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Conover as a dedicated Bowl Lathe

S

Scott Kloster

Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
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Location
Birmingham, MI
Hello,
Every now and then a Conover rolls by and I get a tug in my heart. I like so much about them, from solid build to styling to versatility. I am guessing the 16" swing will more than meet any bowl turning requirements I may have, but I wonder if this lathe could be configured as a larger Bowl Lathe (either by mounting it to a workbench edge or modifying the bed)? Maybe this 1 1/2 hp motor is not be suited for turning larger/heavier blanks. Anyway, just musing on a Sunday.
 
They have an 8" radial capacity, so squeezing a 16" bowl out of one is unlikely. Weren't they just a pulley change/speed change? No reason not to use the head as a bowl lathe. And since you would traditionally build the bed on this machine, no reason why you couldn't get creative with the bed and make a tailstock riser and new tool rest. I wouldn't build a bowl lathe without electronic variable speed and some way to get good torque at low speed.
 
I could not find it anywhere but I seem to remember the Conover had a larger spindle size than many lathes. Maybe 1 1/2 x 8 or something like that. I think it would be beefy enough to make a larger bowl lathe. The last one I saw had a fairly large motor, maybe 1 horse or more and had variable speed. Wish I could remember more about it but that was a good while ago and I can hardly remember what I had for breakfast.
 
Yup , they are 1-1/2" x 8 tpi , same as the old smaller South Bend metal lathes ( and many others).
 
Wow!!! Exactly what I wanted to know...and much more!!!!

BAM said:
In case anyone is interested here is a link for a PDF of the Conover lathe manual, which talks about getting more swing out of it and turning it into a 20" bowl lathe .
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleverinsite.com%2FConoverOwnersManual.pdf&ei=U7vxUqPjKaaysASC4YHgDA&usg=AFQjCNHSq-Yh9YJ0ijGjVRqbwnR1sA6H2w&sig2=5NRr_dx2KFg4XpeGE-46Zg&bvm=bv.60799247,d.cWc&cad=rja
Click to expand...

Hey, BAM and others,
Thanks for all the information. The PDF on the owner's manual has EXACTLY what I was hoping to find (p. 7, to be exact on making it a British style 'Bowl Lathe'-can't say I ever knew of that distinction). I was wondering if using 6" rail material instead of 8" would give more swing...and that is what they recommend. And the info about the larger spindle is also quite helpful.
I see that Mr. Conover is now serving as a conduit for the re-sale of the lathe (for a fee you can subscribe to a list to buy or sell). I think I need to seriously start looking for one. Few and far between, I bet.
You have all been great!!! Thanks again.
 
Thanks!

Richard Coers said:
They have an 8" radial capacity, so squeezing a 16" bowl out of one is unlikely. Weren't they just a pulley change/speed change? No reason not to use the head as a bowl lathe. And since you would traditionally build the bed on this machine, no reason why you couldn't get creative with the bed and make a tailstock riser and new tool rest. I wouldn't build a bowl lathe without electronic variable speed and some way to get good torque at low speed.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Richard,
All great ideas. The last two Conover's I saw listed had Variable Speed. I know there was a change in ownership and maybe at that time they started adding the VS. I am with you...no VS, no bowl lathe.
 
hockenbery said:
yes. I know of two that have variable speed motors and controllers.

My big lathe has a 3 step pulley to change the max speed and the dynamic range of the speed controller.
Click to expand...

Hmmm,
Are the two you know of residing nearby?
Was the VS always an option or did it show up later (like after the sale?)
Thanks for the info.
 
Scott Kloster said:
Hmmm, Are the two you know of residing nearby? Was the VS always an option or did it show up later (like after the sale?) Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
The one I know best lives in MD. The other was one I saw while traveling

The MD guy added a VS motor and controller.
At the the time he struggled with buying a powermatic when they were $2400 or spending $1200 for the motor and controller.

Al
 
If you check Google images, you will find a number of pictures showing the Conover lathe with a speed control box. They all seem to be the same in the pictures so either that was a VS option at one time or there was an aftermarket kit designed for that lathe.
 
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