Treadle Lathe #6: I'm feeling a little cranky...

Since my last post on the treadle lathe, I was able to get a few things accomplished; some with outstanding success, some with not-so-outstanding… um…

In the last couple of weeks I haven’t really put much time in on this project, but I was able to get the tail stock cut and pared to fit snugly between the ways. I wanted a very snug fit, because I don’t want the tail stock to develop any bias in terms of turning longitudinally to the lathe. I was able to achieve a very snug fit; I need a mallet to slide it along the ways. The tail stock is held in place by a tusk tenon and wedge system. So far, the wedge is the only non-dimensional piece of lumber in the whole outfit that is a permanent part of the tool.

I also installed bearings in both the left and right sides of the tail stock, and hacksawed and shaped some more 1/2” steel dowel to form the center. The pin is held captive by stop collars. Not too slick, but they work.

My goal for today was to get the treadle framework built and installed so that I could see if the geometry of the crank was going to work. A week or two ago I shortened the throw of the crank by about half, and have spent the ensuing time wondering why the cranks of other treadle lathes I’ve seen have been so short.

I figured it out.

Note the Renaissance can of Watco in the background…

In the spirit of a grand experiment, which is what this tool is, I’ve discovered the long crank combined with the ways only being 30” tall makes me feel like I’m riding a bicycle that’s too small for me. I feel like I’m going to belt myself in the chin with my kneecap. (Could happen, I suppose.) I’ve also found that I have hinged the treadle a little too far inboard; the hinge bolts need to be more outboard on the sides. This is as simple as drilling new holes for the hinge bolts and telling everybody the old holes aren’t a mistake, it’s an adjustable lathe.

The important thing is that the tool works. I treadled it and got the flywheel rolling pretty good, even though the treadle creates too great an arc movement, I think.

I noticed after a bit that the flywheel really didn’t seem very enthusiastic about flying, and upon investigating I found that the left stop collar which I had JB welded to the left flange had failed—apparently the JB unwelded. I’ll need to remove the left end of the head stock and re-JB weld this, unless I can find someone to actually weld it for me, since I don’t weld.

Next on my agenda is to make the modifications as noted, and try to create a drive pulley from laminating 3” disks. I need to rig up a tool rest, but that shouldn’t be that big of a deal. I also need to shape the head stock center so that it will form a star to grip the subject being turned, in order that I haven’t just created a treadle-powered boring machine. I’m getting closer all the time…

-- There's no tool like an old tool...