Sherwood lathe

[manos]

Dear all,

this is my first post in this forum. I have an interest in wood turning (with very limited experience) and recently I bought a Sherwood lathe. It seems to be in good condition with no parts missing.
As I try to set it up and create a bench or base to install it, I have trouble visualizing the proper way on positioning the drive in relevance to the motor and the headstock. Unfortunately my tries to find a diagram or any info failed.
I wonder if anyone has seen one or similar and could offer me some advice on how to get it working.
Here are a few pictures as I bought it.

Thanks,

Manos

 

[nev]

http://www.lathes.co.uk/sherwood/

 

[manos]

Thanks Nev,

I have found this page and actually I was able to identify the model of the lathe from this reference. Unfortunately there is no indication on how to set up the drive - headstock - motor.

Thanks anyway!

 

[ardenwoodcraft]

Hi Manos,

Looking at your photos it looks like the separate pulley block needs to line up parallel to the headstock pulleys with the small pulley on the block parallel to the large pulley on the headstock. So large pulley to small pulley or back to front if you like. You would also need to build in some kind of drive belt tensioning arrangement to re-tension the headstock drive belt after changing pulley speeds.

The small separate pulley on the end of the pulley block would then be lined up parallel to the motor pulley, again with some kind of drive belt tensioning arrangement.

It looks like this lathe is designed to be bench mounted but I suppose the motor could be mounted below the bench if needed and you had a long enough drive belt.

Hope this is helpful to you,
Dave.

 

[manos]

Many thanks Dave for your answer.
I was thinking more or less the same way and my main concern still is whether I need to put the drive or pulley block in such a way that the tension is kept by weight or with a tensioning arrangement as you suggest. I suppose that by trial and error I'll get there eventually.

Thanks again,

Manos

 

[ardenwoodcraft]

Many thanks Dave for your answer.
I was thinking more or less the same way and my main concern still is whether I need to put the drive or pulley block in such a way that the tension is kept by weight or with a tensioning arrangement as you suggest. I suppose that by trial and error I'll get there eventually.

Thanks again,

Manos

Hi Manos,

I would suggest that everything needs to be bolted down firmly or you risk breaking belts, projects and any human parts in flying distance!!!

For simplicity I would mount the pulley block in a slotted mounting block so you have your gearchange adjustment there. And mount the motor also on a slotted block as you will have to re-tension the motor drive belt as well every time you change gear.

You could also try mounting the pulley block directly on the motor shaft so you only have to deal with one tensioning arrangement although I'm not sure how that would affect your lathe speeds?

Now you can see why people like variable speed lathes so much. Saves a lot of hassle!!

 

[manos]

You are so right Ardenwoodcraft. I have seen pics of accidents and certainly wouldn't like the experience...!

Thanks,

Manos

 

[manos]

So today I have had a few hours to look into the lathe. I tried to make a mock up installation so as to get a feeling on the way I should be making a bench or a base to set it up.

So the headstock is in the same level with the drive that it has a pivoting base so as to be able to change speed.

And beneath is the motor which is also on a pivoting base in order to permit the speed changes.

It seams to work fine with very limited vibration which stops immediately as soon as you touch the drive. That means that an adjusting device is certainly needed, most likely in both the drive and the motor although the later might work adequately only held by weight. I suppose something like a bottle screw or similar. I'm still working on that.
Of course there is always gonna be a few details that need checking:

You see the mistake? I have to make sure that the pulleys match straight with the corresponding both sides!

Until next time,

Manos

 

[manos]

So I managed to create a bench on which to install the lathe.

More or less it is steady with no vibration or noise and I only need to permanently place the (pivoting) motor in position that is now held with clamps until the best possible alignment has been achieved.

I have had my first try on turning a piece of wood...

Out of which came this:

Obviously now it is time to buy a few proper tools (as the ones I had simply were not wood turning tools but a few old chisels) and continue reading and learning...

Tried also to create with carton a dust hood as it became obvious from the very first moments that it is necessary. I don't think though that the domestic hoover I have attached to a triton dust collector bucket is adequate so a proper one most likely will need to be added to that (endless) shopping list...

Until next time, every comment most welcomed...

Manos