Made a compound table for my wood lathe

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:40 am

Well, being the total tool geek, I have been ever so disapointed in my lack of a metal lathe. I mean really! I deserve one! Still, the whole food and shelter issue kept coming up in my discussions with my wife. So I'm stuck with my trusty old wood lathe. Anyway, the idea came to me as I pondered how much better a pipe maker I'd be with a metal lathe that I could rig up a compound table with a tool holder on my existing late. Essentially all I did was take a board and attach a short dowl that was the same size as the slot in my lathe bed to a nice sturdy board using a carrage bolt. A nice honking washer gives the table some grip. To this board, I fastened a milling vice with x and y travel. The vice has screws to hold the jaws, so I will make some jaws to hold a cutting tool. Voila! Of course I'll never get the cutter perfectly perpendicular to the chuck, but I may get it close. Anyway, the only thing I really intend to use it for is tenons. i like the feel of handling the chisel.

Just thought I'd share my inspiration with you.

Nick

achduliebe · Post by **achduliebe** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:23 am

Hey Nick,

I would love to see some pics of that setup, if you can get around to it.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:21 pm

Sure,

I'll see if I can't snap a few tonight.

ScoJo · Post by **ScoJo** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:28 am

Pictures, Nick! Pictures!!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:29 pm

I know, I know. Sorry. Busy night last night. I'll get them soon. I promise.

bscofield · Post by **bscofield** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:46 pm

Pictures Man Pictures!!!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 8:09 am

OK, I finally got pictures. So here they are:

So there ya are. It was actually pretty easy once I got the idea in my head. I measured the gap in my lathe bed - 1.25 inches - and got a dowl that size. I cut it to the right depth, added a big fat washer and a little spacer because i got a screw that was a hair long and I had my table. After that i just screwed on the vice. I didn't worry about getting it perfectly strait because with the round dowl it would swivel anyway. To hold the tool I think I'll rig up some sort of box. Somthing that not only holds the sides, but that hold the top of the tool too - to keep it from kicking downward. The vice was ideal because it had jaws that were held in place with 4 screws. So i'll attach the tool holder to the vice the same way. The only hitch is that I need to get a lathe cutter long enough to allow a good deal of travel. As you can see the left hand side of the vice extends pretty far out, and could interfer with the chuck. Anyway, too much fun!

ArtGuy · Post by **ArtGuy** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:56 pm

Holy Moly, look at the jaws on that chuck! Where did you get those done? the cross slide looks cool. Have you turned anything wile using it as a tool holder yet?

achduliebe · Post by **achduliebe** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:58 pm

Thanks for the pics Nick! That is a pretty cool looking rig you came up with there. I would also be interested in some additional info about the jaws on your lathe chuck.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:22 am

No, I haven't turned anything yet. I still need to get a cutter or two. To be honest, I'm not sure what kind of cutter I should get. Any suggestions would be appriciated.

I got the jaws and chuck from a place called Worldwide Chuck Service. I don't know exactly what the cost was because i bought the chuck and jaws together. The owner's name is Joel. He's a great guy and/ a pipe smoker. Their phone number is 330-562-4509. Website:http://www.worldwidechuck.com . The jaws are awesome. They are bulky enough to really clamp down on the briar. Additionally, instead of pins to swivel the briar, he used swivel screw (seen here: http://www.carrlane.com/Catalog/index.c ... 2853574458)

jbacon · Post by **jbacon** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:03 pm

nick

you still got the pics of this thing you made for your wood lathe and mabe you can help design what i have in mind. after going to www.theitalianpipe.com and looking at mortti making a pipe i have an idea to help w/ the sf/ds and i have seen pics on trevor talberts site w/the equipment he has. something to hold the shaped stummel some kind of vice chuck etc and then push the table into the chuck and drill .in the pics that mike took of barry jones squaring/drilling/countersinking the mortise - ok kind of rambling on

jim

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:08 pm

let me see if i can't find them. Got an email address?

kkendall · Post by **kkendall** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:11 pm

I'd really like to see 'em, too. Been thinking about how to put a compound slide on my wood lathe. kim.kendall@cox.net