Inexpensive solution for doing tips?

can't believe somebody is selling something I've made and used for years,,, lol,,,, skateboard wheels make a good steady rest or a follow rest for your lathe, plus you can get 4 wheels on a walMart skateboard for about $10....just takes a little time and ability to make..... j :D
 
Do a search using the keywords "homemade lathe". There was a thread last month where I and a few others posted about our own setups. You'll definitely get some ideas. I built my entire spinner for less than the starting bid of the auction you refer to.
Bill
 
Hi BiilyJack,
There have been many very creative variations of home made steady rests and lathes posted here. I've built a few myself and posted pictures for others to see. I'm certainly not implying that the gadget in the link is better than or worse than yours or anyone elses.

I thought there might be one or two other people in the world who are as mechanically challenged as myself and might be interested in seeing another idea.
Enjoy your jellybeans,
Rip
 
Rip,
I enjoy all the posts on these lowbuck tools, just to read other's ideas and experiences. Between your link and Jack's post I learned today about using skateboard wheels as rollers. Neat idea! I was lucky enough to find some sealed bearings at a surplus store. Before then, I was on the hunt for some cheap bearings and never thought of skates or a skateboard. One more thing I'd like to share if you haven't tried it yet;Trying to drill a centered hole for a bolt in a crutch tip is a pain. Even with a drill press the bit tears the rubber and the hole is off center by a hair. The crutch tips at my local hardware store have a few rings on the bottom. I've been matching a piece of hardwood dowel to the smallest ring and attaching with super glue. They spin true and I haven't tore one off yet. Enjoy.
Bill
 
billyjack said:
Trying to drill a centered hole for a bolt in a crutch tip is a pain. Even with a drill press the bit tears the rubber and the hole is off center by a hair.
Click to expand...


Use a soldering iron and burn a hole in it.
Or heat a brass tube and se that.
Stinky, and best done outside, but it works.

Willee
 
WilleeCue said:
Use a soldering iron and burn a hole in it.
Or heat a brass tube and se that.
Stinky, and best done outside, but it works.

Willee
Click to expand...

Wil,

Can't believe you don't know the old rubber bumper trick.
Put it in your freezer over night - it will drill like plastic

Dale
 
pdcue said:
Wil,

Can't believe you don't know the old rubber bumper trick.
Put it in your freezer over night - it will drill like plastic

Dale
Click to expand...
you are a certifiable cue genius :D
 
Kelly_Guy said:
I heard you could just take out the "certifiable cue" part. :D :eek: :D

Kelly
Click to expand...

Yes, but only in my own mind

Dale<actually it is the 'cue genius' part that can be removed>
 
pdcue said:
Wil,

Can't believe you don't know the old rubber bumper trick.
Put it in your freezer over night - it will drill like plastic

Dale
Click to expand...

Well THANK YOU!! ... hell of an idea!!!! As soon as I post this I'm walking to the work bench, then the freezer, then back here to finish my morning perusal of the forums. Thanks again.
 
Rip said:
Has anyone tried one yet? It seems that if you use this in conjunction with the old crutch tip tool and power drill it might be an affordable solution. What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cue-Tip-Repair-device-On-Your-Lathe-Or-Bench_W0QQitemZ110112267973QQihZ001QQcategoryZ1292QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Regards,
Rip
Click to expand...

I bought one. I added self-sticking felt to the wheels as I was concerned about them making marks on the shaft.

Now I can't figure out how to get the crutch tip attached to the sewing machine motor output shaft. Any ideas?
 
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JimS said:
I bought one. I added self-sticking felt to the wheels as I was concerned about them making marks on the shaft.

Now I can't figure out how to get the crutch tip attached to the sewing machine motor output shaft. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
You could make a coupling out of the appropriate diameter tube that slips snug over the motor shaft. Drill and tap a hole for a set screw and tap the other end for a bolt/screw (self tapping would probably work in aluminum; maybe brass):)
4tfkyzq.jpg

Regards,
Greg
 
That's exactly what I've been thinking of but....

I don't have very good machinery to do the job of drilling a 6mm hole for the shaft, then the small hole for a set screw, then the hole in the other end for a 1/4" bolt... or 6mm bolt.

I have a cheap drill press that might do the job and I'm going to see if I can get a piece of billett aluminum to machine. Gotta try it on my own before I take it to somebody who knows what they're doing. :D
 
Jim, I'm about as cheap a man as you'll ever meet. I would be looking at small old broken dot-matrix printers (get free or for a dollar) for salvage parts. These are nearly always built with metric shafts, so you may be able to find a nice collar for your motor that will work with minimal modifications. You will need metric allen wrenches and/or torx drivers to dissasemble the printer.

Dave
 
cheapest way

in the long run the cheapest way to replace a tip is to take it to someone that has the correct equipment and knowledge. i have seen too many times a $175.00 shaft totally screwed by some guy and his homemade drill setup. i know because i have cleaned shafts on my jewelry polishing machine, it may work the first time maybe the 2nd, or 3rd, but when it slips and that 175.00 is now 12 cents worth of firewood, you are thinking man, i should have just spent that $20.00 and had it done right.
 
cheapest way

in the long run the cheapest way to replace a tip is to take it to someone that has the correct equipment and knowledge. i have seen too many times a $175.00 shaft totally screwed by some guy and his homemade drill setup. i know because i have cleaned shafts on my jewelry polishing machine, it may work the first time maybe the 2nd, or 3rd, but when it slips and that 175.00 is now 12 cents worth of firewood, you are thinking man, i should have just spent that $20.00 and had it done right.
 
pdcue said:
Wil,

Can't believe you don't know the old rubber bumper trick.
Put it in your freezer over night - it will drill like plastic

Dale
Click to expand...

I aint old enough to know that one ... lol
 
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