Newby asking question.

[Richard Barrett 3Participant @richardbarrett3]

Hello I'm new to the forum and wood turning. Retired and a fisherman. I'm making a few fishing floats for fun, also for a winter hobby. Balsa, cane and cork only. A few folk I know that do the same use a Unimat 1 for the process. I'm looking at this for it's size and lightness. I only have a tiny space in the conservatory and the lathe will sit on top of a float box, and inside it when I pack up. Wood only balsa and cork cane. However I've seen some bad press on the lathe, so is there anything comparable that will sit on a coffee table while I little away. Thanks Richard.

[Richard Barrett 3Participant @richardbarrett3]

Mini lathe.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Richard,

The original Unimat would probably be a much better machine … but they are still popular and therefore expensive.

The little Toyo ML1 is a beauty, if you can find one.

Anything similar to this is tabletop: **LINK**

http://www.lathes.co.uk/jason/

Have a browse around the lathes.co.uk machine tool archive … see what takes your fancy.

MichaelG.

[Richard Barrett 3Participant @richardbarrett3]

Michael thanks.

Really I'm after something I can just order and buy, rather than spend time searching for items not still available. But I will try a search, so thanks.

I see Stanley do a small lathe, and also Draper, but I want something small and light if possible, coffee table size. It will have to be put away after each session.

Kind Wishes.

Richard.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Richard,

Another possibilty might be a proper Watchmaker's lathe … but beware, compound slides and scroll chucks can be expensive for these.

As you might guess; mine is a 'vote of no confidence' in the Unimat 1.

Maybe someone with actual experience of using one will be along to advise.

….

If not; then perhaps you should buy one, test it, and write an article for MEW.

MichaelG.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

For material like that 'almost' anything will do. Minicraft (now defunct) used to sell a simple frame to which a dremel like drill was attached. It was two squares of metal with central holes and a rod through the corners. The drill held a drive and the other end of the frame was adjustable in length with a live center. A tool post could be adjusted on one rod, the whole thing used simply like any other wood lathe. I think mine is rusting away somewhere in the barn but I recall making a few wooden eggs and 80 miniature wood balustrades for a doll house on. It was simple and effective with sharp chisels.

The closest I see now is this **LINK**

which is a much more substantial item and i noted that Grizzly in the US make a new version **LINK** so it may be possible to source direct from alliexpress.. or perhaps something like this **LINK**

They're not going to cut metal and they are used like any other wood lathe with hand held tools but likely more than enough for what you plan though not up to making four poster beds……unless they're small scale

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Posted by pgk pgk on 14/01/2017 14:00:28:

The closest I see now is this **LINK**

That is an old Black and Decker lathe….dont think it would take the newer B n D drills

[John FlackParticipant @johnflack59079]

Richard…………..a lathe of the size you want is somewhat smaller than those used by the majority of forum users. Most model making lathes will suffice for the level and accuracy you appear to need. My suggestion is that you obtain a hard catalogue from ARC or AXMINSTER POWER TOOLS who have the size of lathe you need. The latter company range includes finishing materials, adhesives etc etc which may be of use. I don't think the final choice is important beyond the limitations of space you have, the dimensions info will be in the cat, welcome to the world of engineering ………..don't forget to room for the scrap bin, a lot of us do not speak much about this!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

When I was technical editor of Angling Times in the 1970s I made many hundreds of floats with the materials you mention – balsa and cane. You don't need a very sophisticated lathe, but high speed (2,000 rpm) is an advantage. It's difficult to turn balsa with even the sharpest of tools. I always used to utilise pads of sandpaper in decreasing grades, finishing with fine wet-and-dry. After I'd got the basic shape I'd give them a coat of home-made sealer (a mixture of thinned cellulose or other quick-drying varnish and talcum powder) followed by a very light sanding. If you don't do that, balsa can absorb a lot of slower-drying paint and lose a lot of buoyancy. For the final colour I used to dip them in paint, and hang them on a line to drip and dry. If you paint the tips with a fluorescent colour, it works best if applied over matt white.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Good point.. you mean the old ones with the cast ally body and two mounting threads on the nose? I've still got the bench fixing for one rattling around here though the drill died long ago.

[Richard Barrett 3Participant @richardbarrett3]

Can you get those Grizzly lathe in the UK. I have a drill I don't use, that would be ideal as I could take the drill off when not in use. I don't see a price on it on the site either?

Thanks all know you trying to be helpful. If you can think of a small one just pass on the site and I'll look.

I'll look at the Axminster and Arc right now.

Richard.

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Richard – you should find this lathe (link) in the Axminster catalogue, looks to be very similar to the Grizzly one mentioned above.

