blame Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Ok, So the last few days me and my nephew have been talking and he wants to get a lathe. I figured I'd just let him use my turncrafter pro but he declined on my offer. He wants a green friendly lathe, one that does not consume any natural resources. I've been googling the net and found him 3 sets of plans to look over for treadle powered lathes one design is from the 14th century and the other 2 are designs from the depression era 1935 and 1942. this should be a fun project. and I will document the process from sawing the lumber to the finished oak lathe makes me wish i had a saw mill now ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Link Reference Build your Own Treadle Lathe(PDF File .5 MB) Treadle Lathe FAQ Quote
Travis Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Wow, that would be really cool. I've seen Roy Underhill on PBS use a foot powered lathe. I think he called it a pole lathe. Anyway, he had a branch that has some flex that is above his workpiece. Then he has a rope between the pole, wrapped around his workpiece, then attached to a foot lever. When you press the lever, the pole flexes and the rope spins the workpiece. Pretty clever, plus it'll give you a pretty good workout! He does some nice work with it. It would be fun to have. Sounds like a really cool project. I can't wait to see some pictures. I'm going to print that e-book when I get to work on Tuesday and read through it. It looks really interesting. Thanks for the link! Quote
blame Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Posted February 16, 2009 yeah thats a spring pole lathe its a bit older then the treadle lathes. effective design but dangerous too where the treadle lathe continues motion in only one direction the spring pole lathe design allows the work pcs to first go one direction then the other. a few years ago i built my own table saw, lathe, sanders and thread cutting tools i've done some smelting and molding of poly's and metals so we can make what he'll need. i think will venture out and cut the trees tomorrow if the ground isnt to wet. this is a long term project. but he doesnt want to use pine or spend for the oak. i'm thinking of seeing if he would want to change the species from oak to black locust for its weathering abilities. plus black locust is ready to cut out since i cut about 50 post last november. We will also be forging all his lathe tools. something i've been wanting to get into for awile now so it will be a good time to start now all i need to do is find a good anvil and set up a forge for us. i'll be sure to get some pictures to post up blame Quote
Travis Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Wow. That sounds like quite a project! I can't wait to see some pictures. I bet it will be a lot of fun to put together though. Quote
blame Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Posted February 17, 2009 what a day... we went out and cut the logs today... but will have to wait on the pictures since i'm going to have to come up with another cam in a few weeks......... as i was getting out of the truck my sony went for a swim in the swamp errrr....... but on the plus side we got us a really nice black locust about 30' long x 20" dia. and 1 white oak 30" dia x 16 ft with plans to get some more we found acouple sycamores worth harvesting and few oaks but thats another post guess while i'm waiting we'll start looking for the rest of the pcs to build this lathe blame Quote
Christina Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 Way cool project! I can't wait to follow along on this one! I've always been curious about the treadle and spring pole lathes since I watch Roy Underhill every chance I get. I hope you will be able to show pictures of the forging too. Thanks so much for including us in your project! Sounds like a real fun project. Christina Quote
Travis Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 ...but on the plus side we got us a really nice black locust about 30' long x 20" dia. and 1 white oak 30" dia x 16 ft with plans to get some more we found acouple sycamores worth harvesting and few oaks but thats another post ... Will you have to dry the wood before construction? Or can you use it green? I agree with Christina, this sounds like a really cool project and can't wait to see some pictures. Sorry to hear about your camera, though. Cameras going for a swim isn't a good thing. Quote
AirNationalGuardMom Posted February 18, 2009 Report Posted February 18, 2009 That sounds like a real cool project. Can't wait to see some pictures. Linda Quote
blame Posted February 18, 2009 Author Report Posted February 18, 2009 we can use it green as long as we seal the wood so it drys slow, but i cut the black locust to replace the posts from the post pile lol they have been drying since last november. but a log never really drys out in log form so the actual drying takes place when you sticker the boards. alot of what they call native lumber around here is used green when it cures its hard as a rock, usually its species of oak (swamp white, burr, or rock oaks) i'm thinking the black locust will do the same. i spent acouple hours today cutting the post in to rough boards with the chain saw ( my sister took a few pics so when i get a chance i'll post them) tomorrow just as a back up i'm going to be looking into finding a local sawyer. Parts List 1 drive spur : not yet sure where to find this yet 3' 1/2" cold rolled steal rod : this will be used for the mandrel, axel and the drive rod from the treadle 2 1/2" drive flanges : 1/2" is what the plans call for i'm thinking we should go 3/4" or 1" for strength 4 1/2" ball bearings : same with these misc. hardware bolts , screws and hinges also i'm thinking we should use osage orange for the headstock drive pulley and laminate 1" honey locust for the lower drive wheel for weight honey locust is very heavy Quote
Travis Posted February 18, 2009 Report Posted February 18, 2009 LOL....I can't contain myself...LOL. I think I'm about as excited about this project as you are. I'm such a armchair woodworker at times. Quote
Christina Posted February 18, 2009 Report Posted February 18, 2009 I have to second Travis' post lol.........I'm really excited about your project too! I wish I had a sawmill here............we are loaded with osage orange. And a whole bunch of trees that I have no idea what are.....oak and... I have no way to cut them down or cut them up. I have 10 acres of woods and weeds roflmbo. I've gotten where I see projects instead of trees Christina Quote
