Now that I have my own garage bay for a shop, I'm entertaining the idea of building something I have wanted to build for some time, a treadle lathe. I have 2 plans from St Roy, plus other resources around the net. I like Roy's frame design, but even he admits his flywheel is too intricate in his first design and I think I have a better design for a crankshaft rather than bending bolts for his crank arm.
I'm looking for critique on my spindle design. Roy recommends hammering and filing out a drive spur on a bolt with the threads cut off. I'd rather have something a bit more flexible and professional. At one point, drive spurs were available for 1/2" shaft, but it seems no longer. I have however found spurs used on ShopSmiths that will attach to a 5/8" shaft. Also there is a adapter fitting which is threaded. I figure that would be about $48 for both the drive spur and chuck adapter, but the actual spindle shaft would be cheap.
Some of the resources on the web recommended using a spindle from a Craftsman lathe that was available from Sears parts, although no one ever specified the model. I have found one that was available. It occurred to me that Grizzly has some of the best parts services available. Sure enough, I was able to find several spindles available as parts. This has a huge advantage because it gives me a morse taper and a threaded end that could handle a chuck. It may be more challenging to mount though because most spindles don't appear to have the same thickness throughout. I would like to use pillow blocks to hold the spindle since I can adjust them more easily to align the shaft. The one I am thinking of is here http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0462/parts/1 Part 33.
I think I like the idea of using a lathe spindle of common size and TPI since I will be able to use just about any parts.
It's kind of funny that the cost between these works out to be almost even.
I'm looking for critique on my spindle design. Roy recommends hammering and filing out a drive spur on a bolt with the threads cut off. I'd rather have something a bit more flexible and professional. At one point, drive spurs were available for 1/2" shaft, but it seems no longer. I have however found spurs used on ShopSmiths that will attach to a 5/8" shaft. Also there is a adapter fitting which is threaded. I figure that would be about $48 for both the drive spur and chuck adapter, but the actual spindle shaft would be cheap.
Some of the resources on the web recommended using a spindle from a Craftsman lathe that was available from Sears parts, although no one ever specified the model. I have found one that was available. It occurred to me that Grizzly has some of the best parts services available. Sure enough, I was able to find several spindles available as parts. This has a huge advantage because it gives me a morse taper and a threaded end that could handle a chuck. It may be more challenging to mount though because most spindles don't appear to have the same thickness throughout. I would like to use pillow blocks to hold the spindle since I can adjust them more easily to align the shaft. The one I am thinking of is here http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0462/parts/1 Part 33.
I think I like the idea of using a lathe spindle of common size and TPI since I will be able to use just about any parts.
It's kind of funny that the cost between these works out to be almost even.
ccasion1 Sadly, it's just a bearing. HOWEVER, it looks good, mainly since it can mount to your lathe. The usual ball bearing apparatus would be hard to mount.
