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A lathe question...

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:45 pm
by Oscarsson
Hello

My old lathe have died on me and I am wondering about getting a new one, but also thinking about make my own by using the motor and the axel to attach the chuck. But I do not have a tailstock to drill with. Would it be possible to drill the chamber, mortise and drafthole if I mount the drill bits on a handle?
Does anyone have experience with this method?

I found this. It's a german site.
He is using this method

https://www.drechsler-forum.de/phpbb/vi ... 4d5b2255e1


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Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 9:48 pm
by DocAitch
Apparently, you can do that, but I think you would have to be very skilled to get a good mortise (a cylinder rather than part of a cone).
I find the mortise to be most critical hole in a pipe, bowl is less so.
I've seen a video of Rainier Barbi drilling the draft hole freehand.
I personally would fix the lathe or replace it. I need the tailstock to drill the rod for my stems.
DocAitch

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:41 pm
by dogcatcher
Do you have a drill press? If you do it would be a it better to make a mount for your chuck and line it up with the chuck in the drill press.

What seems to be the issue with the lathe?

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 11:15 pm
by sandahlpipe
I wouldn't try to do that stuff freehand. If I'm working with a $40 block of briar, I can't afford a margin of error on the drilling. You could use a drill press or a cheap wood lathe off Craigslist if you can't repair or replace your lathe. Use the right tool for the job on the important steps especially.

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 2:47 am
by Charl
It's do-able. But you'll have to practice a lot to get it down perfectly.

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:41 am
by Oscarsson
Thanks for the advice guys.
I do have a big metal lathe. Two tons and three meters long, but the noise it makes! It is nothing wrong with it. Have oiled it and checked the gears and it looks like new. It has been little used said the company that my dad bought it from. Its from the 50s or 60s. It would be great for the handmade stems I hopefully will make in the future. Anyone who use a wood lathe for the stummel and metal lathe for the rest? I know I could use the metal lathe for the stummel too and save me some money, but as I said the noise it makes.
The old wood lathe do not have a proper tailstock on it. It has a screw on it only. Cheap chinese 80s stuff. And the bearings need replacement. Not worth it

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Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 12:03 pm
by sandahlpipe
I had parts made so I can use my briar chuck with either my wood or metal lathe. I prefer to shape the bowl with hand tools. It's quite feasible to do that on the wood lathe and I've done it that way for a couple of years. Now that I have a chuck that works on both, I mostly use my metal lathe for everything. The extra weight really helps with stability and reducing chatter and such.

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 5:33 pm
by Bniesen
Sounds like a pair of marshmallow earphones would be the best overall solution.

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:40 am
by Charl
:lol:
Three meters and weighing two tons might just be overkill for a pipe!
:lol:

Re: A lathe question...

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 4:36 am
by Oscarsson
A new lathe ordered. Record Power DML250. It is a european version of the JET 1014 and the harbor freight one. With a five year gurantee[SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

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