Hi all,

Tell me if my idea is crazy, or is it feasable...

I own a JET mini, I'm pretty satisfied with it, there are some minor
issues, which are mostly caused by me (table not stable, to rough on
some of the fasteners). nothing that can't be resolved.

The price of a larger lathe (which I want, who doesn't) is to high for
me. so buying a new lathe is out of the question.

I have come to have a chance to get some scrap metal, and by scrap I
mean perfectly good metal, that will be given to me by the contractor
who is building me a new house. This is square profiles and T and H
profiles...

At first I thought to myself - I can build a very good bench for the
lathe, solve all the stability problems I currently have. The I
thought, why not use this to upgrade the lathe itself - enhance its
capabilities. Lets take the headstock and tailstock, and build a new
bed from that metal (integrated with the new bench), and then place the
old headstock and tailstock on it - but a little higher than before
(sort of like a bandsaw riser kit, both will sit on a riser block, one
for the tail stock that can slide, and one for the head stock - bolted
in - maybe give it a swivel capabality as well). Seems that all I need
is a longer belt (this should do the trick
http://www.woodchipshome.com/mm5/mer..._Code=SHOPACC).

I will still be limited by motor power, but I can at least turn nice,
wide platters.... And later I can always upgrade only the motor...

What do you think, is there something I missed here? maybe the exiting
bearings cant take the loads? has anybody done this before?

To clarify my incentive, the steel is practicaly free, a new lathe
(Beaver) would cost around $2800 here in Israel (for comparison the Jet
mini costs around $700).