mini lathe

[mickybrick]

Hi, I'm looking for a reasonably priced used mini-lathe to drill my pen blanks with. I'm really fed up with trying pillar drills with spindle run-out and messing up blanks!! :evil: Anyone know of one up for sale?? preferably in Kent.
Many thanks
Mick

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Why not get a chuck with a set of long nose jaws and use that to drill the blanks on your existing lathe?

I'd avoid the type sold by some manufactures for pen turning that consist of only two jaws - the ones above will do everything the two jaw types will do and more

Regards Mick

 

[mickybrick]

Hi Mick,
Thanks for that, it probably would be an answer, just means that I'll have to drill blanks in volume to save changing from chuck to mandrel all the time.
I'll have a look around to see if I can get a set of similar jaws for my chuck.
Regards
Mick.

 

[Inspector]

The other downside of drilling on a mini-lathe is the short travel of the quill in the tailstock. It means having to push and pull the tailstock in and out of the hole to clear the swarf to drill longer tubed pens.

Pete

 

[nev]

The drill bits will follow the path of least resistance and drift just as much off centre whether in the drill or on the lathe. If its a case of too much lateral play in the drill press I'd be tempted to spend my money on a new one of them and possibly a decent blank holding vice.

 

[Spindle]

The drill bits will follow the path of least resistance and drift just as much off centre whether in the drill or on the lathe

Hi

Not strictly true - the lathe is more than likely more rigid with better bearings and less run out - the lathe should be a substantial improvement on a knackered drill press.

Regards Mick

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

The drill bits will follow the path of least resistance and drift just as much off centre whether in the drill or on the lathe. If its a case of too much lateral play in the drill press I'd be tempted to spend my money on a new one of them and possibly a decent blank holding vice.

I would agree. I get plenty of "off centre" wanders when using a Jacobs chuck on the lathe. The run out of the chuck is minimal, the wander is happening inside the wood and that's even with relatively expensive drill bits.

 

[nev]

The drill bits will follow the path of least resistance and drift just as much off centre whether in the drill or on the lathe

Hi
.... the lathe should be a substantial improvement on a knackered drill press.

Regards Mick

Indeed , but much of an improvement on a new one?

 

[Spindle]

Indeed , but much of an improvement on a new one?

Indeed - but think of the guys pocket

If you're getting unacceptable wandering it's worth upping the speed and lowering the feed rate - avoiding burning obviously. Also make sure you are clearing the 'swarf' from the drill flutes frequently.

Mick

 

[Lons]

I have a very good Meddings drill press and good hand made blank vice but I now drill all my pen blanks on the lathe using a 4 jaw chuck with jacobs chuck in the tailstock. Only had 1 blank off centre and compared to the press its vastly superior and just as easy. Lathe is a Jet 1014 btw.
I run at slow speed and withdraw the drill regularly to clear the swarf and keep things cool.
Bob

 

[SteveF]

what chuck u using lons ?

Steve

 

[Vic Perrin]

I have a very good Meddings drill press and good hand made blank vice but I now drill all my pen blanks on the lathe using a 4 jaw chuck with jacobs chuck in the tailstock. Only had 1 blank off centre and compared to the press its vastly superior and just as easy. Lathe is a Jet 1014 btw.
I run at slow speed and withdraw the drill regularly to clear the swarf and keep things cool.
Bob

Why worry if they are off centre , when you square the ends with either a pen mill or on a sanding disc the problem is overcome as long as you are not that far off centre you have not left enough material to incorporate the fittings. Some blanks look better when they are drilled off centre which gives the grain a different orientation.

I drill on the lathe now feeding the cut slow and removing the drill and clearing the cuttings frequently, especially the last few millimetres to avoid blow out.

Try mounting an oversize blank off centre on the lathe and prepare and drill it you might be surprised at the results of the orientation of the grain.

Vic

 

[Lons]

what chuck u using lons ?

Steve

I have a Record G3 which I bought as part of the lathe package. Not had a problem with it so far except it tightened on to the spindle in use. I cut a rubber washer to put behind it - problem solved.

Why worry if they are off centre , when you square the ends with either a pen mill or on a sanding disc the problem is overcome as long as you are not that far off centre you have not left enough material to incorporate the fittings. Some blanks look better when they are drilled off centre which gives the grain a different orientation.
I drill on the lathe now feeding the cut slow and removing the drill and clearing the cuttings frequently, especially the last few millimetres to avoid blow out.

I completely agree with that Vic though there are times when thin blanks or corian just have to be dead accurate. I found that the case when I tried the pine cones as well.

Bob

 

[mickybrick]

Thanks to you all for the advice, as on limited budget, my first step will be to find a set of pin jaws for my multistar TITAN chuck and see how that goes.
Regards
Mick

 

[mickybrick]

Further to yesterday's post, and subsequently visiting the supplier of my chuck (Multistar TITAN), I was told that they are no longer made, and they could not get Long Nose jaws now. I also have a multistar duplex chuck, but the thread size is wrong for my 3/4 x 16tpi spindle.
Does anyone know of any spares around for multistar DUPLEX or Multistar TITAN chucks???
Any info. would be appreciated
Regards
Mick

 

[Spindle]

Hi

If you intend to keep your lathe and can stretch your budget to this you'll find plenty of other uses for it in addition to drilling blanks :wink:

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodworkin ... a+xt650kit

Regards Mick

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Further to yesterday's post, and subsequently visiting the supplier of my chuck (Multistar TITAN), I was told that they are no longer made, and they could not get Long Nose jaws now. I also have a multistar duplex chuck, but the thread size is wrong for my 3/4 x 16tpi spindle.
Does anyone know of any spares around for multistar DUPLEX or Multistar TITAN chucks???
Any info. would be appreciated
Regards
Mick

The Dakota Chuck from Rutlands that Spindle linked is actually very good value and many people on here have bought one, particularly at promotion times when its even cheaper. It comes in at just under £70 for the chuck alone with the regular 50mm jaws and in the world of chucks...that's good value. The kit in Spindle's link is even better value when you consider the single prices of each of those jaw sets. If you just wanted pin jaws it would be cheaper to buy the chuck body alone and pin jaws as a single add on. Not that its relevant in your case but the Supernova 2 jaw sets are compatible with the Dakota so if you ever get a chance on a cheap or 2nd hand SN2 then your investment in Dakota jaws is protected. Similarly, anyone selling SN2 jaw sets would fit your Dakota chuck. I myself have the SN2 12" COLE jaws permanently mounted on a Dakota chuck to save the faff of continually changing when it comes time to clean up the chucking point on bowl bases.

 

[Robbo3]

On a point of clarity, the Rutlands chuck that Mick linked to (Part No. XT650KIT) is a 70mm chuck where as the norm is a 100mm.

Now there is nothing wrong with that. The chuck seems to be well made & the kit excellent value for money but I mention it because I know one person who was quite disappointed when they didn't read the specs properly & bought a 3" chuck thinking it was 4".

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

well spotted. I think (from memory) the part No of the chuck I'm referring to ie the 4" is XT700

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Correct - it is the 3" chuck which I believe is modelled on the Record Power G3.

It will still accept the XT700 and supernova jaws

Regards Mick