Tyme Avon lathe - which parts do I need?

[Rhossydd]

I live in Cornwall but I'm going home next week back to Essex.

If you come back via the M4 and won't be in a big hurry, another place to call is The Tool Post in Didcot. They are a real Aladdin's Cave for woodturners and only about 20mins off the M4.

 

[Happyworker]

Hey guys, first post here, so hello.

My friend and I have been very slowly setting up a workshop outside our house. We have a Tyme Avon 48" lathe that my friend picked up at a car boot sale for £40, all working (pretty much). We've been turning some things over the past few weeks but we are yet to get any more parts for the lathe, so we can't turn bowls or anything hollow.

We haven't got a chuck or a faceplate, and the switch on it is pretty dodgy, so now we can't turn it off without unplugging the entire lathe.

SO, we want to get a new switch, and also make it able to turn bowls, but we don't know how to go about it. We don't have any other experience of using a lathe, so our knowledge is limited. We know that it has a 25mm x 2mm thread size, but we can only find 1 chuck that would fit and it's expensive.

So how do we go about turning bowls safely without spending a fortune? What parts would we need and where could we get them?

Also, where can we get a new switch.

Were finding it really hard to find specific information or parts.

Thanks a lot.

Hi,
I have the same lathe, bought in 1987. Initially I bought a Multistar Chuck; which was OK, bought as I later went into turning as a business and had much bigger lathe, I used a 4 jaw chuck. This was more like those used on Metal Turning Lathes. I found this much better for what I was doing. Now having retired and going back to my Tyme Avon I decided to get a better chuck based on what I had used in the Business. Yes, all Woodturning tools are now very expensive since it has become a popular pastime. You did well picking up the lathe at £40. However, the chances of you finding a 4 jaw chuck with the correct thread are pretty remote. I actually purchased the Axminster Evolution Chuck. They will do that with the correct thread to order, the code for the thread is T30. The order code for the chuck; if still the same, was 502766. They do other chucks which are cheaper and will probably do a base with the correct thread for you if requested. The part you want for Bowl turning is a curved rest. Unfortunately I cannot find the avon parts list with the number; which I had a couple of weeks ago whilst trying to source some parts myself. However, a couple of links you may find handy being a guy called Tony:- Lathes.co.uk, email [email protected]. Also Axminster have just today put me onto a Company called Inca Machines who appear to have some contact for the Tyme Lathes spares. Their site is incamachines.com. Once again, as I have just discovered; these parts don't come cheap. As regards the switch, you could probably use a standard what I think is called a No volt switch; as used on virtually all machines these days. Axminster do them, but probably cheaper is Ebay.
A few years ago I fitted another switch to my lathe to allow me to reverse the motor direction, something that is handy when sanding turned items because of grain direction. Hope you find this useful, and good luck with the turning. Just enjoy.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Nine years + ago - he's probably either jacked it in or traded up by now.

 

[Happyworker]

Hey guys, first post here, so hello.

My friend and I have been very slowly setting up a workshop outside our house. We have a Tyme Avon 48" lathe that my friend picked up at a car boot sale for £40, all working (pretty much). We've been turning some things over the past few weeks but we are yet to get any more parts for the lathe, so we can't turn bowls or anything hollow.

We haven't got a chuck or a faceplate, and the switch on it is pretty dodgy, so now we can't turn it off without unplugging the entire lathe.

SO, we want to get a new switch, and also make it able to turn bowls, but we don't know how to go about it. We don't have any other experience of using a lathe, so our knowledge is limited. We know that it has a 25mm x 2mm thread size, but we can only find 1 chuck that would fit and it's expensive.

So how do we go about turning bowls safely without spending a fortune? What parts would we need and where could we get them?

Also, where can we get a new switch.

Were finding it really hard to find specific information or parts.

Thanks a lot.

Further to my previous reply, I have been thinking about it and decided that I may be able to help you out. I do have a Bowl turning rest, but not prepared to sell that. However, I do have 2 options for you regarding the Chuck. Firstly I have the Body only, that's the back plate; threaded to fit the Tyme Avon, with the front outer ring, but no inner, jaws etc, for a Craft Supplies Chuck. So if you know anyone selling a Craft Supplies Chuck, then I have the body part to fit your lathe. Don't ask what happened to the rest of it. Also the Multistar Chuck I have, with the correct thread for the Tyme Avon, I would be prepared to sell. I do have several jaw sets for this, including those used when bowl turning where you turn a spigot on the bottom of the bowl and then used the jaws to hold whilst turning the actual bowl. If interested in either of these let me know and I can take photos of what I have for you to consider and sort out a price.

 

[Wedge]

Here is a couple of pics of the Avon I used for about 20 years. It is a superb lathe, slightly under-powered IMO
but for all that a good lathe.

It sat on a home made bench which just needed a couple of pads to raise it to my level.





I sold it with the accessories you see on the lathe including the outrigger bar on the left some 3 or 4 years ago.

It came with a Multistar Duplex chuck which I kept when I sold it and just bought another chuck body on fleabay for my new lathe.(Still got and in use now)
I also bought a Precision chuck from Axminster, which I still use after 22 years.





A closeup of the faceplate on the lathe. Also shows fablon stuck to the lid and split plastic tube in an attempt to stop the lid from vibrating, the only problem I found!





These are the accessories that went with the lathe.
Banjo with long and short rests, Faceplate, push out bar, Home made rest with an end curve.



Me turning a pen on the Avon!



Me turning a pepper mill with my Precision chuck on the Avon.

A good lathe, Enjoy!!! (hammer) (hammer) (hammer)

John. B

Hi mate I have just got this lathe to start wood turning. Could you possibly tell me how to adjust speed via the belt totally knew to this . Many thanks
Peter

 

[Rhossydd]

It's pretty self-evident;
Lift the headstock cover to see the drive pullies. Loosen the motor clamp on the end of the headstock and lift the motor up to loosen the drive belt. Then move the belt to the required pulley set. Lower motor unit to re-tension the drive belt on the new pulley set and tighten the clamp. It doesn't need to be very tight. Replace pulley cover.