A new life for a 1/4HP motor... is going to be a diy lathe! #4: The lathe bed is done!

Hi everyone, rain was almost gone this weekend so I could finish the lathe bed, it nearly catches me distracted and a few drops got into the top of the bed, luckily I noticed and saved all before any damage was made hehe, here are the photos:

1 & 2.- marking the plywood, that’s where the grooves for the vertical supports will be made.

3.- setting the router bit height for the grooves, I did the 3/8” groove in two passes, and the router bit is a special one with the same thickness as the plywood, slightly less than 3/4” thick.

4.- one groove is done, second one is ready to be made.

5.- Both grooves done in the bed base.

6.- Testing fit, everything fine!

7.- Grooves made in the top, testing fit again, all nice!

8.- 20º beveled cuts done in the top, also starting the aluminum straps work.

9.- Ready to drill and countersink 28 holes in the aluminum straps.

10.- Aluminum straps attached to the bed, lathe base corners rounded with a 3/4” roundover bit.

Last photo shows how it looks before gluing it all together, I also did the small aluminum locking straps for the
headstock, tailstock and tool rest.

Next weekend I’ll build the headstock and tailstock I hope :)

Cheers!

-- Learning one thing at a time