Homemade Lathe

[Wyatt Holm]

Well here goes, I am getting crazy ideas again. I want to build a homemade lathe. We are getting set up to cast metal, and I think we could cast the headstock and the bed of the lathe. I am open for ideas, I would also like to see if anyone else has built their own lathe, and what it looks like.
Thanks
Wyatt

 

[Joe Greiner]

Have you read Dave Gingery's books on the DIY metal shop? Casting the metal parts is only the first step in a long process; Oops! actually the second step: Making the casting patterns is first. Check out http://www.lindsaybks.com/ At a minimum, you'll need access to a milling machine to true the surfaces.

My first (and probably last) homemade lathe was/is a plank supporting an old B&D electrician's drill motor. I still use it occasionally for making birdhouse earrings. Google ["birdhouse earrings procedure"], but both meaningful hits are on sites with image access restricted to logged-in members.

I suggest you consider making a first "low-resolution" version in wood, to identify likely snags along the way, unless you've already done that.

Joe <2007_09_22\..\BD001

 

[Bill Boehme]

I think that you are in danger of replacing your woodturning hobby with a machine building hobby. 😀

 

[Wyatt Holm]

I might be, but that is fine. I have cast a few metal parts and want to don more. It is nice to be able to build stuff that way.

 

[Ken Grunke]

I might be, but that is fine. I have cast a few metal parts and want to don more. It is nice to be able to build stuff that way.

I agree.

I bought the Gingery book series in the late 80's and made a few small misc. castings, but never built my dream lathe. I still have everything but the sand (kitty's toilet long gone 🙁 ) Keep us posted on any progress you make. Are you doing aluminum, or cast iron?

 

[Wyatt Holm]

I personally want to do cast iron. But we will probably make a small one out of aluminum. Maybe make a homemade version of a Jet mini or something.