Armchair DIY» Tools

6 Homemade Wood Lathe Plans and Designs

Armchair DIY — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:18:37 +0000

Many of you have considered building or making your own homemade wood lathe. Here are six designs to get you started making your own lathe.

Why build your own lathe?

Money saving

If your a little bit handy and spend a little time planning you could save hundreds if not thousands of dollars by building your own lathe.

A Manufactured option does not exist

If you need a very large bowl lathe or a really long bed lath, buying a wood lathe may not be an option.

It’s just plain cool

Lets face it building your own woodworking machines is just plain cool!

Photo: Taunton Press

“When George Archer decided to upgrade his Shopsmith lathe to something that could handle larger projects, he didn’t browse the tool catalogs. Instead, he built his own.

“It does great,” said Archer, a retired engineer from Savannah, Georgia, who cobbled together a heavy-duty bowl turning lathe from $100 of purchased and found parts. “So far, so good.”

What inspired Archer to build his own lathe rather than buying a commercial one? “Probably the $2,000 difference in cost,” he said. Another likely contributor is his engineering prowess. The hobby woodworker spent many years engineering parts for air-conditioning systems.”

Via: Matt Burger, Fine Woodworking Homemade Lathe on a Budget.

Photo: George Farrel

“The woodturning lathe described here and pictured above is the 4th homemade lathe that I will have built. The frame should be constructed of hardwood (maple is excellent but expensive). In the southeastern states of the US, southern yellow pine is an excellent substitute. Pressure treated lumber is usually southern yellow pine, but is not recommended unless it is carefully chosen to be clear and knot free, quarter-sawn and with no heartwood. The primary reason for choosing something else is that when purchased it is usually saturated with water, so if you decide to use it, it should be stored in a warm dry place long enough to dry out. It is the cheapest solution, and the drying time can be substantially reduced if you use one inch boards. Birch plywood is an expensive alternative but has the advantage of being very stable and already dry, and certainly much easier to use than solid timber of the required size with respect to the mortise and tenon joints.”

Via: George Farrell Full, article Building a “Woodturning Lathe”

Here is an interesting design that requires no welding. If you are looking to build a small wood lathe this set of plans may be just what you are looking for.

This lathe design is intended to be a large heavy duty metal lathe, larger than most would require for woodworking. The desing concept is perfect for a shop built homemade lathe and could easily be scaled down to fit your needs.

The bolt together design and use of off the shelf components make this an interesting design for a heavy duty shop built wood lath.

Designed By: Open Source Ecology

Open Source Ecology has a development Wiki describing the lathe in more detail.

“Making a lathe is fun! Designing one yourself and using free or cheap materials is even better.

This instructable shows how I did it. I got ideas from lots of places on the internet (including other instructables – do a search for ‘lathe’) and formulated my design as I collected materials.

This lathe is made almost exclusively from stuff other people threw away or didn’t have use for anymore, and a big part of the challenge is creatively using these readily available materials. You will probably want to vary your own design from mine, as you will inevitably find you can get your hands on different bits. Don’t worry though I will try my best to offer techniques and advice (including where the best places are to get stuff), anyway it is much more exciting when you have a hand in the design process. I would love to hear what you guys use to make your designs.”

Via: Open Source Ecology

Here is a great midi size shop built lathe that is really worth a close look for design ideas for your homemade lathe.

The Twisted Knot Woodshop has built a beautiful behemoth of a wood lathe that you have to check out.

Photo: The Twisted Knot Woodshop

This is a heavy duty 14″ swing shop built wood lathe. It is almost a work of art as well as a well built machine.

Tell us about your home made or shop built wood lathe. Pen lathes, spindle lathes, bowl lathes are all pretty basic woodworking tools. With a little planning and ingenuity you should be able to make your own lathe to suite your needs.

Making your own wood lathe, we all would like to hear about your design ideas or see what you built.

Free Plans:Homemade Overarm Pin Router Plans

Armchair DIY — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:49:18 +0000

Credit: Chasson Guitars

What Is an overarm router?

An over arm router consists of a router mounted above the work piece, and a guide pin protruding from the machine table. A template is made that the work piece is mounted on and that rides on the guide pin.

Inverted pin routers are another form of pin router. The router is mounted under the table and the guide pin is mounted on the overarm portion of the machine.

What is a pin router or overarm router used for?

An over arm router is intended for template routing of wood. Making multiple identical cuts or pieces quickly and accurately. It is also very well suited to making stopped dados, rabbets and through dados as well. It can perform many wood routing operations that are difficult or time consuming to perform with a standard handheld wood router.

Pin routers are often overlooked tools for the home shop or small production shop. Use and benefits of the pin router are often misunderstood. To further compound the problem many of the overarm routers on the market are to large and expensive for the small shop owner.

