SpudFiles

I was thinking about a dimmer switch. I have nothing for my foundary. I am going to get a 5 gallon pail very soon and I am going to use the sand from my bacement for the refactory and green sand. I can't get any fireclay or bentonite from any where close and I havent made a bal mill yet. I have no problem with aluminum because my family owns a shop infront of a scrap yard (yay ) I wonder if there is a subtitute for the clay. The flask wood is no problem too the shop gets free palets that we cut up and burn.

dont use a light dimmer it will melt because the motor draws too much current try to find a 120 volt variack or power supply

I think I am going to just use a wasing machine motor. If atlantis or pimpmann22 will sell me one it will save lots of trouble. I don't need one right now but in a month or two I will. just getting a ahead of my self

but they have absolutley no torque at all.any pressure,it stops.you can stop it from turning by puting your hand on it.It's a saftey feature

This guy is amking one and he used a 1/2 hp 1725 rpm motor and it worked fine. http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/lathe4.html 1/2 hp is most likly easyer to find.

The guy making the lathe in the link dragon finder posted is doing a fine job! You can see the cone pully set up he's useing for the different speeds he's looking for, just do the exact oppiset for the other end of the drive belt, and he's got it! I don't think he's going to do any heavy cutting because the lathe bed is made from aluminum. Good job though, some one should invite him to join Spudfiles. Could be a real good source of information.

He isn't finishing the lathe though he said he dousn't need one but he was so close to finish . I think he isn't into spud gunning but it would be cool to have him with us .

DF, the lowest HP I remeber a motor my uncle having was 1/2 HP. He does runs to Vegas Air Force Base thing every week. So I could have him swing by are house and drop one of. [He lives a hour North of me] Let me talk to him and see what I can do...

Wow thanks but like I said I wont need it for a while but thanks much. Don't put time in to it now because my family works right next to a junk yard so if I need one but can't get one there I will ask you. once again thanks so much for your kindness.

that must be nice being so clost to a scrap yard. My grandpa has 2 acres of scrap steel,stainless steel,brass,aluninim,ect.he has every thing from hydraulic to air fittings, from motors to 1' diameter ball and butterfly valves. he says I can have any of it. He lives 5 minutes from my house. I'm thinking punkin chunkin with that butterfly valve. You need somthing,you pay for shipping,I'll get it to you

EDIT: he's also got a 1 1/2' diameter ,3 1/2' tall solid nylon cillender. with his lathe,imagine all the piston valves I could make

wow everbody is being so nice. *sniff* *sniff* this website is awsome thanks

what kind of stuff are you looking to turn on the lathe??

aluminum....the author of the book uses aluminum all the time.....when he was alive.

you could probably turn some steel too, and definatley plastics.

I was thinking of plastics but not steel I think it is too hard for the lathe.