off topic winter projects

We have the "winter project" thread on boats but I figured since this isn't a boat I'd start a new thread in the off topic section.

I've always wanted to add a woodworking lathe to my shop however since it's not something I would use a lot, I didn't want to spend too much. They can get up into the 6K range so to keep costs within reason, I started shopping for used. Always being a Rockwell Delta person, I keyed into them. I found lots of the heavy duty early lathes but always ran into a crating, loading and shipping problem. This one came up locally on Craig's list so I took a drive and ended up getting it pretty cheap. It's a 1948 when Rockwell Delta sold a lighter duty lathe aimed at the non-production homeowner market. It had the optional stand with the HD cast iron legs which was actually used on the heavier duty lathe. That sold me on the purchase.





I stripped and painted all the basic metal parts but when I stripped the wood top and bottom shelf I was disappointed. Even though they were beautiful clear old growth sugar pine, both were oil soaked at all the bolt holes. The bottom shelf also had about 4 sets of holes from PO's mounting different motors. So, I decided to make the Maple "butcher block" top and shelf. (the Maple for the job ended up costing more than the lathe!!)

I converted the headstock seals to modern rubber and got rid of the old leather/felt seals. It runs 90W gear oil and I feel that's where all the oil in the wood came from.

Next came the motor. The one that came with it was way under HP'd and wouldn't even turn the spindle in the higher speeds. Wanting the flexibility of more variable speeds, the easy way is with a VFC (variable frequency control) driving a standard 3 phase induction motor. A added bennifit to the VFD is they can run on a single phase power source 3HP and below.

Since the "Home Craft" Lathe would only swing a 11" diameter over the bed, I machined up 1" riser blocks for the head and tail stocks so it can now swing 13".



I found a old disconnect at work, stripped the guts out and hid the VFC in it. The on/off switch is actually the old surface mount switch that came with the lathe. Both mantain the old appearance of the late 40's.

The 3/4 HP older looking 3 phase motor came off ebay. The motor mount is actually a modified tractor trailer rear door hinge!

Pete is see a few point deductions there for non originality
Put as usual very professional looking job.

sort of a resto mod wouldnt you say?

God help if he gets a woodchip on the floor

he only uses that to puff himself up to rip another non original comment to pieces

peter1234 wrote: he only uses that to puff himself up to rip another non original comment to pieces

Wood lathes aren't judged by ACBS guidlines!!   

BTW, I've commented on it before but boat internal mods you can't see are ok!!

BuffaloBFN wrote: The plastic feather boards worry me more.

Greg,
I missed this post. I must have been busy answering Peter's!!

Yes, PLASTIC!!! It does sort of rub me the wrong way!! But, I've made plenty of wood ones and they just never seem to work like the purchased. Plus, you do need some time to make a decent wood one and start with some real clear good material. Then, there's the clamping or fumbling with C clamps!!

What you're looking at is the router lift (Bench Dog) that I installed in my table saw extension. "T" slots in the table and fence make the purchased boards easy. I even added "T" slots to my Unifence on the cabinet saw! I've got a couple of the boards that fit into the 3/4" miter slots.

I'll never make another wood feather board!

What amazes me is that that perfect shop looks like any now that you've moved in!

8122pbrainard wrote:    I'm still working out of it and won't have the complete luxury of the new shop up north until I retire.

Now I understand why your wife went along with such an extordinary shop. She wants you to have a place to go!

Pete,
Is that the same air compressor you loaned to me back in 1987??

Pete, I got bit with the sht to, it starts as soon as i get up in the morning, I have to carefully remove a coffee cup from the cabinet not allowing it to touch another one, same with the creamer, as the day wears on, i have to blink my eyes as each car passes on the freeway...just a touch of it though. lol

8122pbrainard wrote: harddock wrote: What amazes me is that that perfect shop looks like any now that you've moved in! Kevin, The picture was taken in my garage here at home. I'm still working out of it and won't have the complete luxury of the new shop up north until I retire. I will certainly enjoy it with the dust collector - and won't have to put up with Eric's sawdust comments!!

As I've watched the thread on the garages/shops, I've always thought that it must drive you crazy to have such an awesome shop developing, but not be able to use it. I have a similar situation at our lake, where there's five acres across the street from me (REALLY cheap) that would be perfect to build a shop, but I can't stand the thought of it sitting there for years on end without me being able to use it. I'm not as close to retirement as you. Hurry up and enjoy that thing.

If you live on a lake and you can by land abutting you now for cheap, buy it! before someone else does.

No doubt!   One thing about "land", they quit making it a long time ago.
Well, except for the Arabs.


Nice lathe, Pete.

John
About 20 years ago a 7 or 8 acre parcel came up for sale just across from my driveway, I contacted the realtor and got the legal description and walked it off it was all wooded and cheap. Well I dithered and delayed and several months later someone else got it for the price of a halfway decent used car. I have kicked myself ever since.