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  1. #1
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    Default Old Wood Lathe - what size motor?

    Hi,
    I have a very old wood lathe, its a dinosaur, but unfortunately the motor is missing. I was hoping someone could give me an indicator of size and rpm that would do a sufficient job to bring it back to life. Any help would be appreciated thanks

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  3. #2
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    Dec 2006
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    East of Melbourne Aus.
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    Default

    need a pic to help.
    I am learning, slowley.

  4. #3
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    Jun 2014
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    Default

    Hmmm... Seems like we're going to need more information.

    Nonetheless, I'll address it assuming you have basically a bed with headstock that consists of a spindle that is driven by a belt.

    In this case, there is no real right answer (which is exactly what you wanted to hear!). It depends on what you want to do. If you want to turn pens and christmas ornaments, it doesn't really matter. Half a horsepower is totally adequate.

    For just about all spindle work, 1hp served me well for a long time. I never turned anything over about 4" diameter or 600mm long, but I also never had even the slightest bit of stall at that size. I expect it could've handled quite a bit more.

    Your degree of interest in faceplate turning is probably going to be the driving factor in your decision. Bowl blanks are heavy and can be large. The further away from the drive spindle you are cutting, the more torque is necessary to drive the tool through the wood (or wood past the tool...). My 1hp lathe was frustratingly maxed out at about 10" in hardwoods. It had 12" swing capacity but I never pushed it that far. Your bowl turning capacity is limited by your swing distance. If your headstock to bed distance is 6", that means your swing is 12" (this may be approaching too rudimentary). If your swing is 12", you should probably shoot for something in the 1.5hp range. If your swing is greater than 12", and you intend to use that extra swing to turn bowls larger than 12", then 1.5hp should be your minimum target for power. I recently upgraded to a 2hp lathe and am extremely happy with its power. I can take quarter inch cuts out of 14" hardwood bowls with ease.

    You may also consider an Electronic Variable Speed module. Someone listed one in the marketplace a while back. Not sure if it sold. Be warned, however, that this is like the going to the dark side... You can never go back.

    And now someone with way more experience is going to suggest something completely different

    Cheers,
    Luke

  5. #4
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    Apr 2010
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    Default

    Hi Luke, less experience and I liked your answer.But can I suggest if SL can beg, borrow or steal someones time and lathe he may learn a heap more in very little time. Mens sheds, wood turning clubs etc would be the place to start. Jay

  6. #5
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jay h View Post
    Hi Luke, less experience and I liked your answer.But can I suggest if SL can beg, borrow or steal someones time and lathe he may learn a heap more in very little time. Mens sheds, wood turning clubs etc would be the place to start. Jay
    Couldn't agree more.

  7. #6
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    Jul 2005
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shack Living View Post
    Hi,
    I have a very old wood lathe, its a dinosaur, but unfortunately the motor is missing. I was hoping someone could give me an indicator of size and rpm that would do a sufficient job to bring it back to life. Any help would be appreciated thanks

    240v single phase, 1 HP, 1440 rpm should do all your needs. I have swung 14" or 355 mm with ease and it probably weighed around 7-8 kg. Turned and hollowed blanks about this size often in a variety of hardwood. If you want to do coring then you will need more HP
    Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso


  8. #7
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    Apr 2015
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    Tallangatta
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    Default

    Wow, thanks for all the replies, great to find such an active forum. The wood lathe has a fair bit of sentimental value, was kind of hoping to do everything on it from big to small, table legs, bowls etc. I will get some photos. Having a Electronic Variable speed module does sound very tempting.

  9. #8
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    Apr 2015
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    Tallangatta
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    Default

    The details are Hyco Products, HYCO, Machine Tools, Ball Bearing Equipped, Sydney NSW. there appears to be two holes at the back to take a pivoting plate with motor which unfortunately is missing. Any help or knowledge would be appreciated

    IMAG0315.jpgIMAG0316.jpg

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    Northern Beaches, Sydney
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    I have exactly the same lathe. It came with the original three phase 1/2 HP 1420RPM motor but I'm going to swap it for a single phase of the same speed. I will of course go for a bigger 1 or 1.5 HP model as even I know that a 1/2 HP is pretty small especially once you want to start turning bigger bits of wood.

    Edit: If you need more info on the motor mounting plate I could drag it out from under the house and take some measurements and photos if you like ( unless another Hyco lathe owner has one in a handier position )
    Stewie

  11. #10
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    Apr 2015
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    Tallangatta
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    Default

    Thanks Stewie,
    that would be great if you could get some photos of the motor and connecting bits, would be better than me trying to guess everything. I have been searching google images, but had no success. Would also be nice to know what size pullys are on the motor.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sydney
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    Default

    Hyco Lathe.jpg

    Here's how it appeared in the McPhersons catalogue back in 1955.

    Recommended motor and pulley included.

    Stepped pulleys are made by Stenco and available from Blackwoods.

    Stenco Pulleys.jpg

    The spindle should be 2MT with a BSF 1"x10 tpi thread. Tailstock should also be 2MT. These details will be important when you start looking for accessories like chucks and centers.

    Hyco was subsequently taken over by Woodfast. They are a good solid lathe....

    Regards
    John

  13. #12
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    Apr 2015
    Location
    Tallangatta
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    Default

    Thankyou John, I really appreciate your info, I even printed a copy
    A bit confused where is mentions a 4 step 5.5" motor pulley. The driven pully on the lathe I took a photo of seems to be only 3 step. Hopefully stewie or another good Samaritan that has this lathe can take a photo from the rear side to show how the motor is attached. I would also like to know what size pulley to put on the motor, I am guessing its a single grove 2" driving pulley to give a top speed of 3,880 on the 5.5" driven pulley.

  14. #13
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    Apr 2015
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    Tallangatta
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    oops, didnt look closely, it has 4 step pulley on the lathe. Just need to make a mounting bracket and get a motor with 2" single grove pulley. Photo of the rear side would be appreciated. I assume is just a hinged plate that the motor is bolted onto. Is it just the weight of the motor that puts tension on the belt, or is it tensioned down somehow?

  15. #14
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    Apr 2015
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    Tallangatta
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    My Prayers have been answered,
    Found an excellent thread that went through restoration, and can see the photos I was after
    https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...=hyco+lathe#89

  16. #15
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    Sep 2011
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    Northern Beaches, Sydney
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    Default

    That is probably an original bench seeing as it has splayed legs at the bottom which seems to be the defacto Hyco way. A lot of other Hyco lathes have the motor mounted under the bench and there is simply a rectangular hole cut through the bench to the motor mounted below. Similar to this Tough brand lathe here http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/griffin/other-tools-diy/-tough-cast-iron-wood-lathe-and-accessories/1076713395
    Here is another Hyco http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0006-...ntres-approx-2
    The motor shown here is almost identical to the one I have with the original step pulley that came with these lathes. The one on my new 240v motor is different.
    I thought I'd just show you some of the accessories that are available with these lathes although truth be known they may be third party and not Hyco originals.
    Here is the motor mount tray from mine



    The motor mount tray is about 210 wide x 240mm long and allows you to mount the motor from flat to approx 30º angle ( about 130mm travel ).
    Here is the original 3 phase 1/2 HP motor

    And here is the new single phase 1HP motor with corresponding step pulley.



    Stewie

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