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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

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planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#1

planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

Big Mike

>Home Made bowl lathe�.

Hello all

Being disabled/Retired� I finally have time to spend time pursuing my turning hobby. I recently moved to SW Indiana from the SF Bay Area� Have hardwood forest all around me� after spending some time in the local forest this fall cutting wood for my new woodstove� I realize I will not be lacking for abundant supplies of turning wood.

I want a bowl lathe� Income is not bad but �I cannot afford the high price of a new bowl lathe� they are expensive! Decided it might be fun to make my own. Big-un!!!! I am just in the planning stages�Thought I might through some of my ideas at the group and try to get some feedback�

1. I can get 1.5-inch pillow blocks from eBay for about $30-50 per set� I figure 1.5 inch would be plenty big enough for work up to 24 inch work�(bigger than I would probably use)(what do you folks think Should I go 2 inch??) planning to have spindle center 12 inches above ways�

2. Local machine shop guy tells me the spindle will be no problem for him to produce� planed to have the work end of the spindle cut down to 1x8 threads (I could use my chucks and face plats from my other two lathes)

(would 1X8 handle large bowls?)

The machine shop guy wants an extra hundred bucks to drill hole through the spindle and place # 2 MT� do you guys think It would be worth the trouble? (note: I did tell him the machine shop guy I wanted lands cut on the spindle so I could get a wrench on for removing accessories)

3. As for motor I want to go big... 3-5 HP Not sure where to get it�. Possible eBay,

Not sure the best way to control speed� whether to use step pulleys, (like my Jet) or some type gear box, or possible DC motor and controller like the one shown today on forum with the little Jet (that is sharp!) (would I have enough tork with this type set up? ? I know nothing about how to set it up A DC/controller� Input??? I would love to do it with my jet mini!

(what about a really crazy idea... could a guy somehow rig a small standard auto Trany with a 5 hp AC motor? :o) I can see it! Operate the clutch like a motor cycle!)

4. As for the frame I am planning using 10 inch I beams. (I have a welder�)

The upright vertical (12 inches high) at spindle end with a piece of heavy plate steal welded to the top to hold the pillow blocks. The Vertical upright would be centered on two parallel 6 foot horizontal piece�s of the same I Beam about 12-20 inches in from the end to leave room for motor mounting behind it.

(I would leave 2 inch space between the two horizontal I beams to mount tool rest, and to maybe rig a tail stock or boring bar set-up) might even mount a swivel seated tractor seat at the end�

I would then weld legs on the two horizontal bed I beams.(now connected at ends) to hold the bed about 24 inches off the floor. giving me a total height at the tool rest of about 3 feet. (I could easily adjust this to be the correct height for tool rest and standing turning... how high should the tool rest be... for a 6 foot 3 inch guy?)

does all that make since? I know� lots of questions. But� I figured you all could help�

I know it all sounds disjointed but� I am not good ad describing what is in my head� I hope it makes a little since�

I know this is long� but I thought the answers might be of interest to more on this forum than my self.

Thanks for any feedback I might get�

Big Mike

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#2

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

Rick in Colgate, Wi

>Hey Big Mike,

Check out this site, maybe you can get some ideas for your own project.

http://www.fholder.com/Woodturning/monster.htm

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#3

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Sounds like you've got a fun project ahead of you.

Your planned spindle is much too small for a lathe that'll swing 24 inches and has a 3 HP motor. Think about it...most mini lathes have a 1 x 8 spindle. 1-1/4 x8 would be okay, but 1-1/2 would be better. I suggest that a 2 inch shaft would be minimum. 2-1/2 in. or even 3 in. would be better.

You could get by with a 2 HP motor, but 3 HP would be better.

By all means, spring for the hole through the shaft with a 2 MT. You'll find lots of uses for it.

Good luck,

Wally

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#4

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

Duane C.Leach

>Rember the old saying measure twice cut once. It applys here too. The price for milling a 2 1/2" spindel is only slitly more than milling 1 1/2" spindel. And it would cost far far less to do it right the first time than it would cost to do again.

Go for it . Suonds like it would be fun.

Let us know how it turn out.

Duane

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#5

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

Sam Dean

>Hi Mike,

I've thought the same thoughts myself about building a big lathe. When I swing for the tig welder, I might just go through with it. One thing to think about the bearings: If you're going to use pillowblocks, make sure they're REALLY big. They are designed to handle massive rotational loads, but handle linear thrust very poorly. A 3 bearing setup would be the best with one large spherical roller bearing up front (to handle the thrust) and 2 self aligning (floating) pillow blocks behind. Or, better yet, use tapered roller bearings. You would need to thread the back side of the spindle, but then you could get away with just two.

Also, pay close attention to RPM ratings on the big bearings. bearings for 2 or 3 inch shafts are seldem rated for much more than 1500 RPM or so. Fine if you are always doing really big stuff, but not fast enough for small and medium sized pieces.

Good Luck! Please post pictures if you start building it!

Thanks,

Sam

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#6

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

Peter Teubel

>Mike wrote:

"(what about a really crazy idea... could a guy somehow rig a small standard auto Trany with a 5 hp AC motor? :o) I can see it! Operate the clutch like a motor cycle!)"

=============================

I belong to a turning club in SE mass and we meet at the president's shop (big place). In addition to 5 club lathes and his 20" General, he has a HUGE bowl lathe which is jack-shafted via TWO 4spd truck transmissions. It reminds me of Ed Moulthrop's lathe. If I can remember, I'll take pictures at the next meeting.

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long)

#7

Re: planning bowl lathe... Ideas? (long) *LINK*

John D Williams -oubaasjohn

>The attached link shows my home made lathe. It aint pretty but it works and total cost was the cost of the motor and getting the threads cut on the 1 inch shaft.

I borrowed a friends welder and gave him some of the left over rods for payment.


My home made lathe