blame Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Posted February 22, 2009 ok so well i've spent the last few days looking for the small pcs to build this project the only place i've found the parts are on ebay from the shopsmith lathe which used 5/8" plain end accessories . otherwise we need to find a machine shop to cut the morse tapers which with me being new to the area i'm not sure were to look and who to trust. after all with my 12 year old nephew will be using it, i want top quality parts even thou it wont spin as fast as an electric lathe its still spinning and safety is top. in the plans he said if he had it to do over he would build the lathe with the 5/8" rod for the head stock. so will upgrade to the 5/8" rod in the head stock as well as for the axle for the wheel. and use 1/2" threaded rod going from the treadle to the axle shaft and a heim joint for the connector from the 5/8" axle to the 1/2" connecting rod. after looking over the stock we cut up out of black locust my nephew decided he does not want to use it. but would rather use oak so we will be looking for some locally. blame Quote
Travis Posted February 23, 2009 Report Posted February 23, 2009 I'm guessing most machine shops could help you out. Especially since they work with lathes themselves and will know exactly what you're talking about, and perhaps offer some advice. With that said, I think you'e on the right track by looking on ebay for parts. Why reinvent the wheel? Plus, I bet they'd be cheaper than having them custom made. Are you just finding all of the mechanical parts before you build? I suppose that would make sense. No use building a machine, only to find out you can't find a part. That would be my luck...LOL Quote
blame Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Posted February 23, 2009 lol ya figured i better get the hard to find pcs first found the drive center on ebay so far but no luck on the live center or a dead center for that fact Quote
blame Posted February 26, 2009 Author Report Posted February 26, 2009 just a small update on the lathe project here we had to curb it for the time being. my nephew is having second thoughts of wanting to follow thru with this. well what really turned him off was the price of the parts. but no worries if he doesnt go thru with his part i'll still build the lathe and give it to him for his birthday but i first want to allow him the chance to do the project first Blame Quote
Travis Posted February 26, 2009 Report Posted February 26, 2009 LOL. Yah, that money could be used to buy video games! LOL. Eh, the priorities you have when you're a kid. It will make a really great gift, though. I would love to have something like that for my birthday! Quote
blame Posted March 2, 2009 Author Report Posted March 2, 2009 Ok so yesterday i went to town and bought the bearings ,bearing flanges, axles, and the metal for the project. i received the drive center i purchased on ebay. all thats left to get is the hiem joint to connect the treadle rod to the flywheel axle having alittle trouble finding one that will work i might have to come up with something else Quote
blame Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Posted March 3, 2009 the parts close up of the bearings and bearing flanges bearing, 5/8 rod , 5/16 rod, misc bolts drive center close up of the drive center all the goodies woot so while looking for the parts that the plans called for i couldnt find the floor pipe flanges so thats what the 3/4" x 3/16th flat bar stock is for. i'll drill a 5/8" hole thru the center of it and weld it to the flywheel axle then drill 2 1/4" holes and bolt it to the fly wheel still havent found a hiem joint that will work sorry about how slow this is going its just taking time to get everything together blame Quote
Travis Posted March 3, 2009 Report Posted March 3, 2009 ...sorry about how slow this is going its just taking time to get everything together ... LOL. It would have taken me 2.5 months to gather those parts! I tend to work at my own pace, which is often painfully slow. You're just flying though in my opinion! Did you buy the bearings and bearing flanges off ebay? Or did you have to strip it off of something? Other than the drive center, looks like you could find them at BORG? Great work Blame, keep it up! Quote
blame Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Posted March 3, 2009 got everything there but the drive center at the local farm and home great place for getting those odds and ends the flanges cost 1.99 for 2 and the 5/8 bearings where 6.99 ea Quote
Travis Posted March 3, 2009 Report Posted March 3, 2009 What section would you find the flanges and ball bearings? I guess I don't remember seeing anything like that. Its good to know most of that stuff is readily available. If yours turns out, maybe I'll make one of my own. Quote
blame Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Posted March 3, 2009 ours has them in the section with the tractor pto's parts ,pulleys, gears, and electric motors they usually carry from 1/2" all the way up to 5" bearings if i was to do it any other way i would buy these here is a 205 mount says 202 bearing but its a bigger bearing http://www.thebigbearingstore.com/servlet/the-216/5-fdsh-8%22-Four-Bolt-Flange/Detail 204 mount 202 bearing http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2009022301115663&item=1-202-10-4-C&catname=powerTrans the farm and home had the fs205 mounts but not the bigger bearings thats why i had to go with the PF-203 mounts the only other choice was the pillow block style and i didnt want to use those Quote
blame Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Posted March 18, 2009 ok so my nephew decided he doesnt like wood turning(warm weather and course all he wants is to go fishing lol) but i'm still going to build me a treadle lathe. so i started cutting out the locust logs i have pics just need to resize them and post them. but i've hit snag again! i bought a band saw and while cutting out some of the pieces i managed to do a stupid "what was i thinking move" cut my hand with it. its about 2" long and 1/2" deep on my index finger of my right hand. went to the ER and got 5 stitches now i have to wait a few days before i can do anything (damn it). i'm lucky thou i still have full function of my hand but i could see the tendon was partially cut in half. was kinda wierd looking into the inside of my finger and seeing the meat, fat, tendon and bone! i have pics of it too , i'll post them soon i get them resized unless u dont want me too lol later blame Quote
Travis Posted March 18, 2009 Report Posted March 18, 2009 That sounds serious! Do you know if there is any nerve damage? Or is that something that you find out after the healing is done? I hope everything is fine. Make sure you take care of that finger. The lathe and woodworking can wait. I don't mind if you post the pictures, although I'm somewhat horrified and probably won't look. But please put a warning in the title for the squeamish (ie, me). Quote
blame Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Posted March 18, 2009 here i am using the chainsaw to rough out the black locust the pics we took while cutting them on the band where so blury that you cant make out any type of detail(dang it) Quote
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