10 Moons of Ranchipur

What an accomplishment!!

It's inspiring to see a fearless man who moves resolutely forward to realize his visions. What kind of lathe did you use? Perhaps a pair of Kenworths, parked parallel to one another, their rear ends elevated, frames welded to I-beams? Your turning tools must look like carbide shovels.

My hat's off to you!! -andy

Believe it or not I have done larger pieces. When I was a patternmaker we had a job once for Goodyear for the mold for the amphibious tank tires. Mind you it was only half the mold( we made the mold in wood and then it was cast in metal) they made 2 and bolted them together. It measured 14 feet in diam. and about 16" thick. We used ponderossa pine and the segments where 2' thick and as I recall aroud 20 segments each layer. The lathe was an old 2 ton Oliver with about a 24" swing between centers . This piece was done on the outside of the lathe on a huge faceplate with 6 2 x 10 maple arms. The lathe was jacked up around a foot plus we had a pit that was about 2 feet deep. It was all done with an enourmous plank stradleing the pit with a portible toolrest resting on it (not bolted down). I was young and daring , don't think I would attempt anything like that today...