I just picker up a 12 foot Tenon lathe. It looks like a killer. It had a 7.5 HP 3 phase motor running at 1156 RPM direct drive. I would not want to be at the tail end of this machine. I really only wanted it for the tenor bit. It has the larges tenor bit that I have ever seen on it. 39.41 Lbs. After I striped the lathe down I was wondering what I was going to do with the metal frame. I thought it would make a huge wood lathe. So the hunt was on for parts. I'm lucky to have a local surplus parts store not far from me. I found a couple large lathe chucks and a face plate. Then I found a 2-3/8" thick wall shaft. Off to E-bay for two 2-3/8" pillow block bearings. With a little machining I was able to mold the parts together. I'm not in any way going to put a 7.5Hp motor on this thing. I got to make a tail stock and steady rest for it. Can't wait to turn some BIG bowls...

 

 

 

 

I'd have a little trouble getting that one down the basement steps.

Yep... I think it's going to be an outside lathe. I'll build a roof over it...

 

1 hour ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Yep... I think it's going to be an outside lathe. I'll build a roof over it...

 

That lathe looks longer than the width of my shop.  

Well I guess you could make bgreat porch posts on it.

Going BIG....

I also started making the main cutting tool.

I found a box of shanks at out local junkyard.

These are the good ones. Carbide. It took me

about 2 hours to make the rectangle hole in 

the end of this shaft to hold the shanks. I 

need to bend the end for a zero rake and make 

the handle. But at least I got a start on it.

 

 

A catch on a lathe that size might earn you the nick name "Rocket Man".

are those saw teeth?

Dang @Kevin Beitz

...You're getting me Jonesing for a "Rust Hunt"!!! 

Edited March 30, 20206 yr by Larry Buskirk

2 hours ago, p_toad said:

are those saw teeth?

Yep. They are called saw shanks.

Going to be interesting to see how those cutters work. With that angle they will be pretty aggressive.

Please keep us updated. That thing is not only big, but a big challenge.

Edited April 4, 20206 yr by Ron Altier

On 4/1/2020 at 12:35 PM, Gerald said:

Going to be interesting to see how those cutters work. With that angle they will be pretty aggressive.

 

Yep, "positive rake" scrapers for sure.

Interesting project indeed.  You better be doing your chin ups so you can load the blanks in it!  Looks like fun to me!

1 hour ago, Bundoman said:

Interesting project indeed.  You better be doing your chin ups so you can load the blanks in it!  Looks like fun to me!

Got it covered....