New lathe!!!

[cornucopia]

hello folks- as some of you may know my vb36 wasnt enjoying pen turning as much as i'd hope it would- it was o.k if you only did one or two but if you wanted to do a days worth it got too hot for comfort- so i have bought a little jet mini lathe to do pens on

I've got to get a thicker piece of wood to mount it on as the 7/8" shelf its currently on isnt heavy enough and i need to get a new tail centre as i was getting bad vibration from that end of the pen mandrel (which i hope is down to the crappy centre thats supplied with the lathe) but other than that it so.k for the money.

 

[wizer]

Very nice. Did you buy it new? I can see the logic in doing this, thought about it myself.

 

[Bodrighy]

I've got one of these for doing demos etc and it's a lovely little lathe. Only winge is that speed change is a bit of a pain but as I tend to put it into a speed and leave it there for most of the work it isn't too bad. Very smooth but after your VB that won't show for you. Don't forget it's only 1/2 hp so be gentle with it George. Keep an eye on the shavings as they get trapped between the motor and the frame and can really back up.

pete

 

[cornucopia]

yep it was new tom

thanks pete- i've only bought it for pens.

 

[Bodrighy]

I sort of guessed that, meant to put a smiley on the 'be gentle' part.

Pete

 

[Walter Hall]

You could try one of these instead of a revolving centre George

(when they get them in stock that is)

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKMSTS2.html

I made my own by drilling out a broken revolving steb centre. Maybe you could modify the crap one supplied with the Jet

As you bring the tailstock quill up the revolving centre tightens the bushings onto the mandrel without any force being applied to the end of the mandrel itself so less chance of whip and vibration.

 

[johnny.t.]

You really have got the pen bug haven't you :lol:

Another bonus is you can carry this one outside if its too hot in your workshop :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

I run mine on a black and decker workmate sometimes outside the shed. Less mess to clean up as well :lol:

Pete

 

[Richard Findley]

I see you've finally bought yourself a proper lathe rather than messing around with that green lump :lol: :lol: :wink: :wink:

Richard

 

[Bodrighy]

I see you've finally bought yourself a proper lathe rather than messing around with that green lump :lol: :lol: :wink: :wink:

Richard

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[DonStan]

Thought this might interest you all, two of our youngest members in our chapter have made some very interesting nice pens, one aged 10, and the other 13 - ccheck out this site - http://www.donegalpens.com/ - hope you all enjoy

Stan

 

[cornucopia]

thanks for the link stan- but i couldint find anything of any relevance to this thread

 

[cornucopia]

just to finiush this thread of a new revolving centre has stopped the vibration issue