what is a cheap lathe setup that works?

scottycoyote

scottycoyote

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i dont want to build cues or do repairs for people, just want to be able to maintain my own equipment. I bought these chucks on ebay, so you can thread ur shaft on them and do work, so i was just wondering what kind of setup you guys would recommend for me. Ive seen a deal where you basically just strap a drill down on a board......or should i look for a certain kind of lathe? I have no woodworking experience so keep it simple..........cuz im stooooopid :D
 
I did what you talk about....strapped a drill to a board and hold the cue with a crutch tip that has a screw coming out of the bottom. Great for tips, sanding & cleaning shafts. Cost next to nothing.
 
Cheap is such a nasty word. I have seen people make a lazy lathe out of a drill, and a sewing machine motor, also used at the front to hold the ferrule end was a pillow block bearing with a collet. Lots of imaginations. I guess it all depends on how much you actually appreciate your cue. I know a lot of people who do their own tips and I always thank them when I have to change ferrules due to ........................oooops!
 
Michael Webb said:
Cheap is such a nasty word. I have seen people make a lazy lathe out of a drill, and a sewing machine motor, also used at the front to hold the ferrule end was a pillow block bearing with a collet. Lots of imaginations. I guess it all depends on how much you actually appreciate your cue. I know a lot of people who do their own tips and I always thank them when I have to change ferrules due to ........................oooops!
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how do they mess up the ferrules? I do my own by hand with a porper mushroom grazer to trim it down and a bit of sandpaper or emery board. Haven't had any close calls. What do you see so I can avoid it?
 
don't try this at home !, I'm a professional,,,,,,I make things out of nothing,,,,,bought a HF #36066? wood lathe for 99 cents plus $33 shipping off eBay (14" x36"),,bought a 5" metal lathe chuck with a flat back; attached it to the flat bowl plate on the lathe; bought a concave live center (#2 MT) and lathe pins from Chris Hightower,,,started reconditioning shafts,,,,got a lathe steady rest from HF, modified it with new skateboard wheels (board was $8 at WalMart) to not mar the shaft; have to occasionally sand the wheels to get the gunk off,,,steady rest allowed me to cut off and replace ferrules and tip with ease,,,the rest is up to anybody's imagination....a set of $9.99 wood lathe tools work super (just gotta keep them sharp),,,,,,,a little mechanical experience and imagination will make things work,,,,,,jflan

a few trips to the local library to research things you don't know works, too.........
 
cubswin said:
how do they mess up the ferrules? I do my own by hand with a porper mushroom grazer to trim it down and a bit of sandpaper or emery board. Haven't had any close calls. What do you see so I can avoid it?
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Have you ever seen what happens to a shaft when it's spinning and someone lets go of the tip end? :D
 
JoeyInCali said:
Have you ever seen what happens to a shaft when it's spinning and someone lets go of the tip end? :D
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almost as much fun as when the brakes go out on your car,,,,LOL :eek: :D
 
Jack Flanagan said:
don't try this at home !, I'm a professional,,,,,,I make things out of nothing,,,,,bought a HF #36066? wood lathe for 99 cents plus $33 shipping off eBay (14" x36"),,bought a 5" metal lathe chuck with a flat back; attached it to the flat bowl plate on the lathe; bought a concave live center (#2 MT) and lathe pins from Chris Hightower,,,started reconditioning shafts,,,,got a lathe steady rest from HF, modified it with new skateboard wheels (board was $8 at WalMart) to not mar the shaft; have to occasionally sand the wheels to get the gunk off,,,steady rest allowed me to cut off and replace ferrules and tip with ease,,,the rest is up to anybody's imagination....a set of $9.99 wood lathe tools work super (just gotta keep them sharp),,,,,,,a little mechanical experience and imagination will make things work,,,,,,jflan

a few trips to the local library to research things you don't know works, too.........
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Now that's original. Well said.

Joeyincali:
Saw a big guy about 280 let go of the shaft. Thought it was pretty funny watching him pick him self up off the floor.
 
if I'm working on a really wobbly shaft, I put on a leather glove,,,burnish the shaft while I'm doing repairs ;)
 
durn you guys have already gone over my head........does someone have some pictures....preferably in crayon

so i should look for a cheap lathe on ebay? Just put these chucks in it and thats all i need? did i mention i dont know a think about wood working?
 
actually, scotty, you probably won't find a 99 cent wood lathe, just a fluke on eBay one night,,,HF ( harbor freight.com ) has a serviceable lathe that regularly is on sale for $79.99 (free freight),,the plate that people turn bowls on had a variety of holes, one matched the factory holes in the chuck,,,got the machine shop next door to center and drill the other holes,,, cuesmith.com has lathe pins and a concave live center (w/#2MT) that fit the HF setup,,,read up on steady rests/lathes, etc. and most of my ramblings might make more sense,,,the steady rest that I modified came from HF also (it had metal wheels that would mar wood easily),,,I just redrilled it to use skateboard wheels (new ones, please) and I've made enough in repairs in 2 years to buy a 9" x 20" metal lathe and a 13" x 36" metal lathe,,,,practice, practice, practice and things work easier,,,find some old broken down shafts and experiment before you try on something good,,,,maybe I had an advantage, because I've always been around machinery; sure didn't hurt,,,,,,,,jflan
 
scottycoyote said:
did i mention i dont know a think about wood working?
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where I live, vocational centers offer short classes at night,,,you might talk to the instructor about just learning about lathe work,,,or local community colleges might offer the same,,,
 
Now that's perfect. Just add another peice of wood on shoulder bolts to the front rest so it slides back and forth and theres your tool post. A box of razor blades and your good to go.
 
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