instructables

Homemade Wood Lathe

by Chandler slowik

I wanted a lathe because of all the stuff you can make some differences. Here are the links to Matthias'
with it and how fun they looked, I knew I could get project.
one for about $250 (excluding tools) but that was
beyond my budget. So instead I decided to make http://woodgears.ca/lathe/
one. I stumbled upon a YouTube video by Matthias
Wandel and really liked what I saw and thought I
//www.youtube.com/embed/UFhgCT6cp7E
could do that. I went out and made one, but with

Homemade Wood Lathe: Page 1

When I was making the lathe I was curious how it got using a rope and the other person would carve out a
its start and the history behind it, so I did some bowl, cup, weapon or tool. Thousands of bowls were
research. found with accuracy only achievable with a lathe. For
example, the vase above shows how it's able to
balance on less than .15 sq.in. and not fall over,
The art of turning got its start in ancient Egypt around because the thickness is so uniform. This shows how
1300 BCE. Archaeologists found clear evidence much time was spent on the art of turning, and how
showing turned pieces of stone. Egyptians had made good they became at using a lathe.
a two person lathe; one person would spin the piece

Around 1200 BCE, the ancient Romans modified the metal lathes. These vary in price anywhere from $400
Egyptian's design by adding a bow and string to to $28,000. The world's biggest lathe (pictured
assist with turning, allowing a single person to above), was made by a company called Shin Nippon
operate the lathe. The Romans shared their Koki of Japan. The rotor is able to turn a work piece
knowledge of lathes with other countries, but not how weighing 400 tons. This lathe was used to make
to use them as well as the Egyptians did. When shafts for massive propellers on cargo ships. Modern
Egypt fell in 30 BCE, their turning skills were lost too. lathes are small, simple and easy to use. There are
The Roman's lathe design was used for quite a while wood ones that vary in price anywhere from $200 to
until the middle ages. People had started replacing $4000.
the bow with a paddle and pole (like a manual sewing
machine), this allowed for one person to spin the I didn't want to spend $4000 on a lathe let alone
piece and work on it with both hands. $200, plus I thought making one would be cooler. So
this Instructable will teach you how to make a small
At the start of the Industrial revolution, the lathe was simple wood lathe capable of making what most
responsible for making the first accurate machines. woodworkers would ever need it to do.
The lathe was able to produce accurate parts with
relative ease, because of this, people were able to Sources:
create more accurate tools. This is how it got its
nickname, the "Mother of Machine Tools". For World's biggest lathe:
example, the U.K. used lathes as massive boring https://www.jfberns.com/post/world-record-the-worl....
machines to make cannons to fight the American http://www.industrytap.com/worlds-largest-lathe-sa...
revolutionaries. To power these lathes, they would
use horses, eventually leading to steam engines or History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathe
water wheels.
Ancient lathes:
The lathe has been transformed into massive http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/egypt/art...
machines, like CNC (Computer Numerical Control)

Homemade Wood Lathe: Page 2

My lathe is similar to Matthias', but I decided to add 7. A "V" belt about 40 inches long and 1/2" thick (get
some different parts to ease assembly and make it this at a car parts store - this will cost about $15)
more reliable. Here is what you'll need to make what I
made: 8. Pulleys, one to fit over the motor (small) and one
for the spindle (large). If you have a 3D printer you
1. Poplar wood, about 10 feet, size: ¾” x 3 ¾” x 10’. can print your parts (you can find links to my designs
This will cost about $20. below). If not, a library might have a printer that
allows members to use it. If you can't find a 3D printer
2. 4’ of pine, 1” x 8” x 4’. This costs about $20 you can make the rest of the lathe and use a wood
pulley, or source metal pulleys from junk yards.
3. Some miscellaneous scrap wood costing about
$10. 9. Bearing blocks. Again, if you can 3D print them, do
so. If not, you can use wood ones like Matthias did.
4. Various hardware: 5/8th inch rod with wing nuts, Could be free if you print your blocks.
nuts, washers and tee nuts.
10. An AC motor, with switch and plug. If you don't
5. Long bolts, about 6 inches long, with matching have one (why would you) then you can check
wing nuts and washers. craigslist - that's where I got mine. If there's nothing
then you can look at Harbor Freight or Home Depot if
6. Lots of screws, both 2" and 1 1/4". All this (4, 5, they have one that will work. This could cost any from
and 6) totals about $20. $50 to $150.

