Metalworking carriage on a woodworking lathe?

[Graham RounceParticipant @grahamrounce14492]

For my gyroscope project, I’ve obtained some metal rings (pipe “slices”) about 6″ diameter and say 1cm x 1cm in cross-section. (I’ve put a pic in my Album – is it visible?)
Now they just need a little trueing up
As I don’t have the money or the room for a whole lathe, I was wondering… If I bolted just the carriage to my wood lathe, is there any reason why it shouldn’t work? I’d have to adjust the feed position by moving the carriage manually and re-bolting, but the X and Y tool movement should be ok?
Among my worries are Vibration (only do small cuts), Inappropriate speed, and Affordability of even a 2nd-hand or surplus carriage.

Is there any point in even thinking about this?
Thanks,

[Graham RounceParticipant @grahamrounce14492]

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Graham

In principle it could work. You will need some secure way of holding the rings and a very much slower speed than is usually available on the wood lathe.

Using a compound slide on a wood lathe is not a new idea see HERE

It might be safer and quicker to seek the services of a friendly model engineer though!

Good luck

Norman

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

The spindle speed on a wood lathe (usually 500-2500 rpm for hobby lathes) is far too high for metal cutting especially a large dia piece as you describe. Unless the cutting speed is about 150 surface feet per minute for steel, you will burn up the tools. A 6" diameter is 1.57 feet in circumference. At 150 sfpm this is around 95 rpm (slower than that will work too).

JD

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I'v got the "Popular Mechanics do it yourself Encyclopedia", and vol 13 has a build artical for a compound rest for a wood lathe. From what I can see at a glance, the only machine needed (you could proberbly do without), is a drill press. It does suggest a jack shaft to drop the speed to something usable for metal turning. It's one of many articals from the Popular Mechanics mag of the 1940s to the 1960s. Ian S C

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi ian,

Do you have the original publication details for the article as the Popular Mechanics magazines are published on Google Books

Regards

Terry

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

The Myford ML8 woodworking lathe used to have as an optional accessory, a compound slide.

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Graham ,

You could certainly rig up a compound slide but its probably not nescessary for this one task . If you can get lathe to turn reasonably slowly you can true small errors in the rings with a file using a block of wood as a support and guide .

I've done this sort of thing using a power drill in the vice as the only 'lathe' available and succeeded in making adequate small steam engine parts .

Before even that I and a friend of mine made simple model railway parts using a hand drill and needle files

I never came to any harm but please take great care if you are not used to using power tools .

Actually given the rough and ready nature of the proposed construction you could true up the rings just by hand filing – no lathe needed at all .

Regards ,

Michael Williams .

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Graham

If you decide to persue the wood lathe option…….

Does your lathe have the option for fitting a faceplate to the left hand end of the mandrel? If so you could fit this and make a handle from a piece of broomstick and screw this such that it is at right angles to the plate. Disconnect the drive belts and enlist the services of a willing (?) volunteer to wind the handle slowly, in the manner of a barrel organ operator, whilst you operate the tool slide. You will then have what many of us wish for – a variable speed drive for free! ( Although I guess it may have some hidden costs later in terms of favours or beers owed )

I still favour the path of finding a willing ME friend!

Norman

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Graham

Where are you if in west country welcome to come and use my workshop
Bob

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Terry, I'v got the "Popular Mechanics DIY Encyclopedia", my dad had it, so I just hung on to it as there are some useful bits in it. I imagine all this stuf is on line, under Popular Mechanics. The artical covers 6 pages, including 2 pages of drawings. Ian S C

[Graham RounceParticipant @grahamrounce14492]

Sorry I’ve been absent, but thanks for all that info & suggestions (and the offer, Bob, but unfort I’m in Bethnal Green, London).
I’ll post pix (eventually) when it’s done.
Cheers again,

[DuncParticipant @dunc]

While this video deals with wood machining the idea of a metal-working tool approach is evident

Don't know if these reference the same article above but Popular Mechanics Feb 1959 shows a home-built lathe. Might get some ideas there.

Last (& not least), I have noted references "on the net" to building small lathes in old issues of ME but I have no further data.

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