Rod Lathes Help Please

[BREAMBOSS01]

Gday all im thinking of getting into rod building. just as a hobby not looking to spend hundreds of dollars on a lathe so i am looking at building my own. using 20mm door rollers for the rollers and maybe an old sewing machine motor or hand wind. Would anybody be able to put up some picks of there lathes or if any one has built there own lathe be able to give me any pointers......

[dogsbody]

Probably no replies cos no one can read that small type. ;)

Have a look here for starters. I prefer hand wind and a electric bbq motor for drying.
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=130085&highlight=rod+lathes

Dave

[Stuart]

Small type, what small type, I didnt see any small type.:P

Stu

[oldboot]

If you are looking for a small slow speed motor.. jaycay have 3 different gear motors that are 12 volt rated.......they will run as low as 5 or 6 volts..... by the time you hok em up with a belt reduction you should be away.

the bloke down at buds has a bigun that takes half a dozen rods and runs it off a windscreen wiper motor.

cheers

[groverwa]

You could try using motors out of old microwave ovens as they are slow turning

I know these work as the bloke who repaired a reel for me has done just that for his rod lathe

Mike

[BREAMBOSS01]

thanks for the help the windscreen wiper motor sounds good and being 12volt safer than 240volt, was also wondering how a sewing machine motor would go ie, removing motor from machine and still keeping the workings for the foot pedal...... also how many supports wolud be needed for rods from 6ft to 8ft+.... wolud a piece of pine with a 'V' cut out of the top and stick on foam for protection from scratching the rod.....

[wayno60]

no it will cause friction, rollers of any sort will be better.
when a made mine i got hold of a small 240 leccy motor and hooked up the peddle of a sewing machine and it worked a treat.

[BREAMBOSS01]

ok thanks wayno, with the rollers is it best to have rubber type or just any??

[wayno60]

mate you can make them out of anything.. ive got a good set in a box in the garage and could'nt be bothered finding them so for a quick repair i whiped these up.
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7934/1002783modifiedinfirefo.th.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002783modifiedinfirefo.jpg)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5371/1002782modifiedinfirefo.th.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002782modifiedinfirefo.jpg)

[oldboot]

One of the best sources of wheels for a variety of uses is roller blades.

lots of people are using them for steadies for wood turning and you would be surprised where they trun up.

if you go 12 volt.....you can reduce the speed by running the motor of a variable supply.... most so called 12 volt motors will run of much lower voltges......if you want better torque or more reliable running at lower speed.... some sort of puls proportional controll will do the job.

jaycar do a 12 volt motor controller kit designed to run automotive applications.. it mught be worth a look.

another option is these electric motorised scooters..... you cab rip the motor out of one of those.....they come with a speed controller and some transmission components that could be pressed into use for the geraing reduction.

cheers

[BREAMBOSS01]

ok those supports look good wayno, i have found some differnet designs on the net and might make some up like yours if you dont mind, and for the chuck i was thinking of a round piece of ply with four angle brackets and adjustable would do??