http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki....aspx?id=26160

The lathe thread made me decide to google bit. Because if I had
$1,000 available to spend, ne of the last things I'd sendit on is a
lathe. Not when they're not tat hard to make - in my view anyway. I'd
definitely make some sturdier lookin legs tho.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

"J T" wrote in message
...
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki....aspx?id=26160

The lathe thread made me decide to google bit. Because if I had
$1,000 available to spend, ne of the last things I'd sendit on is a
lathe. Not when they're not tat hard to make - in my view anyway. I'd
definitely make some sturdier lookin legs tho.



Looks, maybe. I'll bet the steel is incompressible along its length, which
is what counts, and with what appears to be box construction, probably won't
flex under any off-center loading that would clear the bed.

On Sun, 8 Jul 2007 09:06:36 -0400, (J T) wrote:

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki....aspx?id=26160

The lathe thread made me decide to google bit. Because if I had
$1,000 available to spend, ne of the last things I'd sendit on is a
lathe. Not when they're not tat hard to make - in my view anyway. I'd
definitely make some sturdier lookin legs tho.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

Looks like a great idea if you happen to have I-beams and stuff laying around...

To a wood worker in training like me, I'd pay to have one built before I spent
the time to learn metal working..

So many projects, so little time...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

.... Not when they're not tat hard to make - in my view anyway. ...

A few year back, the Smithsonian Folk Festival on the Mall featured
Hawaii. There were a couple of guys turning koa bowls. One had a bowl
massive lathe made from structural steel. We speed control was an old
truck transmission. Very impressive.

Joel

On Jul 8, 9:06 am, (J T) wrote:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki...ideArticle.asp...

The lathe thread made me decide to google bit. Because if I had
$1,000 available to spend, ne of the last things I'd sendit on is a
lathe. Not when they're not tat hard to make - in my view anyway. I'd
definitely make some sturdier lookin legs tho.

JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

I'd make the base as heavy as possible, maybe even
poured concrete. Oversized turnings have a way of making
a lathe want to walk, especially if you don't rough the blank
first.

Speaking of older issues of FWW, does anyone recall the
DIY bowl lathe made from an old VW hub?

Sun, Jul 8, 2007, 3:04pm (EDT+4) (George) doth sayeth
Looks, maybe. I'll bet the steel is incompressible along its length,
which is what counts, and with what appears to be box construction,
probably won't flex under any off-center loading that would clear the
bed.

The front two legs are splayed, with no brace between them, I
wouldn't want to bet they wouldn't splay more over time. Neither set of
legs are braced front to back either, so they won't start leaning. The
lathe looks pretty small, even so, I'd make it sturdier. If I was to
make a lathe, I'd make the biggest I had room for. You can still turn
small bowls on a big lathe, bt you can't turn big bowls on a small
lathe. And I'd make damn sure I braced it every which way.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

Sun, Jul 8, 2007, 10:17am (EDT-3)
(mac*davis) doth claimeth:
Looks like a great idea if you happen to have I-beams and stuff laying
around...
To a wood worker in training like me, I'd pay to have one built before I
spent the time to learn metal working..

Read the sig. You don't need I beams. Just some scrap tubing and
all. Check the phone book for scrap metal. Or, an old car would
probably provide all the raw aterials you'd need. Think positive.
Never think, "I can't do this, because I don't have the right stuff";
think, "Hmm, what can I use to do this?". No prob.

My son taught one of his young girlfriends to wald in less than 5
minutes, with a MIG wire welder. You saying you're not that bright? Of
course, it takes a bit longer to get pretty welds, but 5 minutes will
normally do for welds that'll hold. Arc or stick welding takes longer,
and longer yet to get pretty welds. TIG welding takes longer yet, and
quite a bit longer to get pretty welds.

