Process Notes: The Real Lathe
Added 2018-09-26 10:40:18 +0000 UTCFriends:
I'm hard at work on the Real Lathe. I bought a 10 foot length of black iron pipe (surprisingly affordable at $17) and cut it in half. This will give me a total machine length of 5 feet and maybe 36 inches between centers.
Then I cut and drilled some lengths of heavy wood. I used teak and oak because I have them and what the hell. The two closer pieces will support the headstock and the farthest piece keeps the pipes level and parallel.
I made the holes in the wood tight on purpose and pounding the pipes in was...challenging. But I got it done. The pipes are about as straight as you could expect and the whole thing has a very solid and rigid feel. It's also quite heavy.
Next, I'm starting on the headstock and you can see one support piece in the foreground. I'll cut three more of those, tie them together with pieces of hardwood, and then install the bearings.
The plan is to be able to put in a motor and at least turn the thing on in next week's video.
We'll see.
--Rex
Comments
You got it!
Rex Krueger
2018-09-26 21:18:02 +0000 UTCFirst one should be up next week!
Rex Krueger
2018-09-26 21:17:54 +0000 UTCVery interested. Keep it coming!!
Grant Paris
2018-09-26 18:46:43 +0000 UTCThis is gonna be great. I cant wait for the videos to come
Delmonique Lyons
2018-09-26 17:29:52 +0000 UTCI'm going with pillow blocks and ball bearings. They are just SO cheap these days. They're self-aligning and super-easy to install. For a budget project like this, it's hard to imagine going any other way, and believe me, I considered a LOT of options.
Rex Krueger
2018-09-26 12:25:22 +0000 UTCthe pipes are a great idea! are the bearings drilled and sunk into the headstock, or will you use pillow bearing on top (or something)? Looks like a little monster :)
George B
2018-09-26 11:30:00 +0000 UTC
