Kudzu Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 I loved the line from the commercial. I like new things.... when they get old. I looked for a long time a lathe and found one a few months back. Tonight I finally got it going. It's a 1960's (I think) J-line wood lathe. It's a hunk of iron too! Around 600 lbs so they say. I turned bowls years ago and moved and lost my shop. My old craftsman would try to walk across the floor with a big chuck of out of round wood on it. This time I wanted something that wasn't going anywhere. 8) It has a 1HP 3 phase motor. So I purchase a Variable Frequency Drive for it. After working 12-16 hour days for weeks now working on a new business idea I decided I need a break today. So I went to the shop to play with my train set. I got the VFD installed and the lathe running. I found a blank I made and gave it spin. This was just a trial blank and it rough but I like the idea. But most of all it was so nice to be turning again after 14+ years without a shop and a lathe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hagan Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Wow, I'll bet that's stable as all get out. I have never tried turning, but my wife was absolutely fascinated by it when we visited a Rockler store and they were doing a demonstration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 That is a sweet machine! Looks like a very nice shot. This photo shows a bit more of it than others I have seen, and you have a nice one! Try thsi site for information on you new lathe. They have a lot of information there and some of the old manuals. http://www.owwm.com/ I am thinking there is another site specific to manuals also, but can't find my link to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Doug (WA) Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Boy oh boy what a lathe! That would be fun. You can really turn some large stuff on that. I love turning wood. I'm not very good but it gets to you. I think it is the most expensive part of wood working though. You never seem to get through buying tools. A black hole, kind of like a boat! Hope you get the time to use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted January 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Capt Jake, I ran across OWWT web site a year or so ago. Nothing much on this lathe but on their forum I did find a copy of the manual and parts diagram from another owner. I am going to scan it into PDF one day and submit it for others. Something like that is so useful! I am fortunate that this one needs no work (that I can tell of). Going to clean it up some and use it and see. I did notice the hand wheel (outboard face plate) was a bit warm. I didn't noitce the casting to be warm but may have a bad bearing. Could be the warm air from the motor and/or the VFD drive too. Will just have to watch and see. BTW, is that you I see posting on Wood Net? P Doug, I have been wanting a lathe for a long time and I wanted something substantial. I love turning 'found" wood chunks. Always out or round and out of balance. I think this will be a good one for that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 Nope, not me posting on Woodnet. Too many other forums and things to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 'zat a Yates American J-Line machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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