if you had a lathe what would you do?
what would you make.

A lathe is the only machine tool capable of reproducing itself; it can do all the required machining operations. A lathe can do turning, milling, drilling, threading, shaping, grinding operations, etc. and also do metal spinning.

Materials machined can be metals (ferrous and nonferrous), plastics, wood, and most any other material desired. A lathes limitations are only tooling and operator influenced. What can be made is only limited by the users imagination.

Wow lathes are awesome, i need one, and if i had one i'd make probably something for my car, i know how boring

car: modified dash panel pull switches, gear shift knob, hood ornament,... what else. Materials could be laminated wood, plastic, anodized aluminum.... Damascus/pattern welded billet.

Tyring-It a Damascus/ pattern welded billet used for a dash would truly be a sick use of such fine material. I love it! next you would sugest using it for rims. :)

A whole new niche market just waiting to be entered. BTW, who ever said pattern welded billets all had to be beat into sharp pointy objects? For the hardcored die hards that believe that, may I suggest lathe turned plumb bobs from pattern welded billets. LOL

i need to find someone who could turn me some dash knobs out of damascus/pattern welded billets that would be amazing

OK next thing we are going to see posted is a damascus/pattern welded car forum. people are going to take the delorian (sp?) idea of the stainless body and make it out of maiden hair pattern damascus just to show off their million dollar Honda. LOL

sorry for the hijack, just thought it would be neat

If I had a metal lathe first off I'd have to learn to run the critter. After that I can think if about half a million things I would use it for.
Finnr

I have though of a pattern welded bunper for my truck before and having seen pictures of pattern welded billets weighing over a ton it's not that far out.

I owe my wife a pattern welded pizza cutter for Christmas this year as she like the one I traded away last year so much.

I'm also working slowly on a pattern welded spangen help---on hold the last couple of years waiting for me to get my triphammer running again.

Thomas

If i had a lathe,
wood: of course baseball bat=>then some awesome salad bowls
Metal: probably some kind of awesome blower system or a cannon

bushings ,shafts to rebuild blowers,pulleys and rollers for shop built belt sanders,screw for a fly press,screw and box nut for post vices the choices are endless.

Examples of lathe made items:

What have you made with your lathe? - Practical Machinist

To reiterate: "What would you make if you had a lathe?"

Best answer I think should be ----

More room in shop so you could then put a milling machine in there too. LOL

Machine shop equipment is worse than blacksmithing tools in regards to the more you have, the more you want.... first you want a machine then it is on to bigger sizes for bigger machining capacity and other machine types for more versatility. Let's not forget that the machines then need tool holders, tooling, and workpiece holding devises. But then if you have the right machines, tooling, etc. even those can be made.

Have fun! BE safe!

i have lathes and milling machines and i perpetually make more tools
i like to think of it as a self feeding frenzy
i love it though
always need a tool to do something

I like to use the lathe to make various tapered stakes. Yes, I can and have forged them, but cleanup and overall uniformity is better when turned on the lathe.
Dave

The tooling is everything. My brother has a Smithy and My Craftsman and his big problem is either finding the money to buy the tools he needs, or finding the time to make them. As he gets the tooling, he is able to do more.

I prefer working with wood and am just now learning to make my own tools to make my work easier and give me more options on things I can do..

I believe i would make a black powder .22 cane gun. After building a new shop to put the lathe in because I'm all out of room in my garage.

A .50/60 cal. muzzle loader, and a blackpowder breech loading shotgun(12 gauge)

I have always wanted a metal lathe. They are a little pricey. I just never seem to have the extra room to put a decent lathe.
I would use it for revamping bushings and bearing surfaces for the old machinery I have. I would do more engine work.

I have always wanted to types of lathes:

I want to one day build a treadle wood lathe. I have seen a few around and just think they are cool.

I also always thought it would be cool to have a small bench lathe where I could forge up some damascus billets and turn out rings.

I still have no lathes, and never made damascus....but it is on the list.

Peyton

I did my firepot on mine. 10 in. OD. with about an 8" ID Cast Iron 3 1/2 " deep. The wall thickness is about 3/4 " .

I used my HF Mini to turn the crown and shoulder on the rollers for my grinder. Friend in Maintenance dept where I used to work did the recess for the bearings. I also had to turn an arbor for the rollers to turn on because the chuck I have doesn't open large enough or do I.D. chucking small enough. Pic shows finished product and raw stock which was 3" x 3" with 3/4 walls.

If I had a metal lathe I would turn parts for tooling that I would like to make, such as parts for sander-grinders, rolls for a roller-mill, turned pieces to make power hammer dies, etc.