We have found a solution to those problems for you. We have several examples of homemade overarm pin routers as well as two low cost options for purchasing a light duty bench top overarm router. And of course in true ArmChairDIY style we also are providing a set of free plans to make your own homemade bench top overarm router. As you know we are big fans of shop built and homemade tools.

Kent Chasson of Chasson Gutiars has designed and built a very nice homemade pin router for making his beautiful custom made guitars.

Kent says “Here’s my homemade pin router. There’s a pin in the table directly under the bit that rides on a pattern. The unique idea I incorporated in this tool is that the pin is held in a drill chuck. This allows the use of any size pin, which enables me to adjust a cut by as little as .0005″! The use of precision bearings makes this tool extremely accurate and I get results that are repeatable to .001″. I use this for cutting bridge slots, cutting out tops and backs, cutting rosette channels, headstock overlays and inlays, and many other operations.”

Credit: Chasson Guitars

Here is a video of a very nice heavy duty homemade over arm pin router in action. You can really see the advantages of using an overarm router for repetitive routing operations.

Homemade overarm router in action

MLCS Daisy Pin Router

MLCS Says this about their Daisy Pin Router:

“Make exact copies of ANY shape! The NEW Daisy Pin Router easily attaches to any router table, and performs operations similar to machines costing hundreds of dollars more. Make unlimited, exact copies of shapes from either inside or outside patterns. Repetitive cuts are easy and error free. The large, 8″ arm, reaches to the center of a 16″ wide piece. Includes four steel pin sizes (1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″ and 1/2″) and instructions.”

ArmChairDIY has not used the MLCS Daisy Pin Router yet, so we are not able to write a full blown tool review.

My first impression is for the money this is a very viable option for small overarm routing and pattern cutting projects.

Paul says,”This looked like the answer to a routing problem I was having. I was 100% correct. This setup works great and was easy to install. There was one drawback…be it very small. The unit could be a bit taller giving more table clearance. I accomplished this need with a piece of 3/4″ stock for a spacer between the table and mounting flange.

In operation, it is GREAT!!”

Shop Fox Overarm Pin Router

“Take advantage of production routing without dedicating lots of space in your shop. This Bench Top Overarm Router bolts or clamps to the top of your workbench and features pneumatic foot control to lower the router into the workpiece, letting your hands control the movement of the workpiece over the pin insert. If you already have a portable router, router bits and air compressor and do or plan on doing any type of production routing, this Overarm Router and your shop made patterns are all you need. Features: 4 plastic router collars fit most router bodies on the market Three reversible pins Spindle travels on double cylindrical ways Foot control allows hands free operation Pneumatic driven head Precision milled cast aluminum table Clear plastic safety guard Adjustable depth stop Specifications: Maximum head stroke: 5-1/2″ Maximum distance spindle to table: 6-1/2″ Maximum distance housing to table: 8-3/4″ Throat capacity: 18″ Router collar sizes: 4-1/4″, 3-21/64″, 3-1/4″ and 3-1/2″ x 2-5/8″ high Router housing diameter: 4-1/2″ Air pressure required: 60 PSI Table pins: 3/16″ x 1/4″, 5/16″ x 3/8″, 7/16″ x 1/2″ Table size: 19-3/4″ W x 14″ D x 1-3/8″ H Overall size: 21-3/4″ W x 28-1/4″ D x~31-3/8″ H Approximate shipping weight: 55 lbs.”

The Shop Fox overarm pin router would make a fantastic addition to the serious home shop woodworker or light production runs for the professional.

Now The Big Dogs

Here are a couple example of industrial quality pin routers. The C.R. Onsrud is an inverted pin router with the motor mounted under the work table. While the Woodtek is an over arm pin router with the power head mounted above the work table.

C.R. Onsrud Inverted Pin Router

C.R. Onsurd 10 H.P. 3 Phase Inverted Pin Router

Woodtek overarm pin router

5HP WOODTEK OVERARM ROUTER

Now that you know what a pin router can do you want one too.

Well ArmChairDIY is big on shop built homemade tools, so we found a really nice set of plans to build your own bench top pin router.

Popular Mechanics built a nice very nice light duty overarm pin router.

Here is a set of free plans for you to make your own shop built overarm pin router.

Send us photos of your pin router you built, we all want to see what you have been up to in your wood shop.

Tool Review:Makita 1002BA Curved Base Planer

Armchair DIY — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:47:22 +0000

A few months ago we were sent a Makita 1002BA 4 3/8″ Curved Base Planer to put to the test and review. We gave it a real work out, a hands on real world tool test. Read on to find out what we think of this power planer.

