In article
<fbad3bd5-7b7a-4293-8813-63cc3a0dbc1f@d31g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
julvr <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi there. I was wondering how good drill press lathes are. I was
> thinking of turning a couple of egg holders as part of a Christmas
> gift. I don't have the money for a full lathe, so I was wondering if
> a drill press lathe might be up to the task.
I've just got myself one of these as I want to have a try at woodturning
without wasting a lot of money if I don't make a go of it.
(Nor do I have much space either so something that can be easily
dismantled and put away on a shelf somewhere is ideal)
I would have thought that for a couple of egg-cups and other light work
they would have been fine.
--
Stuart Winsor
For Barn dances and folk evenings in the Coventry and Warwickshire area
See: http://www.barndance.org.uk
In article
<[email protected]>,
Bob in NC <[email protected]> wrote:
> Also, I found that attempting to turn something
> that was rotating on a vertical axis was ungainly at best.
Ah, sorry, I think I must have misunderstood. The device I have is
horizontal and you fix an ordinary electric drill to it as the power
source.
I was not aware you could obtain a device to turn a vertical drill into a
lathe. I agree it would be very strange trying to use it.
--
Stuart Winsor
For Barn dances and folk evenings in the Coventry and Warwickshire area
See: http://www.barndance.org.uk
On Oct 20, 8:12=A0am, julvr <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi there. =A0I was wondering how good drill press lathes are. =A0
I tried a drill press "lathe" once and didn't like it at all. I found
that the drill press seemed to be able to turn the wood OK, but the
tool rest was much too flimsy to hold the cutting tool firmly enough
to make a good cut. A gouge, etc would vibrate too much. With a lot
of care, you might be able to turn a rough shape, but I think fine
work would be difficult or impossible. The tool wasn't worth the $20
that I paid for it. Also, I found that attempting to turn something
that was rotating on a vertical axis was ungainly at best.
Instead of investing time and money in this inadequate and awkward
imitation lathe, I would borrow time on a friend's lathe or rent time
on a lathe in a craft center. Or maybe take a mini course in a
woodworking store, if that is handy for you. You could learn
something new and meet a number of other woodturners, too.
Bob
Stuart <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article
><[email protected]>
>,
> Bob in NC <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Also, I found that attempting to turn something
>> that was rotating on a vertical axis was ungainly at best.
>
> Ah, sorry, I think I must have misunderstood. The device I have
> is horizontal and you fix an ordinary electric drill to it as
> the power source.
>
> I was not aware you could obtain a device to turn a vertical
> drill into a lathe. I agree it would be very strange trying to
> use it.
I've done it when I needed to make some pins from a 3/8" dowel. I
put the dowel in the chuck, and for a tool rest I put a piece of
scrap wood in a vice to hold it parallel to the dowel. It wasn't
fun, but it did work. I bought a small lathe shortly after that.
On Oct 20, 8:12=A0am, julvr <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi there. =A0I was wondering how good drill press lathes are. =A0I was
> thinking of turning a couple of egg holders as part of a Christmas
> gift. =A0I don't have the money for a full lathe, so I was wondering if
> a drill press lathe might be up to the task.
>
> Thanks
>
> John
They can work for small items, but you need to remember that the
bearings in a drill press are not made for side thrust forces, so will
wear out more quickly.
In article <[email protected]>,
darkon <[email protected]> wrote:
> Stuart <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > In article
> ><[email protected]>
> >,
> > Bob in NC <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Also, I found that attempting to turn something
> >> that was rotating on a vertical axis was ungainly at best.
> >
> > Ah, sorry, I think I must have misunderstood. The device I have
> > is horizontal and you fix an ordinary electric drill to it as
> > the power source.
> >
> > I was not aware you could obtain a device to turn a vertical
> > drill into a lathe. I agree it would be very strange trying to
> > use it.
>
> I've done it when I needed to make some pins from a 3/8" dowel. I
> put the dowel in the chuck, and for a tool rest I put a piece of
> scrap wood in a vice to hold it parallel to the dowel. It wasn't
> fun, but it did work. I bought a small lathe shortly after that.
I built a toolrest from scrap 3/4" pine and made a dead center from 1/4"
soft iron rod. Both parts clamp to the DP table. The dead center helps a
lot. This rig works ok for making tool handles. Yes, the vertical
orientation is a pain. For occasional small jobs it's adequate.
--
"Keep your ass behind you."