The Stars Have Been In Alignment For Me This Week. Just Got My First Lathe, A D/r 11x36, 25-100

Just saw a taper attachment listed on ebay for $650. Makes me feel a lot better about the cost of my lathe:)). The same guy has a follow rest at $275 and a steady rest at $350. Pretty high when you can buy a complete lathe for under $1500. Has anybody thought about making castings for the steady and follow rests? Seems like it wouldn't be too tough a thing. I happen to be acquainted with a guy who has a professional foundry, if I could just come up with a rest to make a mold from.

Also, I saw a thread recently where somebody on the forum was making spanners for the DR L00 spindle out of plate steel, cut out with a plasma cutter. He was asking a pretty reasonable price, something like $22. I can't seem to find the thread now. I'd like to pick one up if anybody knows who it was.

Tony
 
thenrie said:
Just saw a taper attachment listed on ebay for $650. Makes me feel a lot better about the cost of my lathe:)). The same guy has a follow rest at $275 and a steady rest at $350. Pretty high when you can buy a complete lathe for under $1500. Has anybody thought about making castings for the steady and follow rests? Seems like it wouldn't be too tough a thing. I happen to be acquainted with a guy who has a professional foundry, if I could just come up with a rest to make a mold from.

Also, I saw a thread recently where somebody on the forum was making spanners for the DR L00 spindle out of plate steel, cut out with a plasma cutter. He was asking a pretty reasonable price, something like $22. I can't seem to find the thread now. I'd like to pick one up if anybody knows who it was.

Tony
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I have several spanner wrenches, I can send you a pattern if you want. Tim
 
Please do. I'll have to cut it out with a torch and grind to shape, since my home shop doesn't yet include a plasma cutter...hmmm...:thinking:

Thanks. Email is tthenrie@yahoo.com.

Tony
 
Not that I'm aware of, but that's an idea. I'll look around. For being such a populous area, this place sure doesn't have much in the way of blue-collar stuff.
 
thenrie said:
Just saw a taper attachment listed on ebay for $650. Makes me feel a lot better about the cost of my lathe:)). The same guy has a follow rest at $275 and a steady rest at $350. Pretty high when you can buy a complete lathe for under $1500. Has anybody thought about making castings for the steady and follow rests? Seems like it wouldn't be too tough a thing. I happen to be acquainted with a guy who has a professional foundry, if I could just come up with a rest to make a mold from.

Also, I saw a thread recently where somebody on the forum was making spanners for the DR L00 spindle out of plate steel, cut out with a plasma cutter. He was asking a pretty reasonable price, something like $22. I can't seem to find the thread now. I'd like to pick one up if anybody knows who it was.

Tony
Click to expand...
Ideally, you'd want an original casting to make your pattern from. But if that doesn't pan out, you can always make a casting pattern from a wooden mock-up. You could even sculpt one out of dense styrofoam, You can make the pattern cheaply. Ask your foundry buddy.
 
xalky said:
Ideally, you'd want an original casting to make your pattern from. But if that doesn't pan out, you can always make a casting pattern from a wooden mock-up. You could even sculpt one out of dense styrofoam, You can make the pattern cheaply. Ask your foundry buddy.
Click to expand...

I think he wants to make one from Plate steel, cheaper and still functional. Tim
 
No, no. I want to try to make a follow and steady rest pattern or mold and have it cast for me. The spanner I can make from plate!

On the rests, I was thinking that if several of us went in together, we might get a pretty good price on getting a few cast for us and just do the machining and making the screws and follows ourselves. Maybe the same type of thing on getting a company to make up several lead screws for us as well. I think I'm going to make a few calls this week and see whether it's even a viable option. Just an idea. The prices on those items on the used market has now reached the point at which it may be cheaper to have new ones made. We could probably have them made in China for $25 apiece!

Problem is that I would need to obtain a rest to make a pattern from. Anybody going to lend me one? I doubt it, at current prices. So I may have to buy one and make a pattern from it.
 
Not a crazy idea at all. I know a fellow who sells follower and steadys for clausings 5400,5900, and 6300 series lathes. he had castings made and machined them up. I remember prices being north of 275 for each. machining must have added alot, or he was looking to retire early.
Can save alot if you get a bunch to buy in, maybe make a casting of some 10ee followers too!
 
thenrie said:
No, no. I want to try to make a follow and steady rest pattern or mold and have it cast for me. The spanner I can make from plate!

On the rests, I was thinking that if several of us went in together, we might get a pretty good price on getting a few cast for us and just do the machining and making the screws and follows ourselves. Maybe the same type of thing on getting a company to make up several lead screws for us as well. I think I'm going to make a few calls this week and see whether it's even a viable option. Just an idea. The prices on those items on the used market has now reached the point at which it may be cheaper to have new ones made. We could probably have them made in China for $25 apiece!

Problem is that I would need to obtain a rest to make a pattern from. Anybody going to lend me one? I doubt it, at current prices. So I may have to buy one and make a pattern from it.
Click to expand...

The one thing you need to consider when casting is the shrinkage. There is a known amount that the patterns are larger than the product. I am no expert but I know of the process. Tim
 
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