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Should I or shouldn't I...

Z

Ziffy

Joined
May 10, 2005
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Location
Watertown, CT
Since I started woodturning a little over a year ago, I have managed to acquire three different lathes. My second, was my first purchase, a Delta Midi lathe which I use virtually exclusivley. The third one is a Fisch Precision with a bed extension that my father gave to my 11-year old son ( he had it and never used it...) We are getting that one set up now. But the first one I acquired is an old Taiwanese machine, a Reliant; 10-inch swing, odd-ball headstock thread (at least it's not 1" - 8) and the tailstock has a permanent live center. Since I have 3 midi-type lathes, and don't need 3 midi-type lathes, I am thinking of cutting off the bed of the Reliant and setting it up and using it as a dedicated bowl lathe. Any thoughts on this blasphemy...?

thanks,

Brian
 
lathe chopping

As it doesn't sound like an expensive lathe, and you already have two others that are good quality machines, I'd say go for it! My only concerns would be these:

1) Is the Reliant solid enough to withstand the rigours of dedicated bowl work? An awful lot of machines like this - I used to have a Faithful WL36, which I assume is similar as it's orgins were - are really only suited to spindle work.

2) Will you be able to build/buy a suitably strong and safe toolrest stand to use with it?

Otherwise...get chopping and good luck.
Post a picture when you're done!

Andy
 
About a year ago I gave a member of our club that same Reliant lathe. On the promise that I would never see it again. Thinking back on it.....I shoulda kept it. Now I would have it set up as a dedicated buffing station. Oh well, The new owner needed a lathe and I had one to give. 🙂

If it were me I would make it a dedicated machine. If nothing else....It has a 3/4HP motor in it to use for something else.

BTW, the headstock threads are 3/4-10. I was able to match up a Supernova Chuck with Teknatool's chuck insert M Code IHNS 3/4-10 BSW (British Standard Whitworth threads) to fit that lathe.

Good Luck,

---Nailer----
 
Ha! Should'a known someone would turn up who knew this lathe! Mines only a half-horse though.

Actually, that was another thought I had, to make it a dedicated polishing and buffing station. It has about a 30" bed on it. One of the problems though is benchtop space... I'm running out. I also thought of having it as a buffer, but mounting it vertically on the wall. That I could do, and pretty easily. But I still like that bowl lathe idea...

Thanks for the thread size update, I'll have to write that down.

Brian
 
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