. My boss has some, very good bit of gear. Went to Bunnings and priced all the Sutton stuff so I've got an idea if show prices are much cheaper.
Thanks again, maybe see y'all at the show.:2tsup:

Billy, always looking for new ways to make sawdust.:roll:

[Billy]

Whilst drooling over the carba-tec cattledog I found another lathe.:)
The Carba-tec Economy Mini Lathe,($319,) anyone had any experience with one of these?
With the addition of an economy scroll chuck($139) this might be all I need.
Cat # for lathe is MC1018, chuck #KR-100, for those that have the catalogue.
The chuck isnt the best and I know there are better ones out there but if the price is kept down I can afford other things too, did I mention the 10 " bandsaw?:;
Somebody stop me!

Billy, sawdust making machines collector