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Dremel moto lathe

M

michael banis

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Jun 2, 2009
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Hi all,
New to the forum, new to turning, but not new to woodworking.

I have a chance to purchase a Dremel Moto Lathe. It looks complete, I have the manual, but I'm not sure about tooling. Do I need special turning tools to use this? I make small boxes and would be using this for handles, spindles, and making round inlays. Any and all input is appreciated!

Thanks,
Michael
 
Check to see if you can still get parts.I am not sure but they don't seem to have it in their line any more. If you want a nice small lathe check out the Bonnie Klin it is an exceptional lathe. I have had one for years and would not trade for it. It is small portable dependable well made solid. and lots of acc. If that dremel works off the dremel motor it will be very light duty. Good Luck
 
I found http://www.bonnieklein.com/

Is this the lathe you were talking about? The prices are about 10 times what I would be paying for the Dremel, and long term might work out to be what I need, but I'm just dipping a toe in the water. Assuming the Dremel is what I go with, what tools do I need to turn? Because it's so small, can i use "any old tool," or do i need a certain kind of steel, a certain ummmm... I'm not even sure what to ask.... but I'm eager to get started.
 
Get a REAL MINI-LATHE - ... NOT the Dremel...

Michael:

You are asking some correct questions at this stage, particularly whether the Dremel Moto lathe is worth it.... in my opinion, it is NOT - it's far too small to do anything really useful with, and the 'floundering time' you will likely spend with it will dissuade and discourage you on how wonderful woodturning really is. This lathe won't let you turn cross-grain bowls and vessels or spindles of any useful size, and thus you will be extremely limited in what you can make and do in woodturning. I think you would be throwing good money away with limited productive outcome for your time and monetary efforts.

My first suggestion is to look at a TRUE mini-lathe, such as the Jet mini (JWL1014) as a first lathe. Several newer lathes, including the new Delta 12" 46-460 are worthy of consideration, but may be more money than you want to spend. Hundreds, if not thousands of turners have used the Jet Mini lathe, or ones similar to it, as an entry-level machine. Other small- to mid-sized lathes are out there (many on the used market too), which would be a much better choice than the Dremel Moto-lathe. You will be severely constrained at the start, and I don't think that you'll get very much productive woodturning experience from this small "machine". I would not go there.

My second suggestion is to find a local woodturning club, get in touch with one or more of its members, and REALLY learn about turning in real time from some live people (...well, most are usually alive!). Attend one or more of their meetings, explain that you are a very interested newcomer to woodturning, buckle your seat belt low and tight across your lap, and then get ready for one of the best rides you'll have in woodworking (..or art, if you aspire to head in that direction). Almost every woodturner I've ever met will be more than happy to let you try your hand at woodturning and will provide advice on various lathes, which turning tools are needed, local sources of wood, sharpening, etc. that will fit your unique situation, interests and skill levels. (This kind of information is hard to answer and provide advice on over the Internet without a LOT more information from you). It might be useful to build your public profile on the AAW site to (minimally) include where you are from. I would have made some suggestions on clubs to contact in your area, but I can't tell if you're in Denver, Chicago, Tokyo, or lower Slobbovia....

You have come to the right place for answers and suggestions about your woodturning question(s) [...and others may differ with my recommendation to not waste money on a Dremel Moto lathe], but nothing beats face-to-face learning and getting advice that can be gained from directly interacting with local turners, or through a local turning club.

Look at real mini-lathes to get started, talk with local turners, and get some hands-on instruction and advice, and you'll be well-off to enjoying the increasing vortex of fun that is woodturning. Above all,

Turn safely,

Rob Wallace
 
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Michael yes that is the web site I was talking about. I do not know where you live and if you are close to any other woodturners,you can look up local clubs from AAW site. I think before you buy any lathe you need to talk to some fellow wood turners because you can spend a lot of money in the trial an error method. But for a small lathe the Klin is a good one,(need to look at some of the stuff Bonnie turns on her little lathe) next would be Jet,Ricon, Delta. Tools, you can use standard turning tools on the small lathes, or you can use the mini tools.
 
Yard sale prize

I bought a complete one with tools for $10. I made a pen mandrel that would fit it. It showed me that I wanted a REAL lathe. Seven years later, I still use the turning tools for small projects. Go to dremel.com, they were very helpful. They mailed me a copy of the manual for FREE!
 
I have a Dremel lathe. It's a piece of junk. Underpowered. The tool rest doesn't adjust enough and the tailstock is lousy. I bought it for $10 as more of a conversation piece. I did try to use it just for fun but it's really only good for turning small cabinet knobs or maybe a handle for a file but that's about it. Save your money and buy a good mini lathe.
 
john lucas said:
...but it's really only good for turning small cabinet knobs or maybe a handle for a file but that's about it. Save your money and buy a good mini lathe.
Click to expand...
That's funny! That happens to be the exact reason I'm considering it. 95% of my projects are small boxes (trinket boxes, jewelry boxes) and I can never find "exactly the handle I'm looking for." I've been offered the chance to take it home overnight to try it out, so I'll let you know tomorrow what I think after the trial run. Thank you for all the thoughtful and insightful responses.
 
Well, good news and bad. It came with 4 little tools, even though they need some sharpening. It runs well, is complete with the head and tail stock, as well as the tool rest. The only "downer" is it doesn't have the face plate. I'll bet these are hard to chase down, huh...

Any thoughts on "making" a face plate?
 
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If yours has the same thread size as mine I'll build you one. I'll have to check but seem to remember it was somewhere around 1/2" x 20tpi. Here is a photo of what I did to mine. I added a miniature Frank Sudol boring bar complete with light for hollowing Tagua nuts.
 

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Faceplate for Dremel

Get a short bolt and nut to match the threads; fine threads (SAE) generally available at auto parts stores. Counterbore a plywood disk to clear the bolt head, and attach with a washer under the nut. Mount on the "lathe" and turn the working surface flat. From there on, just pretend it's a big lathe.😀
 
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Sense of humor or not, I might have led you astray.

After the horse had escaped the barn, I Googled [dremel moto lathe] and [dremel moto lathe faceplate] to see how far off I was. Old Woodworking Machines has pdf files of the instruction manuals. It looks like the faceplate will need an internal thread, not the external form of my suggestion.

And here's John's report of the faceplate he made 3+ years ago: http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/archive/index.php?t-1210.html
 
No worries, Joe. I had already found the manual (thanks), and John Lucas actually posted his solution in this thread as well (thanks too!). I took the existing removable part (not sure if it's the chuck or not) to the hardware store and discovered it's 5/16-24. I picked up a few nuts and bolts in hopes of linking them up to make something similar to what you mentioned. Unfortunately the part that attaches to the motor has a short length of threadless leader and I'll need a threaded sleeve to make what I need.

Meanwhile, I looked at the tools that the Dremel came with and touched them up with an oil stone, and tried my hand at turning. Here's what I came up with in about 10 minute's time. The first is made of cherry, the second made of bubinga, and the third gives you a relative size. 🙂

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