SpudFiles

Anybody have any cheap lathe ideas? I would like to make a simple lathe to turn some pipe at a few RPMs to cut end bevel ends. I was thinking about making a double roller using Casters with and a motor that would run a tire or something on a motor to turn the pipe.


Anybody ever make anything like this. Precision is not so important.

Get a drill,put it in a vice attach it to the piece you need to machine and turn on the drill,use files,sandpaper etc rested on something next to the spinning object to support the tool your lathing with.You can do the same thing with a drill press/pedestal drill.

A shot length of 1/8" pipe, a few adaptors to turn it to 3/4", a 3/4" pipe to PVC adaptor, a coupler the size of the PVC adaptor, and a drill. Securly mount drill on work area, insert 1/8" pipe into drill, connect pieces, you can put the pipe or pieces on, lock the trigger, and thats basically it.

I was thinking about modifying one of those apple peelers. They're basically a manual lathe that you put an apple on, then turn the handle to spin the apple while a little blade cuts the skin off it. They're like $10 or something.

rna_duelers wrote:Get a drill,put it in a vice

works brilliantly for me

Ive done several pistons in a drill press.

I use my belt sander for all my lathe work it really handy for all sorts oF jobs, get a belt sander with the thin belt for more fancy work Its not accurate but you get used to it and the result ends up mangeable

Why did i never think of making an adaptor to use a drill....HAHA! Thanks guys!

at work we have one that was made from this site, we use to fill in holes in timbers.

http://www.nobugs.org/engineer/woodlathe/index.html

you would either need a very steady hand or make yourself a rest for your cutters.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:

rna_duelers wrote:Get a drill,put it in a vice

works brilliantly for me

That's not mine but it seems to work

Wow thats interesting, hmm, but really, a wood lathe was the best investment I have ever made.
200$+100 for tools and a stand.
Its a load of fun.

but a 200$ chuck was what killed me, but it was worth it.

Search Ebay for lathes and look for a watch makers lathe, there is a type that you can clamp to any table and turns by hand. I think they even have different speeds. These hand lathes are still in production.

MrCrowley wrote:

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:

rna_duelers wrote:Get a drill,put it in a vice

works brilliantly for me

That's not mine but it seems to work

My drill just broke, so I may use the guts to make somthing similar.
Thanks for the idea

Hi,

If you have a Dremel or similar, use this router table.

You can adjust the guide thing on it so that you can roll your piston/whatever slowly against it, buffing edges, cutting o-ring grooves etc.

Worked beautifully for me. Well ... ok it was not quite flat to begin with (d´oh), but a big file fixed that.

Regards
Soren

That orange gun thing is an impact wrench, which if I'm not mistaken has a lot more torque than a drill.

I don't know, try it with a drill. It's not like it would be too dangerous if it were too weak.