Link to threadzengunfighter @ survivalistboards.com wrote:I've been passing interested in getting a lathe for some time, but for a number of reasons, haven't done so yet. But watching the videos of primitive lathes recently got me re-interested. Add to this, that I just ordered some ferro rod blanks and need handles for them, was enough to put me over the edge.
I found a dry branch from a tree I recently pruned, about 1.5" in daimeter. It is a light but hard wood, very tight grained and light colored.
I cut a section about 3" long and drilled a small hole in on end as close to the center as I could eyeball. I then put a 2" drywall screw in the hole and cut the head off. I chucked this in a cordless drill and clamped the drill to the work bench.
the results were not bad, but I learned from it. Only attaching it at one end alowed to much movement off axis and led to asymetrical results. Also, with the constant running the cordless drill wasn't cutting it.
So tonight when I got home I got out my last existing corded drill, and made a 'L' shaped bracket to hold the other end of the work. (tail stock?)
This worked much better. for the tail piece I just ran a drywall screw through the bracket and pushed it into the work. This hole did enlarge itself after a while and led to eccentrictiy. I will re-do this next time with a bolt, some washers andnut and stop nut so that it can turn with the work.
I know several of us have done something similar, but there was just too much detail in this guy's post to not show it. Tech, this might rival your drill press version
