Makeshift lathe?

Kris Petrosky

Member
Messages
58
Location
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Was wondering if there was a good design for a makeshift lathe because I don't have the money to buy a real one. Maybe after I show my dad some nice stuff I built, He'll invest in one. Till then is there a way I can make shift one or would my only option be using a planer?
 
...Till then is there a way I can make shift one or would my only option be using a planer?

I'm a bit confused by this statement, Kris. A planer is used to make boards flat. A lathe is used to make boards (or chunks of wood) round. Totally different processes and outcomes. Let us know what you're trying to make, and we can likely point you in the right direction. ;)
 
I don't know how accurate this would be, I just spotted it on Amazon. The price of $89.95 is pretty easy to afford. You'll need a set of tools to go with also, but I've seen a few around $30.00. It might work for you to get started turning.:thumb:

http://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Sp...f=sr_1_84?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1300903389&sr=1-84


http://www.amazon.com/review/RQE0CE...ltCred&tag=&linkCode=#CustomerDiscussionsPost

Read the reviews from what I saw a pencil sharpener would be industrial when compaired to this lathe.
 
Bart Leetch said:

I had a lathe like that one...someone gave it to me. I turned one piece of scrap wood with it, and that was enough to convince me it was a bad accident waiting to happen. The bed flexed, nothing aligned right, and nothing would tighten down properly. Better to not turn at all than to use a lathe like that one. ;)
 
Kris, you may not believe it but my first lathe was built from a Shop Notes plan from plywood. Worked great and was a learning experiment. I still have it and is it mounted on the wall of my shop. Don't use it anymore but it is there to remind me of how I got started.
 
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