Keith

[Allan BParticipant @allanb]

**LINK**

for the size ant type of work you are doing, how about something like this, not had any experience of wood lathes this small, as mine is quite a bit bigger, bit for the smaller dianiters you are working at this dose seem to cover those ranges, and with a 250mm between centers it makes the whole thing in the 2 foot long range which from your discription is the sort of size

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I don;t think Grizzly ship to the UK though these days lots of folk have trustworthy friends US who can ship onwards BUT I've just been reading the reviews on it and they don't sound too good even though it's a simple enough tool one wonders what the reviewers were doing wrong or expecting. Price was $97.. so about £65-£70 + duty/vat/post.

Grizzly stuff is often far eastern and that's why i looked at aliexpress. I've bought odd things there and they've always arrived. There's several interesting little wood lathes listed but I couldn;t find the grizzly type.

I have no experience of any of the following but they might be worth a punt for tiny stuff with space saving (anything more expensive and you might as well buy a 'real' lathe:

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I've heard of someone who produces commercial quantities of fishing floats using CNC converted mini lathes.

So yes, they'll do the job fine.

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Proxon make theDB 250 Micro Woodturning Lathe, it only weighs 2.5kg. Could be worth looking at. There is also the Dremel Moto Lathe model 700.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 15/01/2017 09:27:23

[Richard Barrett 3Participant @richardbarrett3]

Guys.

The Proxon looks ideal for what I need. The other lathes from China look amazing too, but I'd be a bit worried about any guarantee if it didn't work when it arrived or broke after a few weeks.

Does it say how long the DB250 is. I could fit it to a board of some kind, so it's stable, but movable. Good price too, not that expensive for a few floats.

Big, bIg thanks.

[Richard Barrett 3Participant @richardbarrett3]

Gents. As I'm new to this what extras do I need with the Proton DB250 for making floats. I only need to smooth down small piece of balsa wood from square into shape, maybe 4'' length at the most. Bamboo barbecue canes form the stems. Do I need a chuck to hold them in?

Sorry I've never done any kind of wood work, so really don't know what a chuck does.

What comes fitted with the lathe and what will it do. I see there is a pointed metal spike on the right side end, so this will fit into the wood when tightened, understand that bit.

Can I add a small sander disc on the other end for fine sanding. Again sorry I'm so green, it's WHY I joined the forum.

Kind Wishes .Richard.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Just a thought for you, but why turn your floats from square-section balsa when you can buy dowel? Also, earlier on you mentioned cork. It's hellish stuff to turn, and balsa is much better.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

It looks like that lathe comes with a drive centre (the thing with spikes), a faceplate and a set of collets. That ought to get you going in the sense that large enough diameter work can be driven by tthe drive centre so long as supported by the tailstock (to keep it jammed on the drive). The faceplate allows you to mount stuff on it.. it often takes some ingenuity such as mounting a timber former on there to hold and drive the work or directly screw into the work from the back, or glue etc. It gives you access to e.g the inside of a bowl or the front of an eggcup. The collets will hold small cylindrical objects and have less of a crushing effect than a chuck would. It depends how 'flexible' they are from the viewpoint of the range they can clamp effectively i.e if a 6mm collet can grip a 5mm rod or only down to 5.5mm say. You often have to get creative and ,say, turn a sacrificial spigot on one end to hold a part or make allowances to cut off the end with drive spike holes and hand finish …

You can always buy chucks later but they're going to be more for gripping tougher stuff than your soft material or gripping a holder you made specifically for a job.

For sanding, well usually the work is allowed to revolve and the paper applied either attached to sticks or small bits held such that they can pull out of fingers rather than pulling off fingers if there's a snag.

Additionally you will need some lathe tools:..chisels and gouges and a way to keep them sharp. I have no idea how good the chisels proxxon sells are. there's going to be a learning curve here anyway specially in sharpening and honing your tools.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Just another thought , but, is a lathe the tool you need ? I would think that a small belt sander would be a better choice for both Balsa, Bamboo and Cork. I can only imagine the frustration of buying an expensive machine and then struggling to use it. Sorry, but just an opinion.  Perhaps someone else with a lathe could try it and give their comments

Roy

Edited By roy entwistle on 15/01/2017 13:44:47

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by roy entwistle on 15/01/2017 13:42:01:

Just another thought , but, is a lathe the tool you need ? I would think that a small belt sander would be a better choice for both Balsa, Bamboo and Cork.

.

Having now appreciated just what Richard is hoping to do: I agree completely!

MichaelG.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

It looks like you need a wood lathe as opposed to a metal working lathe.
**LINK**
I Know this is not UK, but look at the price !!
**LINK**
But this one is:-
**LINK**
BobH

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