Anyone made a dedicated finishing "lathe"?

[Carl Fisher]

Kicking around ideas of how to mount up and power a mandrel off the lathe. I'd like to be able to have one of us doing finish work while the other is turning. Really don't want to buy another lathe right now.

Thinking about one of my old RC motors geared way down to get a target speed and belt drive it but would prefer something I can power from ac instead of dc.

Just curious if anyone has thought of this before.

 

[ed4copies]

Why not use a variable speed hand drill?

Make the "lathe" out of 2x4's and power it with a drill

 

[its_virgil]

Do a google search on hand drill lathe and you will find lots of info. There is even a commercial lathe that uses a drill motor for the power.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

Kicking around ideas of how to mount up and power a mandrel off the lathe. I'd like to be able to have one of us doing finish work while the other is turning. Really don't want to buy another lathe right now.

Thinking about one of my old RC motors geared way down to get a target speed and belt drive it but would prefer something I can power from ac instead of dc.

Just curious if anyone has thought of this before.

 

[Penultimate]

I had an old mini lathe sold by Craftsman (and Jet) that I set up to do the finishing. Since it only had three speeds it didn't work for me. Also, I had a lot of run out on it. I got rid of it.

 

[Bree]

I use a Rockler Excelsior solely to hold a Beall triple buffer for finishing pens. Works great for that purpose.
:wink::wink::wink:

 

[Carl Fisher]

Not a bad idea on the drill. Honestly hadn't thought of it.

Great idea and thanks

 

[Mike D]

If you ran a hand drill for long periouds of time wouldn't you run the risk of burning up the brushes? What about a motor from a box fan? They are usually 110 volts, designed to run for long preriouds of time and it lends it's self to reduction either a belt drive or what about a speed controller like is used on a router table?

 

[Alzey]

You could always build a Treadle Lathe :biggrin:

 

[ed4copies]

If you ran a hand drill for long periouds of time wouldn't you run the risk of burning up the brushes? What about a motor from a box fan? They are usually 110 volts, designed to run for long preriouds of time and it lends it's self to reduction either a belt drive or what about a speed controller like is used on a router table?

How long do you normally spend finishing??

That motor will last a LOT LONGER than my legs and back!

 

[NC Wood Art]

I am purchased a cheap 6" bench grinder & use 6 " polishing pads on it with no guards on it, if you are tight on space just buy a low cost bench grinder stand. I purchased a 6" bench grinder for about $40 new few years ago & the stand was like $30 at Harbor freight. Polishing pads can be purchased at Sears, or hardware store cheaply. not as nice a s a premade mandrel with pads on a lathe but if you got a bench grinder you don't use much convert it.