Wood lathe

Sam Salvati

Sam Salvati

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
5,060
Just when you didn't think any more tools could fit in one shop, you put up a new bench and BAm all kinds more room! I have had this little wood lathe for awhile in the hopes of getting it setup to make handles for different things, chisels, hammers, turning a nice square shoulder for japanese kitchen knife type handles, maybe a couple bowls. Well with the nice piece of lacquered plywood that fit PERFECTLY into the corner setup i had the room to get it put back together, and it made even more space for storage. It had a 4' bed that I cut down, I think I can get my metal lathe right next to it even! I paid 15$ for it and it came with a set of craftsman HSS tools.

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Scored Sam. I've got the same one only longer. I could make a baseball bat on mine. Other than the shaft on the bottom of mine being longer they look the same. I paid $100 for mine and thought I'd scored. I got the tools and a bunch of accesories that I've never used. $15 is way better. If you do any leather sheath work you are gonna love this deal. Turn yourself a hardwood stick. Make several grooves of different sizes and let this stick running at your highest speed do your edge rubbing for you. I leave mine set up that way all the time and is the only way I use the lathe anymore. I'll actually use the lathe to rub the sheath edges after wet forming the sheath while the leather is still damp and then I do them again after they have dried using gum traganath on the edges. Not only is this faster, easier, easier on the ol bod but it does a BETTER job too. I used a piece of rosewood of some kind that I'd bought for scales. It was kinda boring grain wise so I'd never cut it up into scales. It has worked well. I keep a piece of beeswax on the bench and if starts to get too hot friction wise I just dab a bit of the beeswax on there and keep going. Best deal since sliced bread. Give er a try.
 
Sam I had that exact same lathe for 10 years or so, many, many lidded jewlery boxes, bowls,
handles and I don't know how many cushioned wheels. I later gave it away to a friend that
makes ice rod handles. The reason was I thought with my SB 409AN and a 7x12 grizzly I'd
have no use for it. Wrong! This winter I made a bigger and better one from a drill press column.
Kids string pull tops, and yo-yo's are fun!
Ken.
 
I hve the same one with the full length bed, but removed it and put the 9" disc on it instead. I have the manual for it if you ever need to know part numbers. It is a Morse #1 taper btw and the head stock threads are 3/4" 16 and the same but left hand for outboard turning. I hav a bunch of different face plates for mine, with some duplicates if you ever need one.

Oh, and I got you beat, I got mine for free! But why did you cut th bed down? It is two pieces anyways. Just get the coupler out and put the foot in the end of the headstock side of the bed. Keeps it modular that way, you can go from a 12" length to 8 feet if you were inclined to make fancy fence posts.


-Xander
 
I'll join the group also. I have this same lathe, but also with the full length bed rail. I didn't pay as much as Sam did though..mine was free! My uncle bought a new 60" machine and gave me his old one. I am also waiting on a space to get it setup and running.
 
LOVE IT. Wood turning is a BLAST!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAnd I can use it for exactly what I wanted to and why I got it, plus a bunch of other things!
 
So, Sam, when are we gonna see a multi-axis turned spoon to go with that wok you made?


-X
 
I got it to cut the shoulders for the ferrule on Japanese style handles. made this handle in 30 minutes, and can probably do them even quicker once I get some practice. The transition is very crisp this way with little effort LOL.

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That little gap on the side is because I undercut the shoulder, and grinding into the side grinds back the shoulder so, a little gap. From now on I won't undercut it.
 
Xander, soon :) I was thinking, turn a big ball on the end of a round handle, then slice it up lengthwise to get different spoons of different sizes. I want to make tops too!
 
I have one just like that but is a bit longer, fun little lathe. I will say make some new tools the craftsman HSS is junk won't hold an edge long.
 
thanks guys! Mike, the craftsmans are not all that bad, and are real HSS. But yes I am already thinking about how to make my own :D Atleast I know they will have nice turned handles hahahaha!
 
I like to use my wood lathe to make tapered throwing hawk handles. It comes in handy as well for making drawknife handles. I even rough out hammer handles on it occasionally. It can handle all kinds of stuff! Plus, you're right, it is fun. Good score!

I have to agree though, I'm not impressed by the Craftsman HSS chisels. I have two sets, neither of which holds an edge all that long.
 
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