Inexpensive chop saw, inexpensive wire welder, gas or flux wire,
place where sparks won't set everything on fire, no prob. You gonna let
a girl beat you? LMAO



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

Sun, Jul 8, 2007, 12:36pm (EDT-3) doth sayeth:
A few year back, the Smithsonian Folk Festival on the Mall featured
Hawaii. There were a couple of guys turning koa bowls. One had a bowl
massive lathe made from structural steel. We speed control was an old
truck transmission. Very impressive.

Read about a guy who built a lathe for turning BIG bowls. Used
two, count 'em, two 5-speed truck transmisions for speed control. I
can't see me making anything even 1/4 that size, but I'd sure like to
look it over close.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

Sun, Jul 8, 2007, 2:06pm (EDT-3)
(Father*Haskell) doth sayeth:
I'd make the base as heavy as possible, maybe even poured concrete.
Oversized turnings have a way of making a lathe want to walk, especially
if you don't rough the blank first.
Speaking of older issues of FWW, does anyone recall the DIY bowl lathe
made from an old VW hub?

Oh yes. Or at a minimum, I'd want provisions to stack sandbags to
hold it in place, if I ever figured on moving it. Or fill it with sand
- be a pain removing it, but if would work. My preference make it as
heavy as I could, then fill it with concrete. Let someone else worry
about moving it, after I'm gone. LOL.

Don't recall that one, but do recall one somewhere from a truck
hub. It's all in what you've got handy.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

On Sun, 8 Jul 2007 20:28:46 -0400, (J T) wrote:

Sun, Jul 8, 2007, 10:17am (EDT-3)
(mac*davis) doth claimeth:
Looks like a great idea if you happen to have I-beams and stuff laying
around...
To a wood worker in training like me, I'd pay to have one built before I
spent the time to learn metal working..

Read the sig. You don't need I beams. Just some scrap tubing and
all. Check the phone book for scrap metal. Or, an old car would
probably provide all the raw aterials you'd need. Think positive.
Never think, "I can't do this, because I don't have the right stuff";
think, "Hmm, what can I use to do this?". No prob.

it's more a matter of priorities, bro...

I'm finally semi-retired and able to spend the time, money and shop space to
really learn sawdust and shaving production,while making a bit of dinner and
drink money pimping my turnings...

I have a list of stuff that the boss wants built for the new house and after 9
months here, I still don't know how the shop will be set up..

Just too many irons in the fire to get side tracked, which is my nature.. lol


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Mon, Jul 9, 2007, 10:59am (EDT-3)
(mac*davis) doth sayeth:
it's more a matter of priorities, bro...
snip and after 9 months here, I still don't know how the shop will be
set up..
Just too many irons in the fire to get side tracked, which is my
nature.. lol

No prob. All you've got to dois get some metal, and a welder.
Weld a couple of pieces together. Later weld some more on. No rush,
because you haven't got a shop. I do any number of my projects that
way, do a little, decide what the next step is, plan it as you go
along.. That way by the time you've got a place to use it, you'll have
a custom bowl lathe.

Imagine my surprise, when yesterday I found some huge angle iron
pieces out n the front yard. They are about 2'-3', around 1/2" thick,
and 6"-8" each side. A couple of them are about 4' long. Plus some
misc tubing. If I wanted one, there's enough metal out there to make a
lathe capable of handling some pretty healthy chunks of wood. But so
far my HF lathes takes care of all my turning needs. I wonder what the
kid would say if I started using up his metal to make a lathe. LMAO



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:33:35 -0400, (J T) wrote:

Mon, Jul 9, 2007, 10:59am (EDT-3)
(mac*davis) doth sayeth:
it's more a matter of priorities, bro...
snip and after 9 months here, I still don't know how the shop will be
set up..
Just too many irons in the fire to get side tracked, which is my
nature.. lol

No prob. All you've got to dois get some metal, and a welder.
Weld a couple of pieces together. Later weld some more on. No rush,
because you haven't got a shop. I do any number of my projects that
way, do a little, decide what the next step is, plan it as you go
along.. That way by the time you've got a place to use it, you'll have
a custom bowl lathe.

