Homemade lathe for tips and shaft cleaning

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ohpoolplayer

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Just curious if any of you guys out there have made a homemade lathe.All I am looking for it to be capable of doing is tips and shaft cleaning and burnishing.I would buy a production model but finances at this time won't allow it.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
My first investment in cue repair was a Willard's. In '98 that was about $400 including additional cutters, collets, etc., to fit all shaft sizes. I was doing shaping and burnishing manually so I got a spare shaft holder from Willard, a pillow block, sewing machine motor, etc., and mounted them on a 12" x 12" piece of 1" board. With a home-made steady rest I had a "spinner" that I used for tip shaping and burnishing until I bought a lathe. That "spinner" is still around here somewhere gathering dust. It worked fine 'cept I was burning up sewing machine motors 'cuz I wouldn't let 'em cool off... :)

Troy

ohpoolplayer said:
Just curious if any of you guys out there have made a homemade lathe.All I am looking for it to be capable of doing is tips and shaft cleaning and burnishing.I would buy a production model but finances at this time won't allow it.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Troy,

Where did you get the pillow block and what did you put on the end of the motor to hold the shafts? Yhanks for your help. :)
 
I got the pillow block at a local bearing supply outlet. It had exactly the correct ID to accept the spare Willard shaft holder. The motor drove the shaft holder via a rubber sewing maching drive "belt.

Troy
ohpoolplayer said:
Troy,

Where did you get the pillow block and what did you put on the end of the motor to hold the shafts? Yhanks for your help. :)
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home made lathe

Hi, I made one..Took a electric, 1/10 h.p. motor, mounted on 8 inch board, 44 inches long. Bought colletes to fit electric motor or drill, from Joe Picone, 7 pieces about 40 bucks.( he sells them on E-bay), Took another piece of 5"x5" ,1/2" plywood drilled a 1 inch hole through it. Took three sliding glass door rollers, with groove, made fat o-rings for grooves, about a buck a piece for 0 rings, 10 bucks for rollers, mounted them on plywood for cue tip to roll on, made slot for one roller, so its adjustable from 11mm to 14 mm. All told about 75.00 cost and a couple of hours time. about 3.50 in bolts, nuts and wood screws. Hope this helps. I couldnt get no help when I was asking. The guys that make these won`t sell you the pillow blocks they use for less than 200. one guy wanted 300....I think they should make a reasonable profit, but pillow blocks are 10. from northern tools, or make one like I did...Later,, Jack
 
home made lathe

The one your showing looks like it fastens with a screw to cue tip....mine just rides on rollers...causes no damage or marks...if you need a cheap one. look at the ultimate pocket lathe.....its about 25 bucks, with tip shapers......but you roll it by hand...might make something on a motor...the guy Mike Nivers that designed it, is working on something..so stay posted..........Jack
 
lathe

ohpoolplayer said:
Just curious if any of you guys out there have made a homemade lathe.All I am looking for it to be capable of doing is tips and shaft cleaning and burnishing.I would buy a production model but finances at this time won't allow it.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Oh hell, just get a 3/8 electric drill, put a shaft pin that fitts your shaft, in the chuck, and now you got a cheap lathe for cleaning and if your carefull, shaping tips. Get your wife to hold the drill why you clean and or shape.If not, VICE, on the work bench.DUH!
blud
 
Homemade lathe

Heck, I used an electric fan motor and a rubber dobbie to make my first lathe.
Worked a lot better after I removed the blade when I got out of the hospital. Kind of hard to do one handed these days but I am getting the hang of it now.
Don't forget to take the blade off the motor man, that can save ya a lot of time.
Don (Lefty) P. :cool:
 
blud said:
Oh hell, just get a 3/8 electric drill, put a shaft pin that fitts your shaft, in the chuck, and now you got a cheap lathe for cleaning and if your carefull, shaping tips. Get your wife to hold the drill why you clean and or shape.If not, VICE, on the work bench.DUH!
blud
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Sounds like a great idea Blud but I can't get my wife to hold ANYTHING.
 
lathe

Hemi, do you want to buy a hardly used "fan lathe". Sell it to ya cheep. Sorry about your ol'lady pal. Wish I could give you a hand but I am tied up right now. Learning how to type with one hand.
Don P. :cool:
 
home made lathe

Hi, My first lathe was a fan also, but motor is too weak, bogs down to nothing when pressure is put on it. Also needed something for other end, so hands were free, and did not want pressure , distortion, on cue shaft. glad to see everyone has a sense of humor....Hemicudas seen pics of mine. Not high dollar but very effective, and the nearest guy that does these charges 10 bucks for a Le Pro tip installed and shaped, plus its 80 miles round trip to Alpena,Mi from Atlanta Mi. and I can get the Le Pros for less than 50 cents a tip....so I`m a hick,,,but I ain`t paying 10 bucks a tip any more, or driving 80 miles plus to have one put on right. If you guys play, you have seen/ had, many tips put on. So you do know how its done.....Whats the problem???..Either make one or keep buying from someone else...no skin off my butt, I just answered a post..........Jack
 
hotrodjack said:
Hi, My first lathe was a fan also, but motor is too weak, bogs down to nothing when pressure is put on it. Also needed something for other end, so hands were free, and did not want pressure , distortion, on cue shaft. glad to see everyone has a sense of humor....Hemicudas seen pics of mine. Not high dollar but very effective, and the nearest guy that does these charges 10 bucks for a Le Pro tip installed and shaped, plus its 80 miles round trip to Alpena,Mi from Atlanta Mi. and I can get the Le Pros for less than 50 cents a tip....so I`m a hick,,,but I ain`t paying 10 bucks a tip any more, or driving 80 miles plus to have one put on right. If you guys play, you have seen/ had, many tips put on. So you do know how its done.....Whats the problem???..Either make one or keep buying from someone else...no skin off my butt, I just answered a post..........Jack
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Hey, like Jack said, it ain't pretty but it works well. Check it out. I think he did a hell of a job.
 
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home made lathe

Thanks for the vote hemi....I`m doing a second one now. :D I wish I had gone to the Professors game...congratulations to the winners....Jack
 
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