Scott
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Post by Scott on Sept 6, 2014 11:57:12 GMT
Ok, this may be a bit of a dumb question , but how useful is a metal lathe? I have the option to acquire one and I'm not sure what it could be used for. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.
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Post by Uncle Mack on Sept 6, 2014 12:48:43 GMT
From a blademaking standpoint, they could be useful for making some pommels... I can't think of many other applications.
Do you already have a mill? If had to pick between a mill and a lathe for sword making, I think I would go for the mill...
But hey, any time you can get a good machine at a good price, you gotta jump on it!
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Sept 6, 2014 14:29:09 GMT
Agreed on both counts, milling machine, centerless grinder, 42" belt grinder, those are machines to lust after, :lol:
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Scott
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Posts: 1,676
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Post by Scott on Sept 6, 2014 16:12:50 GMT
I don't have a milling machine or a belt grinder, will be getting a bench grinder soon though. I'm not sure how much use the lathe would be is the thing. Turning pommels is fairly obvious, but what else could it be used for?
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Sept 6, 2014 16:35:51 GMT
If you don't have a belt grinder get it first, a bench grinder isn't much use. I hardy ever use my except with wire wheels. A 2X72in belt grinder will do everything a bench grinder will plus a lot more. A metal lathe has very little use, pommels is about it.
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Sept 6, 2014 19:20:24 GMT
Deff go for the belt grinder or mill first, the only thing a bench grinder is good for is buffing and wire wheels, your not going to be doing any clean accurate blade grinding with one
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Post by crazywolf on Sept 6, 2014 23:24:24 GMT
the lathe is one of the most useful metal working machines you can have.while maybe not a lot for making swords but gives you a way to make other parts people need and use the money from that to build your sword making shop.while not many people want a sword a ton of people want and need shafts and pins and other stuff made.plus with lathe I could build a belt sander and other tools for making swords.if a good price grab it.then then if you get a mill there wouldn't be much you couldn't build. as a machinist they were the two machines I used the most.
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Post by chrisperoni on Sept 7, 2014 0:32:10 GMT
On a lathe you could make some pretty sweet crosses to go with those pommels; also can do some decent drilling/milling set ups if need be, with the right chucks/parts. If I had a metal lathe. Definitely a good idea that you can make money with a lathe and use that cash for more sword making tools.
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Post by Lukas MG (chenessfan) on Sept 7, 2014 23:19:35 GMT
Lathes are awesome, get one. I'd love to have one myself. For pommels it's really a necessity. Mill isn't bad either of course.
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Scott
Member
Posts: 1,676
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Post by Scott on Sept 8, 2014 12:43:11 GMT
Thanks for the replies. I know a belt grinder would be better than the bench grinder, but it's free. I have seen a belt grinder attachment for a bench grinder, not sure if they're any good though. The only other problem if I get the lathe is finding space for it...
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