Imagine my surprise, when yesterday I found some huge angle iron
pieces out n the front yard. They are about 2'-3', around 1/2" thick,
and 6"-8" each side. A couple of them are about 4' long. Plus some
misc tubing. If I wanted one, there's enough metal out there to make a
lathe capable of handling some pretty healthy chunks of wood. But so
far my HF lathes takes care of all my turning needs. I wonder what the
kid would say if I started using up his metal to make a lathe. LMAO



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso
Actually, I do have room in the shop for something like that... love to make it
digital speed too... lol
You've got me thinking now, about welding, metal fabrication, etc..

A friend down here just finished building his house and I'll be helping him
build a large detached shop...
Might just be a coincidence, but he's going to build desert rails in the shop...
hmmmmm...



mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

"mac davis" wrote

A friend down here just finished building his house and I'll be helping
him
build a large detached shop...
Might just be a coincidence, but he's going to build desert rails in the
shop...
hmmmmm...


Desert Rails???

What are those?

And as my father used to say,

"A friend with a shop is a friend indeed."

Wed, Jul 11, 2007, 10:05am (EDT-3)
(mac*davis) is now thinking right:
snip Might just be a coincidence, but he's going to build desert rails
in the shop... hmmmmm...

Ah. Welder. Free scrap metal. No worry about buring your own
shop to the ground. Life is good. LMAO Hell yes, make a small one,
prototype, and if that one doesn't work, make another. Repeat until
you've got something that satisfies you, sell th prototypes, and then
make a HBF lathe for youself. Tip, wait until you get it home before
filling it with sand, cement, or whatever.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

Wed, Jul 11, 2007, 1:13pm
(Lee*Michaels) doth query:
Desert Rails???
What are those? snip

Must be for desert trains, eh?



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

"J T" wrote in message
...
Wed, Jul 11, 2007, 1:13pm
(Lee Michaels) doth query:
Desert Rails???
What are those? snip

Must be for desert trains, eh?

sand rails, also known as dune buggies.

Wed, Jul 11, 2007, 12:55pm (EDT-3)
(charlie) doth sayeth
sand rails, also known as dune buggies.

Hey, don't tell me, tell the guy that asked..



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:13:04 -0400, "Lee Michaels"
wrote:


"mac davis" wrote

A friend down here just finished building his house and I'll be helping
him
build a large detached shop...
Might just be a coincidence, but he's going to build desert rails in the
shop...
hmmmmm...


Desert Rails???

What are those?

And as my father used to say,

"A friend with a shop is a friend indeed."


Well, there's 3 versions of "buggies", all based on VW bug parts..

Dune buggy.... rip off the vw body and put a fiberglass one on... for very light
use and or to be looked at cuz they're cute..

Sand rail.. looks sort of like an old "rail" dragster, mostly beefed up VW guts
with light duty frame and good suspension.. some have tube frame..
Used mostly (AFAIK) in WA and California on sand dunes..

Desert rail... Sand rail on steroids, to take the pounding of rocks, etc...
Usually built from ground up with heavy gauge round or square stock, VW bus
engine & transmission, fuel cell, disk brakes, EFI, etc...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:29:21 -0400, (J T) wrote:

Wed, Jul 11, 2007, 10:05am (EDT-3)
(mac*davis) is now thinking right:
snip Might just be a coincidence, but he's going to build desert rails
in the shop... hmmmmm...

Ah. Welder. Free scrap metal. No worry about buring your own
shop to the ground. Life is good. LMAO Hell yes, make a small one,
prototype, and if that one doesn't work, make another. Repeat until
you've got something that satisfies you, sell th prototypes, and then
make a HBF lathe for youself. Tip, wait until you get it home before
filling it with sand, cement, or whatever.



JOAT
I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do
them.
- Picasso

Yep.. great minds DO think alike.. lol

He's had several machine shops in the states and has a bunch of stuff in
storage.. "wire" welder, "mig" welder, etc... (all Greek to me)

I was thinking that he's turned a few simple projects in my shop and got a kick
out of it, maybe if he saw the advantage of a bowl lathe, he could design and
build a couple..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing