Why do you have a lathe?

[zkling]

How else would I sharpen my pencils?

I'm entirely self taught. Classes can't teach common sense. Classes can be helpful, but time constraints can be a pain. There have been a few classes I've wanted to take but can't commit to 2-3 days a week on top of a family and full time job. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

I'm not sure if I would classify running a metal lathe as "common sense".

 

[kazlx]

How else would I sharpen my pencils?



I'm not sure if I would classify running a metal lathe as "common sense".

It's really not all that complicated. When it comes down to it, it's a spinning vise. You can easily read or watch videos to learn about tool geometries, work holding, and what all the knobs and levers do. People have taught themselves to do way more complicated things than run a lathe.

IMO, a lathe is very common sense. Once you know the 'basics' of how it moves and works, it's extremely simple. The hard part to learn is setups, workholding, right and wrong ways to use different types of tooling, etc. If you thing about it, a seasoned machinist and the fng don't turn the lathe on or move the carriage or feeds any differently, but how they go about a project can vary tremendously.

I'm not saying it isn't dangerous, but it's not complicated. Just like most other things, if you aren't an idiot, you can easily learn how to use one without a formal class or training and still produce excellent work.

 

[jar944]

It's really not all that complicated. When it comes down to it, it's a spinning vise. You can easily read or watch videos to learn about tool geometries, work holding, and what all the knobs and levers do. People have taught themselves to do way more complicated things than run a lathe.

IMO, a lathe is very common sense. Once you know the 'basics' of how it moves and works, it's extremely simple. The hard part to learn is setups, workholding, right and wrong ways to use different types of tooling, etc. If you thing about it, a seasoned machinist and the fng don't turn the lathe on or move the carriage or feeds any differently, but how they go about a project can vary tremendously.

I'm not saying it isn't dangerous, but it's not complicated. Just like most other things, if you aren't an idiot, you can easily learn how to use one without a formal class or training and still produce excellent work.

My "formal" training was 2 semesters of metal shop in high school. About all the machining knowledge I got from that was how to read a micrometer and use a threading dial. Now I did get to use a mill once and a lathe a couple times over that time so it was some experience with machine tools.

However the vast majority of what I know about machining came from the internet

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I've been fond of the metal lathe since I turned my first project on them way back in the 7th grade.. I made a center punch out of drill rod (I'll have to find that in my Dad's shop, now part of his estate my Step Mom needs to disposition). I then took vocational machine trades to become a tool maker / machinist but ultimately got into engineering.. Tool making and metal working have always been in my blood since then.

I have a South Bend 10K lathe in my basement workshop, and use it whenever the time calls for it. My last project was to "trim" a machine screw's head to fit a remnant of a tool I purchased at a flea market for cheap, to bring it back to life .. Also, the lathe can be used (in a limited sense) as a tool grinder / cylindrical grinder, a mill, a drill, etc. The SB 10K has attachments for all these purposes (I have the milling attachment and a tool post grinder). I also have SB Lathe brand vertical mill, shaper, drill press, and pedestal grinder. This combines my love of machining things with my home town bloodlines I suppose.

I would like to eventually own a box and pan brake, a sheet metal notcher, a set of slip rollers, some sort of shear, and Diacro&/or Hossfeld benders to round out my "metal shop". Not sure where I'll put them at the house, but I'll figure that out when that time comes...

 

[arielnh56]

I got my Shoptask lathe/mill/drill combo about 15 years ago, and I've used it to make parts for my vintage bikes, cylinder head repairs on same, kids science projects, appliance repairs, Dalek parts etc. Both my girls are now going to college studying engineering, and quoted this machine as an influence in their applications.

Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk

 

[Alchymist]

Built this lathe with the aid of a south Bend 9" and a little HF mill. Parts in the 2nd pic are drawbar for the new wood lathe and 2 mandrels for pens and bottle stoppers. Lathe served for 2+ years, making lots of pens, bottle stoppers, candle holders, etc, before I retired it for a larger HF lathe..

 

[C lectric]

Not that this thread truly needs another chip in but I bought my lathe thirty years ago.
Have I made good use of it - NO
Will I give it up - NO
Do I have dreams of becoming a closet machinist - NO

It has allowed me to do repair stuff, build stuff, modify stuff that I could not have done without it. I don't have a lot of tooling but one way or another I have had fun with it.

I even did a few jobs for work on it.

I wish I had bought a mill, even a table top one. Maybe yet. That would certainly improve a few projects.

 

[Troutsqueezer]

I use my lathe and mill to make running model gas and steam engines. I've shown some of these before:





























I will also use it to make things like my RC car stand:

 

[Brunow]

Whow! Nice work!