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Early Access Video: Real Lathe Pt. 4: Tool-rest (Patreon)

Published:
2018-11-09 17:06:37
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Friends: 

I really thought I was going to bang this one out, but damn, it was just a comedy of errors from start to finish. Turns out that making a tool rest out of wood is VERY difficult. Wood is just not rigid the way that steel and cast iron are and making something like this requires a totally different approach. 

I think this video is an exercise in iterative design, which is another way of saying "I screwed up; time to re-make that thing that just broke."

But in the end I'm happy with the progress. I hope to have the tail-stock ready next week. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

--Rex

Files

Previews only

Real Lathe Pt. 4: Fully Adjustable Tool-rest

More video and exclusive content: http://www.patreon.com/rexkrueger

Comments

George B

I was going to comment on the rigidity issue (my experience with home made tool-rests was the same - awful chatter), and then you addressed it so well!! there's still the double-pipe bed: it might still flex a little with the forces exerted on it, and then the chatter might be a lot harder to fix.. looking forward to see it in motion! thanks for the great video!

Rex Krueger
>>17027332

George: Thanks for your kind words and your thoughts. I think the pipe will be okay because so many commercial lathes have been produced with round ways and those were generally light-gauge tube, not the heave pipe I used. There will be some flex, but we'll see. And if there is flex, then I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve!

James Boatright

Rex heist and seriously considering following your idea about a homemade lays but I'm thinking about using a salvage structural I-beam instead of a pair of pipes that should be more inherently rigid and it should be easier to rigidly clamp a tool rest to. Its course I could be completely wrong we'll see . You have any thoughts?

Rex Krueger

James: I think an I beam would be very rigid and would be one of my top choices if I were building the lathe just for myself and not for public consumption. I think it will be stronger than the pipes (which seem to be doing fine) but I don't immediately see how one would clamp to them. I'm sure it's not impossible, but I'd be interested to hear what you have in mind. Let me know your thoughts and perhaps some of the other Patrons want to weigh-in as well. Seems like a good crowd-sourcing problem to me.

James Boatright

I withdraw the suggestion. Used steel beams are currently STUPID expensive. Ten foot pieces of appropriate size are listed for $200 and up. Black iron pipe sounds brillient.

Rex Krueger
>>17059083

Well, I have seen them at estate sales. They are out there. I should have snapped some up just to have on hand. Also, I was chatting with an engineer buddy of mine and he suggested 1-inch (or bigger) square tubes arranged just like I have the pipe, but turned 45 degrees so that one corner points straight up. He explained how that would be even stronger than pipe. More expensive, but still manageable.

James Boatright

1in x 1in x 6 ft x 0.12 is about $22 at lowes and 1.25 square x 0.12 x 5 ft is 24 at online metals. The other advantage of thos is, you could drill and tap the tube to keep the headstock from moving rather than just relying on clamping force.