Delta 1440 Speed Control

Re: Delta 1440 Speed Control

Mike Caldwell

>I have the owner's manual right here in front of me, and the only mention of of speed is on page 9.

"This tool provides variable spindle speeds from 450 to 2600 RPM. To change speeds, depress the release and rotate the lever. Turning the lever clockwise increases the speed while turning it counterclockwise decreases the speed."

Good luck

Re: Delta 1440 Speed Control *LINK*

Gerry in Maryland

>Tim,

Have you tried D. Gooding's tip in the WC Articals & Reviews?

Good Luck!

Gerry

[url]https://www.woodcentral.com/articles/articles_282.php[/url]

Edited 2025-09-12 10:28:11: Update link

Re: Delta 1440 Speed Control

Pat Steele

>Tim, I borrowed a tachometer from a machine shop and used it on the spindle to get speed settings. I'll try to explain what readings I got. If you look at the area behind the control lever it has five white squares or rectangular sections. Skip the first small one. The next one will be about 800-1000rpm. The next one will be 1200-1500rpm. The next one will be 1800-2000rpm. And the last one will be 2500-2800. Hope this helps.

I need a speed control attachment for Delta1440 Iron bed lathe

My lathe did not come with a speed indicator.  I found an RPM gizmo on eBay for $20 to $30.  It uses a rare earth magnet glued to the spindle and a sensor that "reads" the magnet as it passes by during each rotation.  It displays the RPM of the spindle on a little LED display.  I had to buy a small power supply like a power "wall wart" doo-hickie for the power.  Cheap and easy.  

When I eventually replaced my VFD controller, the new VFD displays the RPM.  The two displays are very close to the same.

There are many tachs available on Amazon for less than $30.

Just my personal opinion.
I don't really care what the number is, I just set a speed that I'm comfortable with. Of course, small things like a lot of spindles get turned faster and a wet, out-of-balance larger bowl blank gets the slowest speed, and you may find your slowest is still a bit on the fast side depending on the bowl blank. Speed number won't be the clue in this case, the lathe jumping around will be .
You can go with Pat Steele's measurements to get an idea of the range you're in or Dave Blair's cheap optical tach. After you measure a couple of times there is a good chance you'll put it away.

V Seeley wrote:

I need a speed control attachment for Delta1440 Iron bed lathe

Are we talking about the same thing here?  A "speed control attachment" would be different than a speed reading (tach) attachment.

The single most important lathe speed control is the turner's own brain.  You don't need a tachometer to know that the wood is spinning too fast.  The lathe's shaking and  "walking" tells you regardless of how many rpm's some little dial shows you.  My first lathe was a reeves drive 12" JET on an angle iron stand that would shake with out-of-balance wood or vibrate with certain cuts at one speed or another in different woods.  I lusted after big iron in the beginner's belief that it would make me a better turner.  My 900 lb Stubby 1000 taught me otherwise.

I've found stories of people making bowls at 3 or 4 thousand rpms.   I regard such methods as more indicative of a death wish than turning skill.  I've also talked to people hurt when 'something went wrong' who said "but I was only going at 650 rpm."

How smooth or rough a cut I'm making as I make it is, in my view, the single most important indicator of optimum speed for the task at hand that's possible.

Speed gauge?  We don't need no stinking speed guage, man!

Added later 17 min 39 s:

PS
If you really don't like the reeves drive speed change (dial or lever),  buy a better lathe that has electronic variable speed control and don't look back

Tom Gall wrote:

V Seeley wrote:

I need a speed control attachment for Delta1440 Iron bed lathe

Are we talking about the same thing here?  A "speed control attachment" would be different than a speed reading (tach) attachment.

Reasonable question given the wording, but the OP did ask about, "... in determining how fast a spindle is turning".