Mast Lathe, Bad Idea

[Brucel]

I've mentioned a few times  in Restoring Aslan (Main Forum) my 12 foot mast lathe. Here's a few pics of it. Before anyone asks how I made it let me say a few words. Don't do it.

This was made from basically 3 cast iron assemblies from a 4 foot wood lathe. These assemblies were designed to maybe turn a baseball bat or banisters not a 12 foot long 4x4. First problem was getting it to turn slow enough to handle a 12 foot 4x4. The result was the mess of pullys you can see mounted on the brown board. The second big problem was flexing. You cannot turn something that long without it deflecting in the middle. It ends up looking like a bowling pin. I had to spend hours turning the mast grinding away with a giant wood rasp to get it straight. The third problem was time, it took me about 3 eight hour days to get the job done. I could have used a plane and ended up with a pretty octagonal mast in a little over 8 hours. Fourth problem, fear. The whole time I was turning this mess I was afraid it was going to come loose and bean me. That stress alone will keep me from ever trying this again.

Bottom line, if you want turned wooden masts pay someone else to do it. Someone who has the proper equipment.