I want to get an old lathe up and running but I have no idea how to buy a motor.
I know it will use 120 and I would like the variable speed on the motor control instead of switching the position of the pully.
Where do I start? What other info should I be giving to answer my question?
Joe
Replies
Grainger, MSC, McMaster-Carr, Northern Tool..just a few.
Don't do what I did, I recycled a well pump motor..they spin the "OTHER" way, and no, they are not reversable..LOL
EDIT: 1/2 horse is plenty
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?
Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
Edited 4/30/2008 7:34 pm ET by Sphere
How do I control the RPM's?
Can't help ya much there, I use the pullys. I know some VS motors get really $$$ and universal motors ( too fast IMO) can use a router speed controller available from wood working suppliers.
Another option is a variable pully like on some drill presses, the pully itself changes dia.
I know you can't just rheostat a TEFC motor, it'll burn out if ya do that.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
ASk over in KNOTS, the Fine Woodworking forum. There is a section on turning there. Also the news group rec.crafts.woodturning has a lot of knowledgeable posters.
Pickup a free old dryer or washing machine off craigslist and salvage the motor.
If really lucky you may find an old Maytag Neptune washer that has a variable speed drive; however, if you dont know how to BUY a motor, setting up a Neptune switched reluctance variable speed motor may be too complicated??
For about $400, Grainger has variable speed drives for induction motors.
Changing the belt is not that bad.
I got me one of these from my old High school that I learned on then my son learned on.
It has a 4 step pulley system on it.
Really not that big of a deal.
http://www.general.ca/pagemach/machines/0general/260_26020a.html
Now that I see a new motor will be under 100 bucks, I'll probably go with the belts. I have a set of three-step pulleys with the lathe, 1/2" shaft. Should be easy enough to just set it up for now.
Thanks everyone for the help.
I'd say a minimum of 1/2 hp is recommended. If you're going to turn large bowls, you'll need a larger motor. If all you want to turn is spindles, 1/2 hp is fine. Get one that turns at 1,725 rpm, or less. A 3,450 might work, but you'll have to step the pulleys WAAY down to be safe.
A reversing switch is a nice addition. It helps with the sanding. But don't put the lathe in reverse with a bowl mounted on a face plate. Unless you like adreneline rushes.
Oh yeah, I recommend looking into this for anyone getting into turning
http://www.woodturner.org
Its the home site for the American Assoc. of Woodturners. You can click on the local chapter link, and see if there's a chapter anywhere near you. Its a great place to learn from some pretty skilled people.
I've done a lot of turning when I was younger, but always on a machine that was set up and ready to go. I'm most concerned with dialing in the right RPM's for turning spindle type projects.
(Actually, I'm hoping to make some baseball bats. My softball team goes through 4-5 per year and the good ones cost around $60-$80 each. A blank would only cost about 15 bucks)
You can go pretty high turning baseball bats. I'd probably turn them at 2,000 rpm, or maybe even a little higher.
Start out slower, and once you've got the blank roughed out and balanced, crank the speed up.
But don't get too concerned about the speed. Turn at whatever speed you feel comfortable. As you get more proficient on the lathe, you can turn at faster speeds.
Not a complete answer, but part of what I know. There is an inverter on lathes, at least some, that converts your 120 to 480. Attached to that is some kind of sand / epoxy contraption that is essentialy a dissipater (as it was explained to me) that helps the motor dispense with energy and slow down when you want it.
I believe the inverter is how they control power / speed. Beyond that . . . dunno. I only heard that much from a guy who had an inverter go bad. (And I said, what the heck is an inverter on a lathe for?)
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs