Converting a Metalworking Lathe to Wood Turning Lathe
I know this question has probably been asked a million times before but I am not aware of the answer so I will ask anyway.
I have an opportunity to buy a metalworking lathe with the intention of converting it to a wood turning lathe. Is this a practical thing to do? If so, would anyone have any idea what is required to do this? If the cost is prohibitive and the resulting lathe is inferior then I might be further ahead to look at a good quality used wood turning lathe.:)
dunno, theres a few buts in the idea
It can be done, but why bother? There is quite a lot that needs to done and all the slides etc are fitted with close tolerances not conducive to wood dust. There will be some significant mods to change the chuck. The standard chuck on the lathe is way too powerful and prone to crushing.
Having said that you could hold your wood chuck in the metal chuck. It certainly would an easy chuck change. :U Not sure what to do with the compound and cross slides on the saddle though :? :no:
Speed will most likely be a issue as well as stated most metal lathe rev more slowly. But the up side is that the whole thing will very stable and have no vibration :U. They weigh a ton.
Theres a guy on the Canadian Forum that turns on a metal lathe, looks like a medium sized bench lathe.
At the end of the day I would not recommend it. But.... if its the only way you can get into wood turning. I suppose you should give it a go, especially if its free.:2tsup: