Metal Lathe(s)

I had a neighbor who turned wood on his metal lathe all the time but I don’t think the swing is very big on many metal lathes.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

I have known a few guys who used metal lathes to turn wood with. I personally have never done it….but they have turned out some nice pieces.

-- Don S.E. OK

We used a metal lathe in combination with a spindle head to make barley twists, worked sweet on ordinary turnings as well, grab it while you can.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

I have a friend who turns wood on his metal lathe. Just can’t swing too big a piece.

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

if you can get one that goes to a decent speed. most of them are too slow for wood turning

-- BRODY. NSW AUSTRALIA -arguments with turnings are rarely productive-

I wish I had a metal lathe. It would come in very handy when creating jig parts.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

lew has a great point !!!!

-- Don S.E. OK

thanks for the ideas, maybe I’ll grab them (space permitting) after I get the joiner & some cabinets

-- If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem!

I always wanted one and had I not bought a Jet 9×20 a bunch of years back I’d make you an offer. Craftsman used to make some decent ones and Altas definitely did.

I do use mine for more then metal, wood and plastic too. It does come in handy when you need that one thing you can’t buy or something one off.

I was as recently as yesterday thinking of using it to repair a stud from a Delta DP-220 motor mount that someone welded the nut on if I couldn’t find a replacement stud or mount assembly. It does come in handy.

I would say keep one if you have the room.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

Lew makes a great point. Having a small metal lathe would be handy for making or customizing parts to jigs and tools.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken