Toolroom/Machine shop.

[Bad Billy]

Metal is my downfall. Wood? Noprobs.

I know that fucking Viagra is brill!

 

[MartytheMartian]

I am surprised @Tallpaul I find wood is so much trickier and less predictable than metals or plastics because of the grain structure, variability in density and hardness. I even swear the damn stuff has a sort of elastic nature so that, when you measure it seems right but, when you cut it it snaps back like a rubber band and becomes shorter than you needed it to be.

 

[Tallpaul]

If a wood job is a bit manky, there are many ways for me to rescue it. Metal just gets worse and worse for me.

 

[Big Sandy]

My current wood lathe is a wee thing from a company called Scheppach DM600 Vario Woodturning Lathe – SCHEPPACH DIRECT It is actually rather nifty in that it is variable speed simply by turning the knob and has a good length and diameter capacity. Remarkably good to use given how little it cost. Only thing is I could do with a chuck and a tapered tailstock chuck to fit it for gripping hardwood and drilling etc.

Mines one of these.

DML250 10" 5 Speed Cast Iron Mini Lathe

Woodworking Machinery and Accessories

www.recordpower.co.uk

I like the idea of variable speed by potentiometer, but it's no hassle swapping the belt. I have a scroll chuck, and also a Jacobs chuck (like a power drill) for the other end for hole boring.

Had an issue with it not running right, low power, would start up backwards, so contacted Record Power as its under warranty. They said, last November, that they would send a new motor, which hasn't happened as yet. Reminds me, must give them another poke.

I fixed it myself, it was the start/run capacitor, so I swapped that out and put in a new one. Total cost, about £8, as I bought two just in case. Can make use of a new motor though, if I finally get it.

The Jacobs chuck I think was about a tenner. Main thing you have to watch out for is the taper is right for your lathe. Similarly the headstock end, if you buy a chuck, make sure it's the right thread for your lathe... Though adapters are available, it cuts down the length you can turn by about 2 inches.

 

[MartytheMartian]

I looked at lathes like that myself @Big Sandy but I decided to take a shot at the Scheppach mainly because it can handle up to two feet long and 25cm diameter and, unlike the other machines that can handle those sort of lengths it has a a single track rather than a two piece frame.

 

[Big Sandy]

I went for the the Record as I have limited space, but there is an extension available for longer bed length if I need larger in the future. It turns up to 10" comfortably. It's robust (apart from the start capacitor, obviously)

 

[Glyn]

I went for the the Record as I have limited space, but there is an extension available for longer bed length if I need larger in the future. It turns up to 10" comfortably. It's robust (apart from the start capacitor, obviously)

I’ve invested in a 20 pack for my compressor the caps always melt after about 3 months.
The Chinese ones end up at £3.50 each

 

[Tallpaul]

I borrowed £200 from my parents when I was 14. I bought a used Coronet Major Universal Woodworker from a local widow. It was principally a lathe and circular saw, but also had a small planer, disc sander and mortising jig. After 4 weeks I had earned enough money turning bowls and table legs to pay them back. Happy days. I've still got it in pieces in the back of the garage.

 

[half ton]

I borrowed £200 from my parents when I was 14. I bought a used Coronet Major Universal Woodworker from a local widow. It was principally a lathe and circular saw, but also had a small planer, disc sander and mortising jig. After 4 weeks I had earned enough money turning bowls and table legs to pay them back. Happy days. I've still got it in pieces in the back of the garage.

They were a very robust bit of kit......I think Noah used one to build his Ark

 

[Tallpaul]

They were a very robust bit of kit......I think Noah used one to build his Ark

You're not wrong, the base rail is a solid bar and a lot of it was iron castings.