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Thread: Improving a lathe
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10th May 2014, 01:49 PM #16GOLD MEMBER
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If you drilled two holes the size and spacing of your pipe bed in a block then cut through the centers, then measure from the bottom of the pipes to the top of the bench, and cut the block that length, then drill longways through the part above and below the bed for a bolt, that whole system would keep the rails from spreading and hold it still.
A coupling nut glued inside a wood knob would make it easy to place and remove.
Coupling nut: http://img0.fastenal.com/productimages/1170945.jpg
See sketch below.So much timber, so little time.
Paul
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10th May 2014, 03:38 PM #17Skwair2rownd
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Thanks |Paul, Much the same as I had in mind!!!
Obviously great minds think alike!
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10th May 2014, 04:57 PM #18
That Lathe ???.
Hi All,
I'm with Pommyphil. Don't waste your Turning time trying to fix That Lathe. Flog it & buy something much better.
That VL175 Sounds like a good idea.
Can't get a much better Lathe than that, & at $2800, might even get it a bit cheaper.
You will have to Barter a bit, but with constant bidding, you never know your luck.
Haven't had a look at ebay, but it might not be Variable.Regards,
issatree.
Have Lathe, Wood Travel.
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10th May 2014, 11:09 PM #19Skwair2rownd
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I'd love to have the money to spend on a better lathe!!!
Between Paul, myself and Chuck1 I may well be on the way to a pretty good fix.
This may lead to some inconvenience but that won't bother me too often for the sort
of turning I do.
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11th May 2014, 02:52 AM #20GOLD MEMBER
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I'm with Pommyphil. Don't waste your Turning time trying to fix That Lathe. Flog it & buy something much better.
That VL175 Sounds like a good idea.
Can't get a much better Lathe than that, & at $2800, might even get it a bit cheaper.
So we get what we can and live with the limitations, but are making turnings, learning, and having a grand time in the shed.
Sometimes a screaming deal will fall into our life and the $2800 lathe can be had for $800 in awful looking but serviceable condition that can be improved by some sweat equity.
For some of us the longer process of getting to the "good" lathe and all the bits that go with turning is as much fun as using the lathe.
Below is my $850 short bed, variable speed and 5 step pulley, 20 inch swing Woodfast that came covered with rust, and hand wheel, face plate, drive center, and tail center firmly rusted in place. The Oneway chuck came later.
It took a week end of penetrating oil, heat, beating with brass hammer, and some bitter cursing to get everything working and shined up.
It is an absolute joy to use. It is lathe # 4. First was a used $150 Chinese 7 X 12 inch metal lathe that started me down the primrose path, then a free 1940s Delta 12 X 30 inch with a pot metal headstock and steel plate bed, then the Hegner 175 mentioned above.
I learned something with all of them, and with all the chisels, scrapers, carbide tools, gouges, chucks, grinder, grinding jigs, flexible shaft, right angle drill for sanding, etc., acquired over 7 years, I still don't have $2800 in the whole lot.
Meanwhile I have been turning and for 5 years selling, mostly bowls.So much timber, so little time.
Paul
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11th May 2014, 10:11 AM #21Skwair2rownd
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Well said Paul!!!
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13th May 2014, 03:35 PM #22Skwair2rownd
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Just saw an ELU lathe on Gumtree.
It has a long bed similar to mine but the wall thickness of the pipe at least 6mm and it has a
support about halfway along the bed that would add extra stability.
In fact it has given me an idea that I think I can apply to my lathe. Just have to check the
clearance on the tailstock where it rests on the pipes.
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13th May 2014, 10:21 PM #23GOLD MEMBER
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Maybe some angle iron and flat bar strategicly welded and bolted together to the side of the bars! Like the ule but far better!
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27th May 2014, 12:33 PM #24Skwair2rownd
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I've been away for 10 days, including an all too brief interlude at the WWW Show where I caught up with Old Croc, John - Gawdelpus, Dave TTC, Superbunny and a few others.
Loved the Laguna Lathes!!
Tried to get a set of Teknatool Power Grip jaws, But no one has them!!
Today I went to see about some steel to make some improvements to the lathe.
I dropped in on a welding business and as luck would have it he was once a professional woodturner! His son is turning as a hobby and has an old blue Record lathe. Had similar problems to me.
People who knew what I was on about!! Bewdy!!
For about $250 I can get a new bed made with hollow section bar.
I think this is the way to go.
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