Jet mini modification

[Ron Mc]

Does anyone have a reason that I can't put a 1 HP motor on my Jet mini and flip the head stock around on it so that I have more room to make large bowls?
I would really like to start making segmented bowls but don't want to buy another lathe.
Ron Mc
www.McKinneyPens.com

 

[dubdrvrkev]

Well if you are going that far you might as well just make the lathe. You will already have to make a tool rest and a few other things. You might as well just use you 1hp motor and get some pillow blocks and have a machinist make a spindle or buy a spindle as a part from a mfr that way you could get what ever thread you wanted and it could be beefier that the mini spindle.
If you were to add that power (and use it) to the mini I thing you'd probably destroy the bearings and maybe the whole headstock.

 

[Darley]

Feasible, but I think you will have a problem of balance and vibrations, if you want to turn a 10" bowl you will have to bolt the leathe on the bench, if not you will have a plane, the head stock is not big and strong enought to hold a wide blank, IMHO

 

[Ron Mc]

Thanks for the info. I amy go ahead and build my own.