Adapting a $40 ball turner and making a brass oil plug for my 10L

[tk1971]

So I got a “best offer” for a plate type ball turner. For ~$40, I figured it would cost me more procuring all the materials to start from scratch.

I removed the round base and decided to use a piece of 12L14 (3-1/4”x2”) round stock to make the piece that goes in hole where the compound mounts.



Here is the quick drawing I jotted down for this:


I machined the tapered interface to the saddle based the dimensions taken from the bottom of the coumpound.





I then flipped the bar stock over in the chuck and machined it to fit the piece of the ball turning attachment that turns.





Since I’m not too good at measuring, I did a few test fits to check the tool height and faced it down a little at a time until I got it to line up with a live center.



Ball turning attachment finished:


Now I need to test it. I chucked up a piece of brass in my 5c collet system (there’s another post detailing the making of the hand wheel draw tube) and proceeded to make a brass ball oil plug. My Heavy 10 had been missing one oil plug since I acquired it. Gotta tie up loose ends…

I modeled the new oil plug off of the one that I still had, which stayed put because it had been painted over by the previous owner of my lathe.







I then parted it and flipped it over in the 5c collet to finalize the diameter of the section that goes in and to Dremel the slit for the oil wick.






The new one is on the left.


Installed

 

[G2]

WOW...Nice Job! Thanks for sharing...

 

[piper184]

Good work! Sometimes the little detail items are the most satisfying.

 

[benmychree]

I have seen a lot of those little knob/plugs, and none of them had any wicking in the slit, I can't see any function for wicking in there, and do not believe they came new with any wicking.

 

[tk1971]

I have seen a lot of those little knob/plugs, and none of them had any wicking in the slit, I can't see any function for wicking in there, and do not believe they came new with any wicking.

I just followed what was there, but after searching online shows that they do in fact have the slits. If not for oiling, then I can see the felt material act like an old-school spring, keeping the plug tight but not too tight when installed.

After looking around the internet for pictures this plug, I find that I'm missing one more which goes one the clutch lever. Looks like that's what I'll be making tomorrow.