Union Gradute Short Bed Lathe

[Paul KaneParticipant @paulkane34100]

G

I would appreciate some help,I have a Union Graduate Short/Bed Lathe,I use for Woodturning,

Can I possibly put a compound table and tool holding rig onto this lathe,to turn small round brass or light metal items?If so,could you let me know what I need ,and where can I buy the items I need,At this stage ,I don't want to put out a ton of money,I will eventually be buying a Engineering Lathe,I'm trying to educate myself,watching videos etc,but I would like some guidance from people who know what they are doing. Yours Kindly Paul

[Paul KaneParticipant @paulkane34100]

Can I turn small Brass ,Aliminium on Gradute Lathe?

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

You could use the tool rest that you have and carefully use hand tools like clockmakers gravers

Roy

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hello Paul,. welcome to the forum

Lots of info on the Graduate HERE, it looks a fine machine for its intended purpose.

The speeds are rather high for metal turning, and the way it's shaped and the great centre height probably makes it one of the least suitable lathes for such an adaptation. Fitting a compound rest on top of a large enough and suitably rigid support could use up a big chunk of the cost of a metal lathe.

Don't despair – what sort of amount were you looking to spend? There may be simpler solutions in reach of your pocket.

Neil

[Paul KaneParticipant @paulkane34100]

Posted by roy entwistle on 14/12/2016 16:02:02:

You could use the tool rest that you have and carefully use hand tools like clockmakers gravers

Roy

Thanks Kindly,for your help.Could you provide me with a link ,as to were I can see and buy these cutters?

[Paul KaneParticipant @paulkane34100]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 14/12/2016 16:08:55:

Hello Paul,. welcome to the forum

Lots of info on the Graduate HERE, it looks a fine machine for its intended purpose.

The speeds are rather high for metal turning, and the way it's shaped and the great centre height probably makes it one of the least suitable lathes for such an adaptation. Fitting a compound rest on top of a large enough and suitably rigid support could use up a big chunk of the cost of a metal lathe.

Don't despair – what sort of amount were you looking to spend? There may be simpler solutions in reach of your pocket.

Neil

Thanks for your help,I have a speed controller on my lathe,I think the slowest RPM is 300,is that not slow enough for turning ? I would spend several hundreds of pounds,if I can use it as a metal turning lathe,have you any ideas as to what I could buy,tool holder etc,

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Paul,

The speed control gets you over a big hurdle … and the World's your Oyster when it comes to compound slides.

Have a browse around the lathe.co.uk website and see what takes your fancy … then go shopping.

The biggest limitation will be that you will only have mechanical control over a short distance, compared with the full length of the bed on a typical engineering lathe. … rather like this: http://www.lathes.co.uk/raglan/page8.html

MichaelG.

.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 14/12/2016 23:07:00

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

You might be able to buy one of those XY compound tables designed for doing co-ordinate drilling and light milling in a drill press and then adapt it to use on the lathe as a compound slide with a toolpost bolted on top of it.

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