CAD Models:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3042382

Step 3: Making the Base

Now you are ready to start building. I started with the base. Cut the pine board into 2, 10” pieces, then cut 2 24”
pieces of poplar. With the pine board, cut angles on it to go from straight to diagonal sides. Then screw the poplar
between the pine to have two rails and two sides or legs, should look like what’s above.

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1. Legs
2. Poplar rails

Step 4: Tool Rest and Tail Stock

To make the tailstock, I cut two pieces of poplar to be of the 10” piece making an "L". Finally, take the 7”
about 6 ½ inches long. Then a piece 3” long. piece and attach it to the 2" x 4" (as shown). To hold
Assemble the 3 pieces so they’re like a C. For the the parts from the bottom, I cut out pieces of poplar
tool rest, I cut a 10” piece and a 7” piece of poplar, around 2 inches long and cut notches in the sides so
then a 3” piece of a 2" X 4". I then cut a slot in the that they glide between the rails (last picture).
middle of the 10” piece so that the tool rest can move,
using a drill and jigsaw. Attach the 2" X 4" to the end

Homemade Wood Lathe: Page 5

1. Tailstock 1. Tool rest

Step 5: Making the Head

Now we can make the left side of the lathe, aka the (first picture). Then do the same thing to the other leg
lathe head. I started with making another pine board that was just cut out. Cut more pieces of scrap wood
the same size as the lathe's legs. Cut out 2 more 6 to brace between the two legs, making a little box
½” x 3 3/4" boards of poplar, witch will be used to (last picture).
extend each leg. Attach one to one lathe leg and
sandwich it with some scrap wood, to act as braces

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1. Poplar 1. lathe head

1. Braced box/head

Homemade Wood Lathe: Page 7

To mount the motor, I used a book to elevate it. Then I marked where to drill the main hole (for the pulley) then for
the actual screw mounts themselves. You may want one hole to be a Chanel giving you some adjustability. Drill all
the holes you need and mount. Add the bottom pulley, and you’re good.

Step 7: The Bearing Blocks

Then you want to mount the bearing blocks. I set the your pulley to the head, and slide it between the
bearing blocks on the tail stock and on the head of blocks. Now wrap the belt around the pulleys and
the lathe. Then I used a rod to make them all line up. adjust motor. I adjusted it by adding or removing
Mark and drill where they need to go. Then cut the pieces of paper underneath it.
rod to length. You want about 1 ¾” to 2” sticking out
on each side of the head. Then for the tail stock you CAD models:
want 3" or more sticking out, allowing you to work on https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3042382
projects with a wide range of sizes. Then screw on

Homemade Wood Lathe: Page 8

1. Bearing blocks - 3D printed

Step 8: Finishing It and Mounting Wood

Now you can turn on your lathe and finish up any whatever piece we want to turn. Simply drill a hole to
loose ends. You can play around with the spacing of fit the majority of the tee nut and hammer it into the
the pulley and adjust the motor. wood. Then you can screw it in and support it with the
tail stock and start to turn your piece. When turning
At this point you might be asking yourself how are thinner wood I would add a hose clamp around the
you going to mount any wood? Well I'll tell you, we tee nut to support it.
can use the tee nuts and mount that at the end of

1
1

1. Tee Nut 1. Hose clamp and Tee nut

Homemade Wood Lathe: Page 9

When I made this, I wanted to make something that If you don't, it is extremely hard on you and the lathe.
would be relatively easy and yet show off its ability. I
wanted to make a handle for some files I just got. I Thank you for reading this Instructables, I really
glued two pieces of extra poplar together then started enjoyed making this and I hope you will too. If you
to work it down into a nice little handle. When I was have any feedback I'd be happy to discus.
working it I left about 1 1/2" on each side then made
my piece in the middle. This worked well, I sanded it
then cut off the blocks on each side making what you
see above.
//www.youtube.com/embed/zsEHLMH3Ywo

I learned the hard way how important it is to prep

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