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A few years back I semi-retired from building custom commercial and residential cabinets. To keep my hand in(our out) I started to build log furniture. Going from custom cabinets to log furniture has been a learning experience indeed. Turning tenons on a log is much different than turning dimension lumber spindles. I have a Record 48" woodworking lathe that is almost useless for spinning an unbalanced log.(to get 200-400 rpm's on an unbalanced log sets up so much vibration that it will yank a chisel right out of your hand, plus you are limited to 48" length. I looked at the pencil sharpener type tenon cutters that you mount on a drill. They are limited to a narrow range of diameters, and there is no provision for the tenon at one end to be parallel with the other end. With not much else on the market in the way of log furniture making tools other than ridiculously expensive metal cutting machine lathes, I decided I needed to build an inexpensive homemade lathe that would cut a round, parallel tenon of any size on either end of a 10" dia. x 8' log.(for bed frames, handrail, ect. I would use live tooling(router) instead of a chisel for the cutter. That would allow me to use a much slower rpm(40-60 rpm) than with a traditional woodworking lathe. It would also allow a much deeper cut and provide more accuracy than with a handheld chisel. I experimented with some wooden mockups of a benchtop lathe. I used 3-D solid modeling software to build virtual mockups and designs. I decided to build out of steel rather than wood. I used "off the shelf" bearings, shafts and gears, and standard size steel tubing and angles to simplify construction. While designing the lathe I realized that by combining a drill I could also have a giant drill press. I further realized that I could use the router as a giant mortise machine. To top it off I added a chainsaw so I could use it as a sawmill also. Sound like a tall order for a cabinetmaker? Maybe so, but I was going to give it a shot. I spent a year of Sundays drawing, building mockups, measuring tool lengths and strokes necessary for the different functions before I cut a piece of metal one. I used the old SHOPSMITH as inspiration for the design. It took several more months of Sundays to build. I am really pleased with the results and would like to hear your comments and opinions on how I did. Go to attached dropbox links for more detailed pics and info on how you can build your own from my prints. machine: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nr4yw91iv2hgdl0/AACv5-Unq_KSGyYK-2YHwWIBa?dl=0 furniture it can build: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pq9hfk8rqr7l416/AADQZxeku_HGeIBLpz4MeasIa?dl=0
