Mini Lathe Modifications

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

G'day all.

The ubiquitous mini-lathe (7×10, 14 etc) is here to stay and given a bit of fettling they can produce excellent results.

This thread was prompted when I saw Neil Wyatt's (MEW editor) T-slotted topslide in another topic. Now I have always thought that a decent T-slotted topslide would be useful for line boring of castings.

When I looked at my own mini-lathe I noticed the little things that I have made over the years, a saddle stop was the most useful and the carriage lock is almost mandatory for parting-off.

A tailstock locking cam, diestock holder, headstock turning handle and leadscrew handles are readily found online but maybe there are other mods out there hiding in your workshops.

Anybody care to share their mini-lathe mods as there are many ways to pluck a chicken.

* Danny M *

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

What have you done to improve your mini-lathe?

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Morning Danny

Just had to smile when I read your post we're all the same buy a lathe then use it to make bit's for it !

H

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

There are mini lathes and mini lathes.

Found this one on https://www.facebook.com/Trustmeiamamechanicalengineer

Lots of other great machines and gadgets as well.

Paul.

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

As I probably won't be doing any screw cutting on the lathe I removed one of the gears to the lead screw drive so that I can engage it and lock the carriage when parting off.. One mod that I keep telling myself to do is make a depth gauge for the tail stock. Will get around to it one day.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> Now I have always thought that a decent T-slotted topslide would be useful for line boring of castings.

I should have taken a photo of it being used to bore the new headstock of the Super Adept lathe.

If you look at the albums for my old account 'Stub Mandrel' HERE there are a few on mini-lathe mods.

Various Mods

Box Tool

T-slotted table, for completeness

There's also my 3-phase motor mod article HERE.

Neil

 

 

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 23/01/2015 11:43:49

[Michael Cox 1Participant @michaelcox1]

There is a vast literature on the web about minilathe modifications.

Frank Hoose's website http://www.minilathe.com lists many mods and give much useful guidance for beginers.

John Moran's site http://www.gadgetbuilder.com is another good source of mods.

Jose Menezes site http://www.toolsandmods.com also features many good mods and also contains the drawing of Ralph Patersonus modification.

My own site, which was inspired by many mods from the above sites, also lists many mods , is here:

http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/

In addition, in the Workshop Practice Series there are two books by David Fenner detailing mods and improvements to minilathes. Many of these were also articles in MEW. There have been several other articles by other authors in recent years on minilathe mods.

Try Googling "minilathe mods" and many more articles of interest will appear.

Mike

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Paul Lousick on 23/01/2015 09:35:04:

There are mini lathes and mini lathes.

.

By 'eck, Paul … That bloke's got big hands

MichaelG.

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

My picture folder has got images of some mods to my Clarke CL300.

I've got taper-roller bearings in the headstock, done a BLDC motor conversion, redone saddle gibs, converted to lever- feed tailstock as well as camlock clamping plus camlock locking of the top-slide swivel to allow rotation without full retraction of the slide itself.

 

Martin.

Edited By blowlamp on 23/01/2015 14:06:04

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hi Martin

Would you be interested in doing a write up of the BLDC conversion and camlock topslide for MEW.

If so, contact me by email with a few more details: neil.wyatt@mytimemedia.com

Neil

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 23/01/2015 16:24:09:

Hi Martin

Would you be interested in doing a write up of the BLDC conversion and camlock topslide for MEW.

If so, contact me by email with a few more details: neil.wyatt@mytimemedia.com

Neil

Neil.

I'll take a look at doing something for the topslide swivel mod in a week or so, as it's less involved than the BLDC conversion and I'm short of time at the moment, but I will get around to it if you think it stands a good chance of getting into print.

Martin.

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