DIY Lathe Question

x3dnd3x

x3dnd3x

Trainee Chalk Collector
Silver Member
Hi all,

I'm not sure whether this section is the correct place to ask. Sorry if its not. I'm intending on making my own DIY lathe and have seen a few drawings and etc. It would be a portable drill lathe.

What I'm wondering is, do I really need a collet? I've read and seen the picture of a collet, it looks like a white washer or something. Its meant to prevent the shaft or butt from moving I believe? But isn't it suppose to keep spinning so why would people actually slide the white collet into the shaft?
 
x3dnd3x said:
Hi all,

I'm not sure whether this section is the correct place to ask. Sorry if its not. I'm intending on making my own DIY lathe and have seen a few drawings and etc. It would be a portable drill lathe.

What I'm wondering is, do I really need a collet? I've read and seen the picture of a collet, it looks like a white washer or something. Its meant to prevent the shaft or butt from moving I believe? But isn't it suppose to keep spinning so why would people actually slide the white collet into the shaft?
Click to expand...

I don't believe that you understand how a lathe works. You need some basic mechanical understanding of its function and how objects are mounted and spun in a lathe.

Go to youtube and watch some lathe videos and some cue building videos. It will increase your knowledge on the subject.

Kim
 
whammo57 said:
I don't believe that you understand how a lathe works. You need some basic mechanical understanding of its function and how objects are mounted and spun in a lathe.

Go to youtube and watch some lathe videos and some cue building videos. It will increase your knowledge on the subject.

Kim
Click to expand...

Yes. I don't really understand how a lathe works. Would be kind enough to tell me what does a collet actually do? :confused:

I'm referring to this.

IMG_0845.jpg
 
In most cases involving cue repair (replacing tips ferrules etc.) the collet is used to protect the workpiece from coming into direct contact with surfaces of the lathe which could mar or damage the cue.
 
tsp&b said:
In most cases involving cue repair (replacing tips ferrules etc.) the collet is used to protect the workpiece from coming into direct contact with surfaces of the lathe which could mar or damage the cue.
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Thank you so much. Would a ball bearing be able to substitute the collet? This white small piece of plastic is actually quite expensive. :(
 
x3dnd3x said:
Thank you so much. Would a ball bearing be able to substitute the collet? This white small piece of plastic is actually quite expensive. :(
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:rolleyes: If you think a collet is expensive...... you better stop now........


You REALLY need to take Kim's advice and watch some videos on youtube and get a BASIC understanding of a lathe and/or the mechanics of a lathe.
 
Dirtbmw20 said:
:rolleyes: If you think a collet is expensive...... you better stop now........


You REALLY need to take Kim's advice and watch some videos on youtube and get a BASIC understanding of a lathe and/or the mechanics of a lathe.
Click to expand...

I watched quite a few of them. I'm not gonna turn a block down or etc. I just feel its handy to have a lathe at home but its expensive to get 1 so I intend to make a drill one. I'm just a student so sometimes this USD30 and above items would be rather costly at times if needed to get a few.

Looking at this two as a base project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfEJqfFh-BA

http://www.instructables.com/id/100-Homemade-Lathe/
 
Dirtbmw20 said:
You can buy them already made up to accept a drill, probably cheaper than you can make it.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Hobby-Lathe-Disc-Sander/H2669



There is also one out on ebay that LOOKS to be of very good quality although I have never heard the name, seen one in person, or used one myself.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZYLISS-TORN...lamps_Vises&hash=item4176f7c677#ht_202wt_1328
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Both don't ship to Singapore. But yeah, I did my homework here on the pricing of the spare parts. It'll cost me below SGD$100 for everything. :)
 
i watched the first video

and have these suggestions, you will need a much bigger vice for holding shafts, and i would double the amount of duc tape used to hold the drill. good luck with your venture
 
A collet is made to protect the shaft when inside a chuck. Your drill type of set up will not have a chuck that closes down on the shaft and therefore the collet is not needed. You can probably save yourself a lot of money by buying a lathe up front that is ready to go.

Here is why: You will spend a couple of hundred dollars or more to get a basic set up going with a drill, rest and maybe rollers. Then you will not be happy with it and will spend more money modifying it. Then you will still not be totally happy and will spend some more money trying to make that primitive set up work as good as you want it to. Then you will try to sell it and buy a cue lathe. You will take a big loss on what you put into the homemade drill set up if you can even sell it. Then you will buy a cue lathe and say to yourself that you wish you would have done it that way in the first place.

The above is an example of real life stories that have been told to me over and over by people who tried to build a drill type of lathe and then eventually bought a cue lathe from me.
 
Your lathes are gorgeous but sadly, I don't have the vitamin M for it. :(

cueman said:
A collet is made to protect the shaft when inside a chuck. Your drill type of set up will not have a chuck that closes down on the shaft and therefore the collet is not needed. You can probably save yourself a lot of money by buying a lathe up front that is ready to go.

Here is why: You will spend a couple of hundred dollars or more to get a basic set up going with a drill, rest and maybe rollers. Then you will not be happy with it and will spend more money modifying it. Then you will still not be totally happy and will spend some more money trying to make that primitive set up work as good as you want it to. Then you will try to sell it and buy a cue lathe. You will take a big loss on what you put into the homemade drill set up if you can even sell it. Then you will buy a cue lathe and say to yourself that you wish you would have done it that way in the first place.

The above is an example of real life stories that have been told to me over and over by people who tried to build a drill type of lathe and then eventually bought a cue lathe from me.
Click to expand...
 
desi2960 said:
and have these suggestions, you will need a much bigger vice for holding shafts, and i would double the amount of duc tape used to hold the drill. good luck with your venture
Click to expand...

I hope everything turns out well.
 
I would seriously recommend taking a machine shop class or even a basic wood turning class before spending money on equipment. this way you can see how things work, get some basic shop safety instruction, and see if you even enjoy the work...

from my experience, i have worked in other peoples' cue/machine/auto shops before and it's good to have someone with experience there to make sure you don't shred up your project/fingers/face, etc.

then again, some learn from experience. try turning on your lathe with the chuck key still in the chuck, that's a great lesson. and it's free!!! (minus hospital bills)
 
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