Thread: Carba-Tec HM-1A Mini Lathe Advice

Craig,

I lean toward the motor under the lathe to have the lathe closer to the wall or open window with fan blowing out.

I like the lathe on a stand so that all the shavings fall to the floor and do not pile up on a bench. It is good to have a little slanted roof over the motor so that the shaving slide off and do not pile up on the motor.

Thanks Paul,

That sounds like good advice!

Craig

Here's how I did mine.


More details https://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/b...0/index21.htmlhttps://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/b...0/index21.html.

Bob,

Thanks for the picture and advice. How come you have a second motor mounted on the lathe?

FYI, attached is a picture of the type of lathe I nearly did buy instead. $40.00 only!

I will be putting the motor underneath now, and I'll be making a belt guard out of some sheet aluminum, to keep it all nice and safe.

Just looking for a decent plan I can hijack and call my own Probably something similar to this. (BTW, love the use of the hinge to adjust the tension of the belt!)

Craig

Craig,

Good that you did not buy the $40 lathe, likely you would hav outgrown it in a matter of days, if not hours.

Google is a wonderful resource, go to the Google page, click on "Images" on the top bar, put in "wood lathe bench plans".

You will get this:

https://www.google.com/search?num=10....1.oNFVW7PRGDg

I prefer this style so that chips fall to the floor:

Google Image Result for http://ibuildit.ca/Woodworking%2520Projects/images/lathe-stand/WLS%2520(1).jpg

Probably not as important for a mini lathe as for bowl makers, I make 95% bowls , my small lathe is 350mm swing, with 500mm & 700mm larger ones. I will make a pile of chips at my feet 300mm deep with one bowl.

The search option on this site will answer many questions that have been asked over and over by many new turners. I am amazed at the patience of the"old hands" in replying. I do because I have been greatly helped here. I co not consider myself an "old hand".

There are many raging discussions about sharpening, selection of chucks, selection of tools, lathes, etc. Lots of information to read and make your own choice.

I am a proponent of free timber and inexpensive but adequate tools and methods.

Once you get the lathe running, do some research about sharpening methods and equipment.

Paul and everyone,

Thanks for the responses and all the terrific advice.

I've got a plan in mind for the lathe bench and will start building that this weekend
The headstock spindle is a 3/4" 16 tpi job and I am looking at replacing that with a Gen 3 GPW100 chuck from Gary Pye Woodworking, but my only concern with that is that it might be too heavy for a poor old 1937 era 1/2 hp hoover electric motor. I'm fairly certain this poor old motor was used by McArthur to do his socks and jocks - that's how old this thing is.

Anyone here got a clue if the GPW100 is too heavy for a 1/2 hp motor?

Thanks,

Craig

It will be plenty powerful enough if it was made in 1937. They used real Clydesdales then not Taiwanese pit ponies.

Originally Posted by Morbius

Bob,

Thanks for the picture and advice. How come you have a second motor mounted on the lathe?

The motor immediately underneath the lathe is the original 1/2HP, 1Ph motor - I just haven't removed it yet..
The one underneath the bench is a 1HP - 3Ph.
The grey box on the yellow pole above the lathe is the VSD for the 3Ph motor.

Huon at GPW got back to me this morning. They have one of these little lathes in their test workshop. They are going to test it out and see if the chuck will do the job!

How is that for service?

Craig

Well,

As promised, I started work on a design for a bench, "inspired" by the best features of a few different benches I have seen on the net. In essence, I nicked a few ideas and this is how it is looking so far.

I want to build a quality bench, cheaply so I can spend more money on a GPW chuck and some better chisels. Here's a rundown of my plan and progress so far.

The bench legs are made out of biscuit jointed oregon, recycled from an old car port. I have clad them in 3mm mdf, since the timber was solid, but ugly. The top is off an old solid core door, which I have rebated to insert the bench legs. Basically, the bench is held together by big mortise and tenon joints

The design includes a set of drawers, as well as a sliding rack for my chisels, similar to one of Bill Hylton's router tables (storing chisels, rather than router bits).

I am planning on painting the whole thing either black or green, with the only visible wood being the edging that I'll run around the top and the edges of the legs. I've got some Blue Gum that'll do nicely for that.

I loved the idea of a hinge to help raise and lower the motor when changing belt speeds, but wanted to take the idea a little further. I don't want to keep needing to bend over to raise and lower the motor, so am using a car jack, mounted to the underside of the table top on a sliding rail. The car jack cost me $3.00 at the Revolve Recycling Centre. The jack is suitable for an SUV, it should stand up to the rigors of lifting a small electric motor for a few years at least. The difficult part has been finding a reasonably priced cast iron handwheel ("reasonably" varies from person to person - I'm looking around the $50 mark, tops).

Since I am deliberately going overboard on the engineering, I figured that I would keep the motor and lift visible to give the bench a bit of character

After work this week, I'll be installing the legs, the motor and lift kit. Next weekend I hope to do the drawers

Lathe Bench Build 01.jpg

I am deliberately leaving room at the end of the bench so I can mount a sanding disk and a dedicated work light. I just need to find out how to remove the wheel that is there at present. I've also left room at the rear for mounting a slightly modified Carba-Tec dust catcher.

LHA-914.jpg
(Picture courtesy of Carba-Tec)

Assembling this bench for this little lathe has been a hoot so far. While I can't wait to put it to use, the experience of researching, designing and building the bench itself has been a heap of fun so far. As has been the treasure hunt for parts that will do what I want

Craig

Morbius,

See this for hand wheels:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/cha...02/index5.html

If someone makes a faceplate of the right diameter that would screw on to the left end of the spindle you are half way there.

Below are photos of a knob for tightening the banjo bolt on the tool rest and a hand wheel from a child's electric powered car.

I turned the knob with a hole just slightly undersized for the long nut and drove it in with the tail stock ram. I had roughed up the nut where it went into the wood and then drizzled epoxy glue into the spaces next to the flats and then packed in fine sanding dust. The nut is made to join long pieces of allthread rod.

If you can find a nut to fit the left end of the spindle this might adapt.

The inside of the toy steering wheel hub was a bit larger than the 33mm thread of the lathe. A few turns of duct tape around the spindle and forcing the hub on makes it work. It is a bit wobblely but has served the purpose for about 9 months.

Someone here was concerned about getting fingers in the spokes. I have done that once when I did not reach far enough to the left. No harm done.

Paul,

Thanks for the idea!

I contacted a number of companies and only one got back to me - Ian from Hercus in South Australia.

Hi Craig
Thanks for the enquiry regarding Handwheels
We have available
p/no HWCI/0100 - 100mm dia handwheel at $13.80 ea plus gst
p/no GRIP/0006 - Handle at $6.10 ea plus gst
Dimension sheet attached

DOC171212.pdf

The cast iron look of the Hercus handwheel is in line with the style I want to achieve for the bench, but I love the idea of making one like the one you have pointed out Paul.

Craig

Well, as promised, I've included pictures.

Today the handwheel arrived and I am very happy with the quality of it

IMG_4182.jpg
IMG_4183.jpg
IMG_4184.jpg

I have yet to install the lift mechanism, and build the set of drawers, but as you can see - plenty of room for both!

Craig

Okay,

I've had a bit of a go at the lathe and it works a treat

I am going to go to Sydney next month and pick up a new chuck from GPW, but am very unhappy with the tool rest. The shaft of the tool rest is 1/2 an inch and the width of the rest is 2 inches. Can anyone suggest where I could find a suitable, longer tool rest, perhaps around 4 inches or so?

Happy to buy new or second hand, just no idea where to find one.

Thanks,

Craig