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Grand slam
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Lathe education
Jan 4th, 2023 at 9:28am
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My nephew, a nice young man and very mechanically inclined, will be visiting me soon for about 4 or 5 days. He would like to learn how to run a lathe. Other than teaching him safety precautions and how to sharpen and hone HSS tool bits. What would be some good basic projects to start him out with? I thought maybe: facing, turning, drill, boring and parting off. Then threading ?
Thanks for you suggestions.
Cheers Richard
  
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Lead Pot
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #1 - Jan 4th, 2023 at 9:36am
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Tool post alignment. 
indicating a 4 jaw chuck.
Setting up a steady rest. 
Using a dog.
If he is thinking getting a Lathe help him tram it.
  
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KFW
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #2 - Jan 4th, 2023 at 10:49am
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Start by using a precision level and get the bed leveled up in both directions. Eliminate the bed twist.
  
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uscra112
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #3 - Jan 4th, 2023 at 11:19am
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Lead Pot wrote on Jan 4th, 2023 at 9:36am:
Tool post alignment. 
indicating a 4 jaw chuck.
Setting up a steady rest. 
Using a dog.

To which I would add some training in cutting edge geometry. 
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
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Especially how to set the tool height.   

I once got a nice lathe dirt cheap from a fellow who didn't understand tool geometry, and made a hash of everything he tried.

Next understand feeds and speeds. and how these differ depending on workpiece material.



  

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uscra112
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #4 - Jan 4th, 2023 at 11:27am
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Never take your hand off the chuck wrench until it's back in its' rack.
  

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oldman46
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #5 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 12:35am
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Good book by South bend lathes "how to operate a lathe" and I have a navy manual for petty officer 3 & 2 on how to run a lathe. More than a few books on lathe operations and some good videos on you tube. Frank
  
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ScrapMetal
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #6 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 1:19am
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Once you get past the setup and basics you might find a project in South Bend's "Machine Shop Projects" (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)    It has things from fairly simple to more complex than you will have the time for.

Hope it helps give you some ideas,

-Ron   
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #7 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 6:50am
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I second the notion about How to Run a Lathe by the South Bend Lathe Works being a good book, and one easily found, for the beginning lathe operator.

Bill Lawrence
  
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n.r.davis
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #8 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 7:37am
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A good basic project would be a Center Punch.  Another could be a Small Brass Hammer.  No critical tolerance and something he will use on other projects.  Have fun 😊. David
  
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boats
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #9 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 7:48am
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Nothing better than in person, however very good YouTube series is under “MR Pete222” his screen name is Tubalcain. Ex High School Shop teacher and vintage machine tool enthusiast . Well spoken and easy to understand. Old fellow, my age, with a dry mid Westen wit, pokes fun at foolish new ideas and methods.

He has done series on specific tools, South Bend 9 inch lathes now. Some time ago did my lathe,  Logan 11, then packaged the 40 odd Logan shows into a Zip drive size for easier reference.

The videos vary from tool specific to operation specific. Grinding bits, set up, milling drilling broaching fixture’s  blocks layout and more. Often has project series start to finish selected to show the techniques .

He’s one of the few YouTubers that’s not sponsored. Sells his own packaged shows, that are also free through YouTube. Occasionally mentions he has a lot of small tools listed on eBay. Indicators and the like.

Have learned a lot from him. I grew up with wood lathes and drill presses basics the same not as critical as machine tools . Set up a machine side to my shop dozen years ago. Had a good go to source, cousin who owns a machine shop and a master with large boat and ship work. Avoided bothering him frequently . Tubalcain filled the gap.

Boats
« Last Edit: Jan 5th, 2023 at 7:56am by boats »  
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Grand slam
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #10 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 10:46am
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Thanks guys for the links and advice. It will be a pleasure passing on some knowledge.
Cheers Richard
  
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JLouis
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #11 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 12:42pm
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I would also teach and show him how to cut threads.


  

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bpjack
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #12 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 6:09pm
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I really like Tubalcain's videos.  Another good set of youtube videos is Blondihacks.  You might need to translate since she is from Canada eh!
If you like the technical type of information check out Joe Pie om youtube.
  

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just a bit of a hoot.
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bobw
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #13 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 6:09pm
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Richard,

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Just got this, some small project ideas for a lathe that might be fun for a beginner.
Bob
  

Robert Warren
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JLouis
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Re: Lathe education
Reply #14 - Jan 5th, 2023 at 6:41pm
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Abom79 is also an extremely good YouTube Web sight.
I once also taught an 11 year old young man how to cut threads on my lathe and then to also cut enteral threads that would screw onto it.   
Total time less than a few hours and his eyes really lite up.
The fit was a hand fit and he could not have been more proud of his own personal accomplishment. 
And he had actually done them both and I actually did not help him at all other than explaining and showing him the proper setup.
He did the rest of it and starting from scratch I was only there to make sure that he did not get hurt.
Unfortunately most make it out to be some type of extremely difficult type of rocket science when by no means is that actually the truth of it all.
  

" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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