Thread: Lathe ID - Help needed (Includes 12 Pics)

chriso,

It looks to me like a purpose build metal cutting lathe for a production line. It appears to be welded up of steel plate, usually done on one-off items.

If you are intending to use it as a wood turning lathe you have a good start for turning bowls and platters. With the faceplate, you screw the blank to it, turn, sand, and finish, then cut off the part with screws in it.

I do not see anything that resembles a tailstock, so spindles are out of the question.

A 1450ish rpm motor with an identical (or very close) 4 step pulley mounted would get you a 4 speed lathe.

Here are a couple of home made bowl lathes:

Dale's Woodturnings

Homemade Lathe on a Budget - Fine Woodworking Article

And: bowl lathe - Google Search

If you had to find a tailstock and make it fit, unless you are a machinist (US term) or engineer? I think they are called in AU, it would probably cheaper to buy a wood lathe complete.

What is the swing (twice the distance from the center of the face plate to the bed)?

How heavy is it? If 75 to 150 kg, that is a good start.

Did the seller have any idea how it was used?

G'day Paul, thanks for your advise. I believe you are right it was a one-off purpose built machine. I thought it would be great to give my partner a go turning bowls etc (that does not interest me to be honest, more possibly pipes, replica guns etc from wood). I have never mounted a wood block on a lathe for turning, so will be sure to screw one on so she can have a play with it. To answer your questions, it has a 10" swing, and weighs aprox 90kg's with attachments (Will be more when I'm done with it...). I am no machinist or engineer but I will give anything a go. The seller had no idea what it was. I instantly recognised a cross slide table beneath the attachments / junk piled ontop / rust etc, I was prepared to pay 75 just for the cross slide table. Will do more research on clamping blocks to the faceplate. Will check out the links you attached too, cheers. Chriso.