What kind of lathe do I need to make wagon wheels?

A big one that turns really slow. You want it almost perfectly round before you even try turning. Maybe with a router on a trammel.

Generally, you would cut the fellows and then just turn them true after assembly on the hub. What are you going to do for tires?

-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/

Here’s some light reading on the subject of carriage and wheel building – http://www.lostcrafts.com/Carriage-Building/Practical-Carriage-Building-Main.html

-- "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." - Mark Twain

Check out the Woodwrights Shop

There is a two parter on a wheelbarrow

You dont need a lathe to make a wheel

I’ve made ships wheels, no lathe

Jamie

-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Plenty of tip, trick, & techniques at this site just click on photo’s.

http://images.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=655&q=wood+wagon+wheels&oq=wood+wagon+wheels&gs_l=img.3..0i24l3j0i5i24l3.1099.12349.0.13136.26.18.5.3.3.0.175.2160.0j18.18.0...0.0...1ac.la8gPlIdDGY

Guess depends upon style of spokes & hubs going to make. Already mentioned do not need a lathe. Would think a saw and jigs for cutting wheel segments, and bandsaw & circle cutting jig plus assorted hand tools just as important.

Here is an inexpensive spindle lathe that will get you started. You can read user reviews here, HF web site and other message boards. Only need a roughing gouge, skew chisel, parting tool to get started.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-x-33-3-8-eighth-inch-wood-lathe-with-reversible-head-34706.html

An option might find useful for that lathe, or lathe without indexing feature is PSI’s universal indexing attachment. Will fit lathe spindle with 1” x 8 TPI, and swing of 10, 12, 14, 16 inches. While not really necessary comes in handy drawing layout lines on spokes & hubs while work still on lathe.

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/LIXU.html

Good luck with your wheels.

-- Bill

Thanks for all the responses I have gotten about wagon wheels. I want to build the old style wagon wheel. Starting with the hubs and spokes, the felloes and tires. I have a lot to learn and more tools to buy. But this is project in progress, although I haven’t got started yet. I’ve bought a dvd on wagon wheels that was made by a wheelwright in Montana. And it showed me I have a lot to do before I make my first wheel. But I am ready to get started. Thanks again.

-- Geaux Tigers!