Specs

Planing Width 4-3/8″
Planing Depth 5/32″
No Load RPM 15,000
Curved Radius 1-13/16″ to 12-5/8″
AMPS 11.0
Length 13-11/32″
Cord Length 16.4’
Net Weight (lbs.) 11.9
Shipping Weight (lbs.) 15.4

Included Items

Sharpening Holder
Wrench
Blade Gauge
Wing Nut
Planer Blade

First Things First

Our operation of the planer really has been a true test of power and durability.This power planer has a curved base shoe making it an effective radius planer. We use it as an alternative to hand hewing timbers and logs.

We had this planner in our grubby little hands for about two weeks. In that amount of time we produced about two full sized pickup truck loads of shavings. Hewing over a thousand square feet of surface area. Yep, we rode it hard and……. properly tested it. Hard work, but still the quickest way to get a nice hand hewn look.

Staining Hewn Log Siding

Price

At first glance you may think the price of this planer seems high compared to straight base power planers. I initially had that same thought, but further comparison reveals the reason. The Makita 1002BA Curved Base Planerhas an 11 amp motor. The Makita 1902X7 4 Amp 3-1/4-Inch Hand-Held Planer, which is a very common tools, has a 4 amp motor. A very substantial power difference.

My Opinion of This Machine.

The first few minutes of planing is fun, but I will admit that feeling wears off after a few hours. It did perform very well. It is powerful and capable of removing material fast. The blades held up very well considering the logs and timbers did have some dust and dirt on them.

The dust port can clog if it is pointed upward, but that is to be expected. There are rumors floating around that the blades are sharp enough to cut the power cord off. I have heard this from a reliable source, so it may very well be true.

It is heavy, loud, and messy, but I see no way for the Makita Power Tool engineers to cure those issues, so I will shut up and get back to work or it will never get done.

If you have a need for a curved base planner don’t hesitate to buy it. I have no regrets. Which is good, because the Makita is the only option in this price range that I am aware of. The other curved shoe planners I have seen sell for thousands of dollars. It’s a powerful, well made and well designed tool.

If you have this power planer let us all know how it’s working for you, and how your using it. Post a comment and tell us all about it.

Homemade Drywall Lift Plans, Cheap and Easy to make your own

Armchair DIY — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:46:25 +0000

Get to Work and Keep Her Happy!

Need a drywall panel lift, but you don’t want to spend the money to buy one. Build your own homemade drywall lift. This is a perfect design for occasional use.

With this panel lift you can get out of your chair and finish that basement remodel you have been putting off doing. Remember “if she is not happy nobody’s happy” You can be a DIY hero!

ArmChairDIY wants to hear about your homemade sheetrock lift project. Post a comment or contact us and brag a little bit.

Printable Protractor For Your Home Made Jigs and Fixtures

Armchair DIY — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:52:40 +0000

If your like me you make custom jigs and fixtures to make your work more accurate and faster.

I have often wished I could add a protractor that I could use on some of my angle jigs. I drew up this generic protractor for you to use too. It is a standard 180 degrees with major tic marks at 5 degree increments, minor tic marks at one degree increments as well as half degree tic marks. You can print it, cut it out and use spray adhesive to mount it on your jig. A couple coats of clear polyurethane over it will help protect it.

Get out of your chair, and into the shop and build that jig! Send us a photo and show us how you used it.

This 3m adhesive is great for gluing the protractor to your home made jig or fixture. It has many other uses around the shop as well.

Find the parts to Save Money Repairing Your Own Tools and Appliances

Armchair DIY — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:50:09 +0000

Repairing tools and appliances is not always that difficult. Often times the hardest part is locating the correct parts. We have put together a great list of sources for you to use. Now you can find the parts you need and make the repairs yourself and save a bunch of money doing it.

Sears Parts Direct has parts for all major brands, including GE, Whirlpool, Briggs & Stratton, Husqvarna, Maytag, Craftsman, Kenmore, Bosch, Sony, Panasonic, Singer, ProForm and many more. I have even found parts for a very old Sears Drill Press I own. They have an easy to use website and a very broad range of parts. With exploded diagrams to help you find the right parts. ArmchairDIY is happy to be able to help you Save 10% on your purchase at Sears PartsDirect.com . Just follow the link from here to save money. Enter your model number or part number and your on your way to getting your repair parts.

Tool Parts Direct also offers Replacement Tool Parts I have ordered air compressor parts and drill switches from Tool Parts Direct and I have been very happy with the service they have given me. They currently have 609,390 power tool parts online along with over 17,165 free tool schematics. They carry AccuSet, Apach, Biesemeyer, Black and Decker, Bosch, Stanley-Bostitch, Delta, DeVilbiss Air Power, DeWALT, Duo-Fast, Emglo, Flex, Grip-Rite, Hitachi, Ingersoll Rand, Makita, Max, Metabo, Milwaukee, Panasonic, Paslode, Porter Cable, Quik Drive, Ramset, Ridgid, Rol-Air, Ryobi, Senco, Skil, SpotNails, and the list is continually growing. They may also be able to find parts that they do not stock.

