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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
09-25-2024, 07:32 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-25-2024, 07:40 PM by PickleSnout.)
My big project this year is a new lathe.
I am working on a Nichols lathe.
It came partially assembled. The rest was up to me.
This equipment is highly configurable and can turn pieces up to 80-yes, 8. 0. Inches diameter.
To do this you detach the lathe ways and use an outboard turning toolrest. As configured it can turn 36” diameter.
I made the center support, welding a plate for feet to an I beam and drilling the plate steel for the equipment feet, so it can roll away.
The other items completed are assembly, paint, center support, leveling the ways, and configuring the VFD. It takes 220 single phase, and outputs 220 3 phase.
I need to make the motor mount plate, and weld the equipment feet on the rear legs, before I can make chips… soon!
I couldn’t wait anymore to share.
Introducing…. The Beast!
The cool story behind this…
One day as I was waiting to give a resin class to some fellow woodturners in my club, I prayed to God, feeling unsure about my path. What was I even doing? Am I wasting my time making sawdust? I told the Lord I was listening, and open to what he wanted.
That afternoon Rod, one of the guys who came to class, says - Hey, this is really on my heart. I want to offer this lathe to you to buy.
Now folks, a Nichols lathe is a rare thing, and not many exist. It is part already made, and part make it yourself.
So I said Yes.
Turns out Rod is also christian and in tune, and he shared with me the calling to let it go, the very day I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do.
So I introduce “Beastie”.
This lathe, to me, represents the strength and dignity of the Lion of God, and answered prayer.
My Lord, your presence is always welcome in my work.
Humbly, I Thank You.
Amen.
Spoiler
Do Good,
And Be Good,
And Good shall exist in the World.
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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
09-25-2024, 08:23 PM
Oh, @ PickleSnout , what an honor to have this opportunity! A lot of skill went into it's creation. I know that you will make it sing!
*
Getting old is no problem. You just have to live long enough. * Groucho Marx
The following 2 users Like SlowLoris's post:2 users Like SlowLoris's post
• DaJavoo, PickleSnout
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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
09-26-2024, 05:21 AM
Wow! What a work of art to create art on, @ PickleSnout
Doncha' just love answered prayer!
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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
09-27-2024, 04:07 PM
(09-25-2024, 07:32 PM)PickleSnout Wrote: My big project this year is a new lathe.
I am working on a Nichols lathe.
It came partially assembled. The rest was up to me.
This equipment is highly configurable and can turn pieces up to 80-yes, 8. 0. Inches diameter.
To do this you detach the lathe ways and use an outboard turning toolrest. As configured it can turn 36” diameter.
I made the center support, welding a plate for feet to an I beam and drilling the plate steel for the equipment feet, so it can roll away.
The other items completed are assembly, paint, center support, leveling the ways, and configuring the VFD. It takes 220 single phase, and outputs 220 3 phase.
I need to make the motor mount plate, and weld the equipment feet on the rear legs, before I can make chips… soon!
I couldn’t wait anymore to share.
Introducing…. The Beast!
The cool story behind this…
One day as I was waiting to give a resin class to some fellow woodturners in my club, I prayed to God, feeling unsure about my path. What was I even doing? Am I wasting my time making sawdust? I told the Lord I was listening, and open to what he wanted.
That afternoon Rod, one of the guys who came to class, says - Hey, this is really on my heart. I want to offer this lathe to you to buy.
Now folks, a Nichols lathe is a rare thing, and not many exist. It is part already made, and part make it yourself.
So I said Yes.
Turns out Rod is also christian and in tune, and he shared with me the calling to let it go, the very day I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do.
So I introduce “Beastie”.
This lathe, to me, represents the strength and dignity of the Lion of God, and answered prayer.
My Lord, your presence is always welcome in my work.
Humbly, I Thank You.
Amen. I love this Lady. Pickles is the best!
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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
10-01-2024, 07:46 PM
(09-25-2024, 07:32 PM)PickleSnout Wrote: My big project this year is a new lathe.
I am working on a Nichols lathe.
It came partially assembled. The rest was up to me.
This equipment is highly configurable and can turn pieces up to 80-yes, 8. 0. Inches diameter.
To do this you detach the lathe ways and use an outboard turning toolrest. As configured it can turn 36” diameter.
I made the center support, welding a plate for feet to an I beam and drilling the plate steel for the equipment feet, so it can roll away.
The other items completed are assembly, paint, center support, leveling the ways, and configuring the VFD. It takes 220 single phase, and outputs 220 3 phase.
I need to make the motor mount plate, and weld the equipment feet on the rear legs, before I can make chips… soon!
I couldn’t wait anymore to share.
Introducing…. The Beast!
The cool story behind this…
One day as I was waiting to give a resin class to some fellow woodturners in my club, I prayed to God, feeling unsure about my path. What was I even doing? Am I wasting my time making sawdust? I told the Lord I was listening, and open to what he wanted.
That afternoon Rod, one of the guys who came to class, says - Hey, this is really on my heart. I want to offer this lathe to you to buy.
Now folks, a Nichols lathe is a rare thing, and not many exist. It is part already made, and part make it yourself.
So I said Yes.
Turns out Rod is also christian and in tune, and he shared with me the calling to let it go, the very day I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do.
So I introduce “Beastie”.
This lathe, to me, represents the strength and dignity of the Lion of God, and answered prayer.
My Lord, your presence is always welcome in my work.
Humbly, I Thank You.
Amen. OMG, somewhere out there a semi is missing it's frame and back axles!
That's a monster, big enough to turn a bathtub! I'd like mine in hedge please!
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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
10-22-2024, 11:26 AM
There are three things not long hidden, the Sun, the Moon, and the Truth.
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WOOD you? Woodworking and Makers thread for those who love making things
10-24-2024, 01:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-24-2024, 01:19 PM by PickleSnout.)
Rod came by, the original owner of this lathe, and we took time to do more alignment on the beast. Grinding and stoning the plate surfaces where the spindle mounted, making sure things were tightened to the same torque, aligning the drive wheels to the motor and spindle shaft... items like that. At the end of the tuning the beast is running true to within 1/10000th. I am moving to the final touches on the way support legs... Oh! And a safety cage for the wheels. I was spinning by hand and my finger got in the belt, yowch! Beastie can bite.
So that little love bite is my warning. If it was powered I'd hate to think of anyone stuck in that. The safety cage will mount with threaded rod and nuts, super simple. I will buy some of that mesh cutout metal screening from home defect, something easy to trim and great for my purpose.
Yesterday I spun some heavy wood, nice and slow, and it had no trouble at all. Power felt awesome.
It was nice to include Rod in the final tests. He had this lathe for a long time, and never got to see it run.
It was woodturner Wednesday, so I had my buddy Valerie in the shop as well. Handy for pics. Memorable moment.
Spoiler
Do Good,
And Be Good,
And Good shall exist in the World.
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