Transforming a metal lathe into a a woodturning lathe.

Hi Ron, As you are a machinist, I feel as if I'm preaching to the choir, but maybe a few thoughts for the congregation. ;) I assume that your lathe is a good make and probably swings at least 9 inches. Probably back geared and has longitudinal and cross feeds from a leadscrew. etc.

Just adding a 'T' tool rest to the tool holder would 'enable' your engine lathe to turn wood, but it would be a limiting set up. Inconvenient and might discourage you from taking up a very enjoyable activity.

IMHO there is really no substitute for a smoothly working cam operated tool rest system. Often the speeds for woodturning exceed those available on metal lathes. and if they are they are noisy. For wood you often need speed for spindle turning and swing for faceplate work. Metal lathes limit both considerably.

I am not aware of any conversion kits for 3 jaw chucks. Many of us used them in the past, but the scroll chucks, pioneered by Technatool, have generally displaced them because of their safety, utility and price. If you do decide to 'convert' your lathe, I suggest simple holding methods: single or multiple screw chucks, pin chucks, spurs etc. Revolving tail center for sure.

Modern woodturning lathes, new and used, are so useful, reasonably priced and available that to disrupt a metal lathe with its precision, threading systems, etc. seems counter-productive. I think small metal lathes can serve for wood & metal, and some are are commercially available, but I assume that you don't plan to make only small turnings.

Each time this question arises someone notes that some very good woodturners and one in particular continue using metal lathes. Obviously this can be done, but I don't know if they use cross and compound slides with fixed tool holders & bits, dogs and drive plates, etc.

In summary then: IMHO don't mess up your fine engine lathe or make it a pain to go back to using it for what it was intended. You know you have to keep it clean and well oiled. Grease, wood chips and dust don't socialize. Buy or borrow a true woodturning machine, and don't make do or look back.

This is rcw so, of course, others will advise differently. Regardless, welcome to woodturnng. All good luck, have fun and keep us posted. Arch

Fortiter,

You could make an adapter (a stub with a threaded end, in your choice of threads) to take any of the woodworking chucks. You can also get blank inserts which you could thread to your lathe's spindle nose, if it's a smallish one (roughly 1-1/4 inch dia or less), or if it's bigger, you can make an adapter from spindle nose (female) to wood chuck (male). I guess I'm assuming threaded spindle, - all mine are, but they are also

19th century lathes - modern cam-locking spindles would be more trouble to adapt.

When we needed a wood part turned at the plasma lab (my lathe was hundreds of miles away at home), I just turned a heavy tool holder sideways in the toolpost and used it as a toolrest, but a more normal toolrest is convenient, and probably safer. You can also simply use the same tool-holding methods and tools you've used on metal, but it's tricky to get smoothly flowing forms that way.

Some sort of way covers will help with cleanup and keeping the wood dust out of the lead screws, etc.

Dear machinist any chuck will fit only make an adapter for your spindle do not use the chuck to hold another chuck it will ruin the wood chuck also go to yahoo groups and look for (SHOPBUILDTOOLS)group they are great and will help on any thing you need ED

If your lathe will run over 1000 rpm you will be able to most items. Higher rpms will help if you want to turn smaller items like pens, but isn't absolutely necessary.

I don't know of any adaptor chucks, but you can certainly make a backplate to fit any of the chucks for wood. I don't think chucking a (large scroll) chuck is particularly safe, but that is just an opinion.

You can easily turn items between centers, and there is no reason you can't make a screw chuck (or purchase one) fit in the 3 jaw chuck. Oneway has a screw chuck, as well as a spur drive, designed to fit their 4 jaw Stronghold chuck. You should be able to find a picture of these online if you want to make your own.

Most work that can be held in a chuck can be usually be held just as well, if not better, on a faceplate.

If your chuck has two piece jaws, you can make pie shaped soft jaws to fit.

The only really hard problem for woodturning on a metal lathe is getting the compound out of the way and fashioning a workable toolrest.