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Delta Model 46-612

joe marra

joe marra

Joined
Dec 9, 2012
Messages
38
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7
Location
kutztown, pa
I'm thinking about buying the above. It has speeds ranging from 320 to 3400 rpm. I'm new to turning and would like to turn bowls up to 12" diameter(the lathe has 12" swing) The low rpm seems to fast for the 12" diameter. What rpm would be correct for this? Thanks
 
Joe,
If i remember correctly that lathe has the reeves pulley variable speed.
I used a 12 inch delta for a few years. It can be a great starter lathe.

1. A rule of thumb is to take 2" off the swing for the bowl size.
If you want to turn lots of 12" bowls get a 14" lathe.
I have turned 11 3/4 inch bowls on a 12" lathe but you have to take the bowl off to,move the tool rest under the bowl if you need to turn in the other side.
Then put it back on. Might have to do this twice to turn the outside. For hollowing you just stay on one side.


2. Regarding speed. Always turn the speed way down when you finish. Lathe should be running when you change speeds.
When you put a bowl blank on turn up the speed until it vibrates too much then back off or try a little higher speed where the vibration is less.
Speed is related to weight balance of the bowl. A 10" bowl can be roughed out in the 500 to 900 rpm range depending on weight balance.


Have fun
Al
 
Last edited:
joe marra said:
I'm thinking about buying the above. It has speeds ranging from 320 to 3400 rpm. I'm new to turning and would like to turn bowls up to 12" diameter(the lathe has 12" swing) The low rpm seems to fast for the 12" diameter. What rpm would be correct for this? Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Joe, this is an old beauty!!! I have the 46-613, same lathe but with a 3 Phase motor. I put a Variable Frequency drive unit on it and I have speed control from zero to more than 3000 RPM. There are so many of the old Delta lathe out there so the number of accessories available are endless.

Also this lathe has a notch in the bed allowing you to turn 14" over the notch.

Have fun. I drove from Alberta to Kentucky to pick mine up.....
 
Syd Sellers said:
Hi Joe, this is an old beauty!!! I have the 46-613, same lathe but with a 3 Phase motor. I put a Variable Frequency drive unit on it and I have speed control from zero to more than 3000 RPM. There are so many of the old Delta lathe out there so the number of accessories available are endless.

Also this lathe has a notch in the bed allowing you to turn 14" over the notch.

Have fun. I drove from Alberta to Kentucky to pick mine up.....
Click to expand...

This one is single phase, my electric guy tells me it doesn't like the vfd, so I might change the motor to 3 phase to use the vfd. Thanks for the info. Do you have an operators manual?
 
http://www.toolpartsdirect.com/cgi-bin/schematic.cgi/delta/46-612 for the exploded with the proper numbers. But, it's pretty much the same as the rest of the WL3 family. http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/3667.pdf

Rest of the setup should become pretty clear by looking at http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=1489

I turned for tuition for a while on the 46-204, which was the same top end, with a four step sheave. It will turn outboard as well, so when you get your chuck/faceplates, get the dual thread. If you decide to go outboard, you'll want to get the toolrest post firm to the frame, so that the lathe and post move together if they move at all. The freestanding types are an accident waiting.

No need for speed. Set the rpm to bottom every time, and don't "turn it up until it vibrates," turn it up to a comfortable rpm like 5-700, no more, once the piece is round. Your aim is to have it NEVER vibrate and place you in danger or stress the machinery.
 
hockenbery said:
Joe,
1. A rule of thumb is to take 2" off the swing for the bowl size.
If you want to turn lots of 12" bowls get a 14" lathe.
I have turned 11 3/4 inch bowls on a 12" lathe but you have to take the bowl off to,move the tool rest under the bowl if you need to turn in the other side.
Then put it back on. Might have to do this twice to turn the outside. For hollowing you just stay on one side.
Click to expand...

Additionally, if you don't have a bandsaw or some other method of getting your bowl blanks perfectly round (and centered) before putting them on the lathe, you will lose effective bowl diameter that way as well. You need the extra swing so that the uneven blank can turn.
 
lathe

Joe,
If you dont have to own a band saw, I use a sawsall or Heavy duty Jig saw with a long blade it its alot faster and doesn have to be perfect, thats what the lathe enables you to do.

Ed
 
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