Beginner projects

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Beginner projects

This topic has 16 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 12 October 2020 at 14:51 by Jeff Dayman.

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20 August 2020 at 02:06 #491495
Jeremy Smith 2
Participant
@jeremysmith2
I am still acquiring new skills on the lathe. I have a few tools, but not everything yet – no knurlier, parting off blade, or boring bar.

I’m looking for projects which will teach me the skills necessary for the next step, so I can improve.

Does anyone have simple examples of projects which i could build myself to assist with this? Maybe some easy boring bars to build, then a project which requires me to use it. Then another tool I need to build, and a project which needs that tool…if you get my drift. Then another project which requires both these tools…

Edited By Jeremy Smith 2 on 20/08/2020 02:06:27
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20 August 2020 at 02:06 #10389
Jeremy Smith 2
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@jeremysmith2
Beginner Projects
20 August 2020 at 04:14 #491497
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
Harold Hall's website probably has all you could need. **LINK**
20 August 2020 at 06:47 #491501
Thor 🇳🇴
Participant
@thor
Hi Jeremy,

As Hopper says, visit Harold Hall's website, and try and borrow his book "Lathework A Complete Course". Here are a few other links you may find useful:

***Link***

***Link***

***Link*** (Making a boring bar)

Thor
20 August 2020 at 07:09 #491502
Danny M2Z
Participant
@dannym2z
G'day Jeremy.

Look in my album (C3 Minilathe) for a few ideas. I was a beginner when I built most of these items.

The tailstock die holder is easy to make but comes in very handy.

(You did not state what kind of lathe you have. Such information is handy to know as some tips specific to your lathe might be offered by forum members whom happen to to own the same model).

* Danny M *
20 August 2020 at 07:13 #491504
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
**LINK** can supply simple kits as well s some that are quite complex.
21 August 2020 at 03:50 #491654
Jeremy Smith 2
Participant
@jeremysmith2
Posted by Danny M2Z on 20/08/2020 07:09:49:

G'day Jeremy.

Look in my album (C3 Minilathe) for a few ideas. I was a beginner when I built most of these items.

The tailstock die holder is easy to make but comes in very handy.

(You did not state what kind of lathe you have. Such information is handy to know as some tips specific to your lathe might be offered by forum members whom happen to to own the same model).

* Danny M *

I have been on harold hall’s website before – great website, but I am really trying to dummy down the basics on the lathe skills before attempting his projects.

i have a myford ml10
21 August 2020 at 05:49 #491655
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
Posted by Jeremy Smith 2 on 21/08/2020 03:50:43:

Posted by Danny M2Z on 20/08/2020 07:09:49:

G'day Jeremy.

Look in my album (C3 Minilathe) for a few ideas. I was a beginner when I built most of these items.

The tailstock die holder is easy to make but comes in very handy.

(You did not state what kind of lathe you have. Such information is handy to know as some tips specific to your lathe might be offered by forum members whom happen to to own the same model).

* Danny M *

I have been on harold hall’s website before – great website, but I am really trying to dummy down the basics on the lathe skills before attempting his projects.

i have a myford ml10

Ah ok. Get yourself a copy of The Amateurs Lathe by LH Sparey. It is Myford specific and covers all a beginner needs to know and includes a few basic projects to get started with. Costs about 7 quid. The best 7 quid you can spend on your older lathe.
21 August 2020 at 07:40 #491663
Mike Crossfield
Participant
@mikecrossfield92481
Get a copy of “ The Model Engineers Workshop Manual” by G H Thomas. Myford orientated, a massive source of information on techniques with many excellent tool designs. I made several of these (Centre height gauge, boring bars, tailstock die holder, boring head etc) 20-odd years ago when I was first setting up my workshop, and still use them regularly.

Mike
21 August 2020 at 08:27 #491671
Jeremy Smith 2
Participant
@jeremysmith2
Posted by Hopper on 21/08/2020 05:49:23:

Posted by Jeremy Smith 2 on 21/08/2020 03:50:43:

Posted by Danny M2Z on 20/08/2020 07:09:49:

G'day Jeremy.