RepairClinic For appliance parts visit www.RepairClinic.com I have not purchased from them yet, but I have heard positive feedback about the company. The website has an impressive amount of helpful information as well as a very large selection of parts for Admiral Airtemp Amana Amana Commercial Microwave Aprilaire Arctic Air Arietta Asko Autoflow Bemis Bosch Broan Caloric Climatrol Crosley Dacor Dynasty Electrolux Emerson Estate E-Wave Fedders Frigidaire Gaggenau Garland GE General Gibson Glenwood Goldstar Haier Hampton Bay Hardwick Hitachi Holmes Hotpoint Insinkerator JC Penney Jenn Air Kelvinator Kenmore KitchenAid LG Litton Lobb Magic Chef Maytag Modern Maid Montgomery Wards Norge Nutone Panasonic Quasar RCA Roper Samsung Samsung (from Maytag) Sanyo Scotsman Sharp Sinkmaster Skuttle Speed Queen Sub Zero Sunray Tappan Thermador Toshiba U-Line Universal Waste King Westinghouse Whirlaway Whirlpool White-Westinghouse Wolf .
You can see they have a huge selection.

Sawzall Blades, Stop Looking Everywhere for Them

Armchair DIY — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:43:54 +0000

You found your sawzall or reciprocating saw and your ready to start ripping and tearing, but your blade are laying everywhere. You remember seeing one in the tool box, a couple in a box with some nails and maybe one in that coffee can of 16 penny sinkers.

Do it your self remodeling takes enough time without being unorganized. Save time with this quick cheap little tip. Put your blades on an old metal shower curtain hook. I use one for metal cutting blade and one for wood cutting blades. Sure you can still save all those really dull bent up blades, but now you will at least know where they are.

You can hang them on the wall in the shop or toss them in a tool box. It also help prevent you from losing them in a pile of saw dust and demolition debris, quick pound a nail into a stud and hang them up.

Grab your your blades and get to work!

Cutting Cope Joints For Baseboard: Video

Armchair DIY — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:42:05 +0000

Hartville Coping Saw

A cope joint is what the pros use when installing baseboard. This joint is the most effective joint to masks woods natural tendency to move. It is really a simple joint to create, but many people are confused by the process. Here is a great tutorial on using a cope joint to install baseboard .

Using a Swanson Speed Square For Roof Layout

Armchair DIY — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:48:30 +0000

Swanson Speed Square

The Swanson Speed Square has found a place in most of our tool belts. It’s quick to use, serves many purposes, and it’s almost bullet proof. A must have for any framing project.

But still as popular as it is, many still are not using it to it’s full potential. Here is a good video presentation explaining the basics of using the Speed Square for roof layout. Once you learn how to use the Swanson Speed Square it will be one tool you will not want to be without. It’s not easy to find a cheap durable tool that can do so much. check it out and leave a comment telling everyone how you use your speed square.

Reading a Tape Measure-5 Inches and How Many of Those Little Marks?

Armchair DIY — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:54:17 +0000

Do you need a little refresher course on how to read a tape measure? It’s been a while since you were in school you say, your fractions are a little rusty. Here is a little photo to help jog your memory.

Now when you are ready to go to the hardware store or lumber yard you can give them accurate measurements, just like a professional carpenter.

Now promise me, you won’t say” five inches and five little marks” ever again. Great, thats much better!

Armchair DIY» Tools

6 Homemade Wood Lathe Plans and Designs

Many of you have considered building or making your own homemade wood lathe. Here are six designs to get you started making your own lathe.

Why build your own lathe?

Here is an interesting design that requires no welding. If you are looking to build a small wood lathe this set of plans may be just what you are looking for.

This lathe design is intended to be a large heavy duty metal lathe, larger than most would require for woodworking. The desing concept is perfect for a shop built homemade lathe and could easily be scaled down to fit your needs.

Here is a great midi size shop built lathe that is really worth a close look for design ideas for your homemade lathe.

The Twisted Knot Woodshop has built a beautiful behemoth of a wood lathe that you have to check out.

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Free Plans:Homemade Overarm Pin Router Plans

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Tool Review:Makita 1002BA Curved Base Planer

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Homemade Drywall Lift Plans, Cheap and Easy to make your own

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Printable Protractor For Your Home Made Jigs and Fixtures

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Find the parts to Save Money Repairing Your Own Tools and Appliances

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Sawzall Blades, Stop Looking Everywhere for Them

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Cutting Cope Joints For Baseboard: Video

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Using a Swanson Speed Square For Roof Layout

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Reading a Tape Measure-5 Inches and How Many of Those Little Marks?

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