Make a Lathe from other peoples rubbish

Here's another cool Instructable. This one is a very complete manual on how to make your own wood lathe from a variety of recycled parts.

Here is the link to see the original Insructable on how to make your own lathe.

---

8" slow-speed grinder on sale to end of August

Woodcraft is offering this 8-inch slow speed grinder on sale from now until the end of August, 2009. Regularly priced at $110, it is now on sale for $95. The grinder comes equipped with 120 grit and 60 grit white aluminum oxide grinding wheels.

From the grinder description:

This quiet, smooth 1/2 HP, 1725 RPM slow-speed grinder is great for sharpening tools without generating the tool destroying heat that you get so quickly from 3450 RPM grinders.

Here's the link for more info 8 inch slow speed grinder.

---

Proxxon MICRO Woodturning Lathe

Makers of precision miniature power tools, Proxxon offers this very small-scale woodturning lathe.

From the manufacturer's description:

Proxxon Micro Woodturning Lathe DB 250. This compact size machine is ideal for turning pens or doll house items such as cups, plates, pots, vases, columns, also for model railroad items including power or signal posts and tanks, doll and marionette limbs. Thousands of classical model building items may be turned with ease. Adding final touches with paint to your work piece at lower speeds, easily done through the electronic speed control. the tool rest is conveniently adjustable in height as well as it turns through 360° allowing for centerless turning. Overall length 15-3/4 inches by 3-3/4 inch height. Weight: 5.5 pounds

Here's a link with more info on the Proxxon MICRO Woodturning Lathe. If you've already decided this is the tool for you, you'll want to pick up the Proxxon 5-Piece Turning Tool Set at the same time.

---

How to Build a Simple Drill-Powered Wood Lathe

I've posted in the past about a simple drill-powered lathe made by Gizzly. Here is a do-it-yourself version by Andrew Birkett. He made his lathe from two large bearings, some steel rod, a bit of steel plate, and a power drill. He's documented his entire build process in words and photographs.

Here's his page describing How to Build a Simple Drill-Powered Wood Lathe.

He also points out a really cool book on How to Build Your Own Metal Working Lathe, which is part of an entire series by Dave Gingery that walks you through how to create an entire machine shop from the scratch. An amazing accomplishment. When/if I have a large chunk of time, this is something I would love to to do. I picture casually saying to admirers, "Oh, that milling machine...yeah...I built it from scratch."

---

Lathe Basics: History, Tools, and Safety Article

Here is a great three page article covering the history of wood lathes, the tools currently used, and safety considerations.

From the article:
"One of the greatest features of turning is the chance to gain enough knowledge in short order to make finished projects in just a few hours--lathes give us the possibility of completing, including finish, many worthwhile projects inside a single evening. "

The article is courtesy of Woodcraft, who sells a full assortment of lathes, lathe tools, and lathe accessories.

Here is a link to the article on Turning Basics: History, Tools, and Safety.

---

Woodcraft Woodworking Store Sale Items

Woodcraft is one of my favorite woodworking supply stores. They always have some sale items -- often several hundred. They sell some really high quality stuff like the Lie-Nielson bench plane shown above. (Sadly, this item is NOT on sale.)

They also have articles and videos to accompany many of the products they sell.

Visit Woodcraft's Sale Section to see what they've got.

---

Functioning Wooden Steam Locomotive Model

Harold Manwaring made this scale locomotive entirely from recycled wood (bravo!) with the exception of a few small metal parts. Everything on the model works, though it does not go anywhere because its driving wheels are suspended slightly above the model track.

The model runs on compressed air that is fed at about 15 PSI to a small stainless steel receiver in the engine's firebox. Lines to the two cylinders are wood, as are the cylinders, and pistons themselves. The pistons are even fitted with wooden piston rings!

The craftsman says of the model:
"I had to use as close tolerances as possible as compressed air does not expand like steam, but also taking into consideration humidity and how much the wood would move. Two air lines run from the cabin valves out to the whistle and one to the valves. The whistle blows at about 2-3 lbs of air and the engine runs really well at about 12-15 lbs of air and stops at 8-9 lbs. It worked on the first attempt, so I stopped and had a beer."

Here is a nice article on the Harold Manwaring and the wooden steam locomotive. Also be sure to check out this video clip showing the wooden locomotive in operation.

Making Wooden Mechanical Models

Not for automata makers specifically -- the mechanisms found in Making Wooden Mechanical Models could well be used for automata, provided the reader has a bit of ingenuity.

The models themselves are nicely proportioned and well designed. Any of these models would be a welcome addition to the desktop of a mechanically inclined person.

I have read this book from cover to cover and browsed the drawings for inspiration. Beautiful color photos in the center of the book demonstrate the skill the authors have great in fabricating with wood. I have found this book to be very useful in this regard. Note: some of the projects in this book are best accomplished with a lathe.

Should you choose to buy this book and make the some of the models, you will find that it contains good project lists and plan drawings from which to work.

Amazon has a nice "Search Inside" this book feature for this book to let you preview the book's contents.

Take a look at Making Wooden Mechanical Models: 15 Designs With Visible Wheels, Cranks, Pistons, Cogs, and Cams.

Grizzly Drill-Powered Hobby Lathe

Here is an interesting tool that converts your 3/8" power drill into a miniature wood lathe.

The details on this tool are limited, but impressive for the price. It can accommodate work of up to 24 inches and 6 inches in diameter. That's pretty big, really.

At about $46.00, this could be a handy tool -- especially if space is limited or you just want to try out a lathe of your own on the cheap.

The funny thing is that a well-rated set of lathe chiselsmight cost you more than the lathe itself!

Check out the Grizzly H2669 Hobby Lathe