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Mini Lathe Modifications and
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| I have one of
the Mini Lathes, mine being the Axminster version which is generally the
same as many others from the major suppliers.
This little Lathe is finding more and
more uses in the Workshop especially for Turning those smaller items
such as Light Pulls, Bottle Stoppers, Keyrings and Mushrooms etc.
A Lathe of this Size and Price is never
going to have all the Features associated with a Larger Lathe but
certain facilities I have become use to, made me think about how I could
incorporate them on the Mini Lathe.
Here I detail how I made a facility to
Lock the Spindle, re-arranged the Stop / Start Switch to the left of the
Lathe and a Stop to prevent the Tailstock or Banjo from falling off the
end of the Lathe. |
 |
Re-Positioning the On / Off
Switch.
 |
As I am right
handed I found it very awkward to operate the On / Off Buttons which
were located on the right of the Lathe, as my Left Hand is for the most
part free this is the obvious Hand to use to operate the Lathe Switch
with.
On the Axminster Lathe the Switch Box
is mounted on a Metal Bracket that if reversed and inverted is capable of being fixed at the opposite end of the Lathe.
You will need to dismantle the Switch
Box [Disconnect from the Power Supply before carrying out any Work]
which is easier than it sounds and disconnect the Electrical Cable, do
not forget to make a note of where the 3 Wires go.
You then need to offer the Bracket up
to the Lathe and mark off the two fixing holes, then drill and tap the
holes to suit an M6 [¼"] Screw.
Before you complete the changeover you
will have to remove the access cover which gives you access to the Drive
Belt as this will not be accessible after the Switch is fitted, this
however will not restrict access to the Drive Belt when you need to
change Speeds, nor will it impair the performance or running of the
Lathe.
You now have to redirect the Electrical
Cable and clamp as necessary, and with the Bracket now in place you can
re-assemble the Switch Box. |
Spindle Lock.
| One of my
dislikes are Chucks that require two hands to operate whether it be with
Tommy Bars or "C" Spanners, but the choice of Small Chucks for
these Lathes are limited and therefore I was stuck with the Tommy Bar
Option.
This meant I had to find a solution that
would allow me to operate the Chuck with one hand.
The obvious method would be some form of
Spindle Lock based around the Hole already provided in the Spindle Collar.
The solution is shown in the picture to
the right and below, a simple bracket is screwed to the top of the
Headstock using two M6 Screws, this allows a Tommy Bar to be inserted
through the bush and into the hole in the Spindle Collar.
|
The Bracket is made from a
piece of 20mm x 6mm Mild Steel 100mm long [see sketch] into this I have
Silver Soldered a Brass Bush drilled out to suit the Tommy Bar that I had
also made, although you could use the Bar that comes with the Lathe. |
Details of the Bracket with the
Bush Silver Soldered into it at one end, Drilled to suit the Tommy Bar which I
also made and shown below, with this modification I can now operate the Chuck
with just one Tommy Bar or as I prefer a "C" Spanner..
Lathe Bed [Ways] Stop.
I often use the Lathe without the
Tailstock in place and I found that I would often move the Banjo along the Lathe
only to have it come off and land in the Shavings, this was annoying to say the
least so I made a simple stop, using one of the existing Bed Extension fixing
holes.
 |
All you require is a piece
of Steel, Plastic or Wood, a piece Rubber Hose for protection, a Spacer so
the Hose does not bind onto the Lathe Bed [Ways] and a suitable Thumb
Screw.
In place as shown the Stop
will prevent both the Tailstock or the Banjo from coming off, by loosening
the Thumb Screw the stop will automatically swing down and allow you to
either replace or remove the Tailstock and Banjo as you wish.
|
Other Modifications:
The Tailstock when not in use and
off of the Lathe is hung on a Bracket made from a piece of Screwed Rod covered
with some Rubber Hose that will fit into the Tailstock Barrel.
I also added a Baffle Plate to
protect the Belt and Pulleys from any Debris from Turning , there is a gap below
the Headstock and above the Motor that allows any Shavings, Grit, Waxes etc. to
get into the Drive End of the Lathe which could eventually damage or wear the
Pulleys/Belt, I took the Headstock off and filled in the gap with a piece of
Steel Plate which I fixed with Epoxy.
I have also made a smaller Tool
Rest which is 100mm [4"] long this allows me to get in close when turning
small items with the Tailstock in use, something not always possible with the
150mm [6"] Rest supplied with the Lathe.
Made from a 100mm x 40mm piece of
8mm Mild Steel Silver Soldered to a piece of Mild Steel Bar to a diameter to
suit the Banjo, simple to make and you can make them any size to suit all your
requirements.
|
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