Lathe question?

[Oso]

The head of my lathe does not have a morse taper, but my tail has a #2 MT. The head is only a threaded stud that the bowl attachment and the centering piece thread on to.

Is there an adapter, or a way to fasten a pen mandrel to this lathe?

The lathe is a Harbor Frieght 45276. :eek: I know, I know, but it worked for what I originally bought it for. It just doesnt work for what I want now.

Any ideas suggestions? We have a machine shop at work, and I am going to see if I can get a threaded adapter made with a 7mm hole so I can thread the mandrel straight in to the adapter.
But, I dont want to have to make different adapters for different kits.


Oso

[Servcman]

You Will have to measure your threads on your headstock but I know penn State Industries and berea Hardwoods do have pen mandrels with a 3/4" and 1" thread adapters. The thing to watch with the Harbor Freight tools is that alot of their threads are metric. On my first lathe I had to get the 3/4" thread adapter then drill and tap it to the metric thread pitch.
Dennis

[Oso]

the lathe has a standard 3/4-10 thread pattern. This is a course thread and the only mandrel I saw at Penn was a 3/4-16.

I may just fabricate one. Not extremely difficult, but would have preffered to buy one.

If anyone else has a Harbor Freight lathe they need a 3/4-10 Mandrel for, drop me a line. I guess I will make mine to take a 7mm mandrel. Will be just as easy to make a few as it will be to make one. If I had a 3 or 4 jaw chuck for my lathe I could build it now :rolleyes: .



Oso

[Oso]

I am fixed up now! I called Penn State (very helpful people) and talked to a very helpful individual. Penn State sells a Headstock converter, it changes my thread from a 3/4"-10 to a 1"-8, and they also have a matching mandrel kit for that shaft size. Below are the part number.

Part# LBU-Y Headstock spindle converter 3/4-10 by 1"-8 $12.95
Part# PKM-BL Universal Lathe Mandrel Set (Delta,¨ Jet¨) 1" x 8 tpi"

I provide this for future Harbor Freight customers who buy lathes without knowing what they are buying :rolleyes:.



Oso

[JoeScroller]

Oso- HF now has a 6'' WOOD LATHE CHUCK WITH KEY-4 JAW for sale, looks like it might be an okay buy(http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31223) its a bit large, but might work well if you need a cheap chuck.

[Oso]

Hey thanks! I almost just bought one at PSI with my mandrel order. 6 lbs is heavy, I am already having doubts about the bearings on my lathe :p .

It is alot cheaper than PSI's but I am a little leary of HF stuff now. I am kinda favoring the PSI 3-jaw micro chuck for my next order, and may throw in a Drill chuck also.

I need to make something for the wife pretty fast, she is wanting to know what the lathe had to do with home remodeling :D!


Great forum guys, thanks for the help.



Oso

[JoeScroller]

HAHA :) , I agree with being nervous :eek: about HF, our lathe blew the first motor out within a month of having it, I will say that they have an amazing return policy, basically its just: bring it in and we will give you a new one! GOOD LUCK :)

[Servcman]

The lathe you have is similar to my first one. Watch the headstock the bearing seat walls are very thin and actualy wore out on mine. also there was alot of flex in the way the headstock is mounted to the rails if trying to chuck up anything large between the headstock and tailstock. It is a good beginners lathe and shouuld give you some good usage to see if you like turning. But I would also plan on upgrading to something like the Jet, Delta or PSI midi lathes that can have an extension bed attached to it if you are mainly going to turn pens or ocasionaly spindles. If you plan on turning anything larger in the near future you may want to really look at the full size lathes from the major manufacturers.
Dennis

[Oso]

Thanks for the information. I am getting a 'tic' in the baring already and did notice the significant flex when you butt the live center against the piece of wood.

Really, this was just a play thing, I bought Ryobi Table saw, Miter Saw and Drill Press.

We have a Woodcraft franchise just up the road. Looks like the get most there stock from PSI. I was loking at the various lathes from Delta, General, and Jet. For about another $100 I could buy one of these. May think about it after I get a sander, band saw, and a few other goodies.



Oso

[TimD]

I've got one of those little Grizzly Imports mini lathes that has been a very good one. Also have a Rockwell with an 8' (yes that feet) between centers, now that's a lathe. For small turnings like pens and chess pieces give me the Grizz; no belt changes and more speed.

[JoeScroller]

EIGHT FEET!! what are you turning? Missiles or Rockets? :confused:

[TimD]

[QUOTE=JoeScroller]EIGHT FEET!! what are you turning? Missiles or Rockets?
QUOTE]
No, I worked with missiles for 6-1/2 yrs., they were 30 feet long. 8 feet will however turn posts or columns for porches! Just for the joke of it I've thought about making a baseball bat that big, reckon anyone would buy 1?

[JoeScroller]

HAHA, mabye if whales were playing! Six feet is my height, that would be cool, a baseball bat as tall as me, you could hit a ball being thrown towards home plate from first plate! You worked with missiles, were you in the Air Force?

[Ex19k]

Would be cool for a sports shop..hmmmmm. would be cool to see though.
I am just trying to picture swing it.