Look in my album (C3 Minilathe) for a few ideas. I was a beginner when I built most of these items.

The tailstock die holder is easy to make but comes in very handy.

(You did not state what kind of lathe you have. Such information is handy to know as some tips specific to your lathe might be offered by forum members whom happen to to own the same model).

* Danny M *

I have been on harold hall’s website before – great website, but I am really trying to dummy down the basics on the lathe skills before attempting his projects.

i have a myford ml10

Ah ok. Get yourself a copy of The Amateurs Lathe by LH Sparey. It is Myford specific and covers all a beginner needs to know and includes a few basic projects to get started with. Costs about 7 quid. The best 7 quid you can spend on your older lathe.

Already read it! Great book.
21 August 2020 at 08:39 #491675
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
Then time to apply what you have learned to selected projects from Harold Hall or GHT.

A tailstock die holder maybe. Or tool height setting gauge. Or HH's tool grinding jig is a very useful perrenial favourite.
21 August 2020 at 10:15 #491694
jann west
Participant
@jannwest71382
I've suggested this before … https://archive.org/details/machineshopprojectsbysouthbendlatheworks
21 August 2020 at 12:08 #491723
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
Hi Jeremy; Have a look here…a few nice little tools to get you started

**LINK**

From Stan Brays book on internet archive.

George.
21 August 2020 at 12:12 #491726
Dave Halford
Participant
@davehalford22513
I soon found a need for a 1/4" boring bar that takes a 1/8" cutter – drills will wander especially in brass.
10 October 2020 at 22:40 #500647
Jack Prendergast
Participant
@jackprendergast96591
Definitely a question I would have been asking, well asked and excellent answers very interesting 👌🏻
12 October 2020 at 14:35 #500985
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
+1 for Mike Crossfield's list of "bits to make" All will be useful, as tools, and as learning aids.

Again +1 for Sparey, and for Tubal Cain's Model Engineer's handbook as a very useful reference book.

In particular, Sparey will show how to remove twist from the bed, and how to sharpen Highn Speed Tools,

At the risk of bringing wrath down on my head, carbide tips may be less suitable for a ML10.

Also HSS will be cheaper than replaceable carbide tips. I am still using the same HSS parting blade after 20 myears. My useage of carbide tip parting blades was an expensive experience. Others may well disagree.

One last hobby horse to ride, a Tangential Turning Tool needs only one face to, be ground to sharpen, and can be used for facing or turning. Really, you need a Centre Height Gauge to ease setting the tool to Centre height.

(Already one of the "learning" tools comes into its own, and will for years to come. A tool that is not on Centre Height will not cut properly and will leave a "pip" in the middle of the work when facing.)

You can buy, or make your own Tangential Turning Tool. At least two designs have been published in MEW over the years..

Another advantage of HSS is that you can grind tools to a particular shape ( form ) for screwcutting or a special job. Recently, I used a variant of a Tangential Turning Tool, with a 1/8" round HSS toolbit, to cut a semicircular thread!

If it is possible to fit one, make up a rear toolpost, for parting off.

Cut up tins for use as shims to adjust the height of tool holder shanks. (A lot of tins seem to made of metal that is about 0.010" thick. broken feeler gauges can serve the same purpose )

As time goes by, and you gain experience, you can buy others from the Workshop Practice Series,

When you eventually graduate to screwcutting No.3, Martin Cleeve's "Screwcutting in the Lathe" and Brian Wood's "Gearing of lathes for screwcutting" will be useful.

Hope that all this rambling will be of some help.

Howard

Unintended Smilies don't make me smile

Edited By Howard Lewis on 12/10/2020 14:36:41
12 October 2020 at 14:51 #500992
Jeff Dayman
Participant
@jeffdayman43397
A tailstock die holder, pin and centre punches, boring bars of various types, and grooving tools as shown below are all easy but very useful beginner level jobs. The grooving tool can be made from any scrap of mild steel bar that fits the hole to be grooved, the cutter can be made from a broken tap or twist drill, held in place by a setscrew. Flip the cutter over and you can groove outside dia's for e-rings or o-rings grooves too.
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