BIG bowl lathe *LINK*

Re: BIG bowl lathe

W.C. Turner

>That's quite a lathe! How much $$$$$$$ you got in it?

W.C.

Re: BIG bowl lathe

W.C. Turner

>Wooops, I guess I should have re-read before I replied. How much $$$ will it cost you to build?

Re: BIG bowl lathe

Doug Trembath

>Well, Kudzu, you have a couple of options here, just depends on how big you want to go. I went through the same debate a few years ago, wanting a BIG lathe. I ended up finding an 8 ft damaged Oliver patternmaker's lathe. I removed the headstock integral motor, and built a drive section on pillow blocks, and added a 3hp Inverter special motor and a VS drive. Being lucky helped a lot, in that I had a buddy who has a big machine shop. Actually, I could have done without that, but it did make things a bit nicer. I put a lot of weight on it just building the headstock. I set it up for 24 in throw over the ways, and it'll spin up to about 8 feet diameter outboard. Real heavy and secure, great for roughing blanks to put on the short bed Vicmark.

All in all, and in retrospect, since then I have come to the conclusion that unless you are determined to turn BIG stuff, it's quicker and easier to just buy a good production wood lathe, and go right into turning. As always, just one dummy's opinion, but at least an experienced one, at that.

Best of luck whatever you do.

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods

Re: BIG bowl lathe

Kudzu

>I see no reason this couldn't be built for less than $1000. But that is because I can do a lot myself and scronge up materials reasonably.

For example, on ebay I have found several motors and controlers listed. If I took my time I imagine I could pick up a DC motor and a controler for $200-250 (for both). To my surprise I even found pillow blocks on Ebay. No more than $25-40 for those.

Then there is the steel for the frame work. It's been several years since I worked as a designer so not sure on that. But since I am a designer I was thinking of going to the scrap yards and picking throught the scrap. Then adapt my design to what I find available. Prices would be MUCH cheaper that way. I would expect no more than $100 if that much.

At this point we're at $300 -350 (round number). Now I have to pay someone to weld it up and buy the wiring, have a shaft machined and buy the misc. hardware. I don't have a good price on that but I still see it being well within a $1000.

If I add a tailstock that's going to run the price up a lot. And I would really like a tail stock. While I can easily design what I need I am not sure the cost is worth it at that point because then I have to have a lot of machine work done and that is a slow and expensive.

Re: BIG bowl lathe

Kudzu

>Appreciate the insights. Designing and building the lathe would be almost as much fun as turning to me. So the work involved wouldn't be an issue. Of course that assumes it works and I don't make a major mistake in my design. :-)

Last night I was talking with my wife about the Jet JWL-1642 lathe. That looks like something I really enjoy. But the cost is just so high. Not that it's not worth it. I just know I could build a bowl lathe, buy a Jet Mini for the small stuff and still have money left over.

So, I really go back and forth. The one thing about building one is the lack of a tailstock. By the time I had the machine work done to add that it would probably make the Jet look good.

As for size 24" would be plenty. I doubt I would ever turn anything any bigger than that and rarely much bigger than 12-14"

Re: BIG bowl lathe

Arch

>Kudzu, as long as you are going back and forth between the fun of building vs the cost of a manufactured BIG machine hold off building or buying til you are sure. I know from experience that as with building boats, the journey is long, not always joyful and I didn't find the time to sail or turn during the trips. There is no perfect lathe and you may want another someday. A homemade machine is hard to sell for what you will have in it. Make very sure that cost alone isn't why you should make your own lathe, but if you do I hope you will be glad that you did.

I may be very wrong and I draw no conclusion, but I think the owner of the lathe you linked to is no longer turning. Maybe the lathe is for sale! Arch

Re: BIG bowl lathe

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>KUDZO

You might consider a frame from a large electric motor, 50 hp or so. If you live in an area where the farmers use motors to pump water you may find one for nothing. Use the ends and shaft only. Replace the bearings and mount however you want. I have a friend that made one this way and it is @#$% for stout.

Good turning and be safe

Bill

Check out this big bowl lathe. *LINK*

Dave Smith

>Vernon Leibrant makes some monster bowls with a simple set up. A 1,000 pound block of concrete with a pillow block and motor mounted on top. A couple of step pulleys for changing speed. I went to a demenstration at his shop a couple years ago. He will be doing an other one the Friday before Sophie's BBQ.

It is something to see Vernon wet sand using an angle grinder and flowing water. He is decked out in yellow slicker, pants and hood. It sure gets the job done. If you go to a demo you may not want to sit in the front row.

Dave Smith

Cleaning up the shop in Longview, WA.


http://www.vkleibrant.com/process.html