Drill powered lathe.. need help designing one!

[Samon]

YO,

I'm finding I could make good use of lathe more and more often. I'm too cheap to buy a real one and have no sheltered work space to use a full size one, just my tiny back garden.

I'm think a diy job is in order. I have power drills and I can aquire timber to make a frame/body. I'd like to be able to take toi apart to store it indoors when I'm done and not require too much spending to get it safely operating.

Anyone got a ny pictures, links or blue prints of soemthing simple and affordable?

Be much appreciated if I can find a design I can make.

Cheers!

 

[dazcon]

Never made one myself but I've always fancied having a go. Shouldn't be too difficult. The main part you would have to buy is a revolving centre like this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MT2-Preci...463065?hash=item5d599da899:g:3pcAAOSweW5VeBFp

The body could be made from heavy plywood.

 

[dazcon]

Just found this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCaGW9z4blM

 

[Mesquite]

Keep an eye out on Ebay and other such sites for drill powered lathes.

Black & Decker did one and they turn up fairly regularly. I picked up a different type that you make the bed by clamping the bits to a table edge

 

[tombear]

Shame you ain't near the Rossendale Valley as I've got one with a two speed drill fitted that's in the to carboot pile now I've got my big old Myford. Good condition as well, I think put up a pic one time. Would accept a swap.

ATB

Tom

 

[Stew]

My Dad's lathe that I used ofr years growing up was dismantled after every use and packed away. If it was raining I used it in the kitchen!

No drill power though - a motor hanging on a hinge to keep the tension. I wouldn't bother with a drill one!

 

[dewi]

Have you considered using a washing machine motor? Its a tough motor... especially when you consider the weight in a washing machine when filled with water... they see some abuse.

Frame wise you should walk it... you're familiar with metal work... you just need a good solid base with a guide rail... your lathe will be adjustable.

 

[Alreetmiowdmuka]

You any further with this samon.ive got a 1/4 inch dewalt router that's going spare if you want it as the motor.it's just the motor body part theirs no base plate or owt.should work mint for a lathe.i found it in a skip a while back n kept it too make an electric spit but never got round too it.if yer want it let me know or I'll send yer a pick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dan J]

I found the same video,
http://lifehacker.com/transform-a-power-drill-into-a-miniature-wood-lathe-1593744668

The lathes we had at school didn't have a revolving center, as long as you put some wax or something on the end of the center spike they worked fine.

If you can find a general/house clearance auction, things like that turn up fairly often i've found.

 

[demographic]

Oriental chap makes one out of a pillar drill.

[video=youtube;NFXGPQrbfvQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFXGPQrbfvQ[/video]

 

[mrcharly]

a pole lath might be easier - use some elastic cord instead of a pole

 

[Macaroon]

Oriental chap makes one out of a pillar drill.

He demonstrates some good thinking and design & build skills there, but I'd be sceptical about the bearings at the chuck end to stand much of the inevitable sideways pressures involved. I've had issues in the past with using drum sanders in pillar drills even though I've been very light on them; these bearings just aren't built to deal with those stresses.

 

[David LaFerney]

I actually have one that I made from a small drill press. The hardest part to make was the drive spindle that engages the workpiece - which I made out of a large nut threaded onto a short piece of threaded rod (sharpened) I used a file to cut spurs into the nut to engage the work. The tail center is another threaded rod sharpened on one end and threaded through a peice of hard maple. Mine is limited to small parts, but I really only made it to make hand turned shaker pegs for some Christmas projects.

For some reason I can't seem to include pictures, but you can see them here if you are interested.

 

[nic a char]

Thanks Jack of All, I got all these bits in my shed, so you've saved me hours = nice job!

 

[David LaFerney]

Glad to help.

 

[demographic]

Could just buy this Zyliss vice with drill powered lathe attachment thing?

Think one of my mates had one of them when I was a nipper and he's still got all his fingers and eyes.

 

[Stew]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCt3LooUVsQ

 

[twyforge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCt3LooUVsQ

Haha I'll second that. Just watched it and this thread was the first thing I thought of. Absolutely love his work.

 

[Macaroon]

Matthias Wandel is cool, he does some great stuff and he doesn't bang on like some......You could build a whole workshop with his vids.; oh, hang on, you'd need a workshop to build them in/with

 

[Mesquite]

ignore me... should read the thread for what links are posted