WANTING TO BUY-SMALL LATHE-FOR REFINISHING ONLY

I do the same thing. An old Craftsman wood lathe. I bought a Sherline (I think) adapter to screw onto the 3/8-16 pin of the headstock. It then holds a spur drive. A simple live center for the tailstock end. They are readily available on CraigsList or FB Market. Finding one with a variable speed control like Kim did would be even better.
 
Wood lathe, as stated. Make sure you get a #2 taper on both headstock and tail. Look for an old Delta, Craftsman, Montgomery Ward 42-48". You can run a four jaw chuck, but PSI sells an ER32 collet chuck for those. Just make Delrin adapters for the pin and you'll be off to the races.

A good Nova live center with interchangeable tips is nice to have.

I put an industrial sewing machine motor on mine and could get 60-2000 spindle rpm. Had enough power to turn squares to round.
 
If you are going to be spinning a finish or adhesion coat do not buy a wood lathe unless it has a variable speed motor.

Most wood lathes Rpm goes too fast on the lowest speed and it will cause the finish to want to get funny from the centripetal force.

Feeds and speed is the key.
 
scdiveteam said:
If you are going to be spinning a finish or adhesion coat do not buy a wood lathe unless it has a variable speed motor.

Most wood lathes Rpm goes too fast on the lowest speed and it will cause the finish to want to get funny from the centripetal force.

Feeds and speed is the key.
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That's a good point that has been addressed, though obliquely. I've never used a wood lathe that would go slow enough, even with a stock vs motor. Apparently sooner of the Nova lathe will.

The good thing is that the old cast iron lathes from the fifties are cheap, rebuildable, and have belt drives and separated motors. Adding a good vs motor is an easy mod.
 
Deruki said:
Probably not going to do much better than this frankly unless you can build it from parts you may save a little bit.
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Depends. You can grab the old lathes cheap if you watch cl and marketplace. You'd probably be into the setup I described for about six, but you cannot do more than refinish.
 
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DeeDeeCues said:
Depends. You can grab the old lathes cheap if you watch cl and marketplace. You'd probably be into the setup I described for about six, but you cannot do more than refinish. The mid America tailstock sucks for holding.
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DeeDee,
That tailstock is a standard Taid tailstock - not invented or desgned by Todd.
It has a tightening screw for locking it down that works just fine.
YMMV
Gary
 
GBCues said:
DeeDee,
That tailstock is a standard Taid tailstock - not invented or desgned by Todd.
It has a tightening screw for locking it down that works just fine.
YMMV
Gary
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Thanks. Didn't intend any disrespect to Todd, he's great.

Post will be edited.
 
GBCues said:
DeeDee,
That tailstock is a standard Taid tailstock - not invented or desgned by Todd.
It has a tightening screw for locking it down that works just fine.
YMMV
S4090002 [1600x1200].JPG

Gary
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Replace the screw with a lever and it's a huge upgrade not having to have a wrench right there. Don't know why those things have a habit of hiding.
 
Deruki said:
Replace the screw with a lever and it's a huge upgrade not having to have a wrench right there. Don't know why those things have a habit of hiding.
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I like having the screw drive on the tailstock. I can put controlled pressure that way.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
I like having the screw drive on the tailstock. I can put controlled pressure that way.
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I have one for my deluxe lathe I got from Chris Hightower. Not sure where he obtained it. Yes screw pressure is much better than a lever. Although you can get a feel for the lever pressure making it not such a big deal.
 
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