Lathe Tips Anyone?

[Out-Station]

G'day all. I'm just improvong my old hand turn lathe a bit and intersted in hearing anyones ideas.

1. Should roller supports be height adjustable so that the blank can spin on its central axis versus laying on its side axis if they are not adjustable for height. My existing ones are not and seem to work fine, but i'm thinking things would be different if i wanted to add a motor in future and things were moving at high speed.

2. I currently use 36mm plastic roller door wheels with o-rings for tyres. They have a little bearing in their centre. Do you reckon these would take the heat if i went to some type of motor wrapping?

3. My current supports are 3 wheel with the top one holding the blank in with the use of a "spring arm" type arrangement. Does this spring thing work ok for motorised wrapping or do you need the top rollor to operate on a slide and essentially lock it down hard on the top of the blank so it can't effectiveley go anywhere?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Cheer's Scott

[groverwa]

While I dont do what you do - a tip from a bloke who repaired a reel for me said that he uses the motors from microwave ovens as the means to turn rods when binding guides on - makes for a very professional finish as both hands can be used.
His tables have a series of holes to accomodate rollers for different lenght and diameter blanks

mike

[DR]

my personal preference has always been to have the rollers adjustable & keep the blank nice & square with the chuck & motor, it takes out the blank slap from not being level.
Also like the spring loaded top roller as all blanks are not dead straight & it gives movement if it's on a lumpy bit, if locked in it has a slight possibility of damaging the blank.

I may know of a setup thats for sale, if it's still available & you were interested, very heavy duty aluminium, would be able to wrap a telegraph pole on it:P

[Out-Station]

Thanks for the feedback fellas

DR, i'm probably over invested now to go back. Would have been interested though.

I'm re making all my rod supports out of heavy alloy as well.

Cheer's Scott

[finga]

Why not make the power head height adjustable and slightly tiltable instead of all the rollers?
I just wrap a bit of tape around the butt and that has enough give in it I reckon to not concern myself about the slight misalignment.
Mind you though I turn by hand mostly so...what would I know?? :D