39 - Modular Wall Storage , страница 12

SELECTING TOOLS

Performance

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Spur ► Center.

A small spur center with a No. 1 Morse taper (top) isn't as well-suited to turning a large project as the thick No. 2 Morse taper shown on the bottom.

When it comes to the overall performance of a lathe, ivhat's the main thing you're looking for?

Bruce: Basically, it boils down to one thing — the lathe has to run smoothly. If there's any vibration, it will transfer to the workpiece and make it hard to get a nice, smooth finish.

[H So how do these lathes stack up against each other?

Bruce: The Bridgewood, Jet and Grizzly run extremely smooth. With these lathes, the spindle that drives the workpiece is supported by a heavy-duty, cast iron headstock. But the casting that supports the spindle on the Delta is considerably smaller. That may explain why there's more vibration with this lathe. Also, the

A Outboard Turning. The headstocks on all these lathes can be rotated 90° to the bed (left). This lets you turn large diameter workpieces. And it positions the workpiece for easy access (right).

headstock has a plastic housing that rattles as I'm turning — especially at low speeds.

Paul: No matter what the headstocks are made of, there's one neat thing about all of them. I can rotate the headstock so the spindle points out at me when I'm standing at the lathe. (See photos above.)

Lathe Speed

Bridgewood

| Preset Locks

II II

This "outboard turning" is ideal when I'm working on a bowl. I can waste out the inside of the bowl without having to lean over the lathe bed. And since the workpiece isn't spinning directly over the lathe bed, I can turn a much larger bowl.

[§§ To turn everything from large boivls to small spindles, these lathes have a wide range of speeds. Were they up to the job?

Paul: With the exception of the Delta, all of the lathes had a wade range of speeds that will work for any of my turning projects. (See chart at left.)

But I can "stop" the Delta at the low end of its speed range

NOTE:

sides of PULLEYS MOVE . IN AND OUT TO REPOSITION DRIVE BELT AND CHANGE SPEED

A. Step Pulleys. Lathes with step pulleys have a fixed number of speeds. To change the speed, you have to manually shift the belt to a different pair of pulleys.

B. Split Pulleys. A system of split pulleys allows for infinitely variable speeds within the range of the lathe by simply adjusting a lever.

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ShopNotes

No. 39