No offense taken, it's a legitimate question... Short answer, is cash. I did look around a few years back, but it was still going to set me back several hundred dollars (if not a thousand or more after tooling up) to get a decent machine... Currently, will be able to keep things down to maybe a hundred, hundred and fifty, if I am careful. Long answer, that decent machine would have been bigger than I could handle, as for whatever reason smaller lathes command higher prices-likely due to the same issues that I have, space. Have no room for anything bigger than benchtop size, and since my bench space is limited I must be able to lift and move it... But, there's more than that-my workshop is a unheated dirt-floored shed-one can imagine the issues that are inherent with that. Lastly, I did want the challenge-I enjoy building things, and am somewhat enamoured with the old ways of chipping, filing, and scraping in precision parts and tools by hand-so it was a perfect project for me. If I had a nice shop with the space, I would pony up the cash and have some noble old workhorse tucked away for restoration and joyful use, as you simply cannot beat good, old American iron from years gone by... Jesse
Nice work. you will have a tool to be proud of.You seem to have some good ability to scrounge material. Was drooling over the iron you made the bed from.
I’m considering the soft jaw type. If I could find a cheap one for my mini lathe. I’ve been using the collets I have for most of my valve work. I’ve got a few that are in that size range. Any of you used the soft three jaw?Dave
very nice ! id put wheels on those fingers were i making a tailstock
You know I love it. What did you say you are powering it with at present?Dave
sorry typo , i meant steady rest.. yes, little bearings on the fingers are a nice touch.. as far as poweing the lathe with a corded drill , thats actually not a bad idea..its already got a good torque gear ratio pre- installed , and a pot box of sorts in the trigger.,