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Bungee Lathe Part 1

13 comments
11 years ago
Bungee Lathe     Projects     Videos

I’m becoming a bit of a pole lathe nut lately as this style of lathe is just so much fun to use. I find it challenging coming from my traditional powered lathe experience but I think that it what makes it so fun. After building the Underhill/Hulot design for my workshop I wanted to experiment with a bungee powered lathe as well as set up something in my backyard. There is something very cool about woodworking outside. (I don’t mean that literally as the humidity climbs with the temperature) This bungee lathe gives me an excuse to warm my pasty skin under something other than fluorescent lighting while woodworking.

In this part I build the body of the lathe from home center lumber using 2×6 and 4×4 Douglas Fir, some threaded rod, and 8″ carriage bolts. The bungee is a length of “luggage rack bungee” also from The Depot. What is really cool about this design is that from start to turning, the build took about 5 hours.

Next time I’ll build the poppets, tool rest, and treadle. Then its time to start turning.

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Jamie Bacon

Hey Shannon. Long live the foot powered lathe! The outside lathe should be nice and steady with the wide stance of the 45* braces. Great weather for it today also. Oh, nice Bontz crosscut saw by the way.

    Shannon

    So I hear, been stuck inside all day. Hate to say it but I’ll probably have to give that saw back soon. How is your lathe these days? Getting any time on it?

Chris

Shannon, Are there turning projects that are not well suited to spring pole or foot powered lathes in general? Besides really large turnings I was thinking that pens might be a problem since it seems like you have very little or no section of the blank that doesn’t need to be shaped.

    Shannon

    Chris there are those pole lathe masters that I don’t think would hesitate to turn anything on one of these. From large bowls to tiny parts. Pens could be possible actually since you would chuck them up on a mandrel anyway. The morse portion of the mandrel could give you space to wrap the drive cord. Or if you want more space, drill a hole in a piece of scrap then wedge the mandrel into it, then wrap the cord around that. So technically I don’t see any limitations on the type of project but the skill does take some earning.

      Chris

      Had to look at a few mandrels to see what you were talking about. I was assuming that the drive chord would have been on the blank itself and would have been in the way. thanks for the reply.

        Shannon

        I must admit that I have never seen or heard of anyone turning pens on a pole lathe but in theory this should work. I worry about wrapping the drive cord around the morse taper and having the cord constantly walk off the blank because of the angle but it still should be possible. I’ll give it a shot to see since I’m curious now.

Doug F.

Shannon,

I’m a bit confused. Do you intend to leave this lathe outside all the time? The dimensions of your shop space eludes me at the moment but you’re not exactly wallowing in space and seems like this new lathe has a sizable footprint. Also, and no snark intended, but couldn’t you just move the Underhill/Hulot lathe outside on pretty days? I admire your urge to experiment but you realize they regulate your access to the internet in most mental institutions these days. You don’t want your wife making a call to the authorities and telling them, “My husband thinks he’s André Jacob Roubo. Yes, he’s kind of the Napoleon of woodworking. Roubo, not my husband. Ok, I’ll distract him until you get here. Hon! I need more pens made for my Sunday school class!” Be careful is all I’m trying to say.

Thanks for the insanity,

Doug F.

    Shannon

    Yes this is a permanent backyard fixture, minus the metal live centers which will rust if left to the elements. I actually had my Hulot lathe in the backyard for several months as well because space is at a premium in my shop. I’m sad that more people don’t experiment like this. How else do we learn? Since I run a “school” of sorts, I feel a strong obligation to experiment on stuff like this. Oh yeah and it’s fun

      Doug F.

      Sounds rational.

      Thanks,

      Doug F.

Doug F.

Oh, I did have a more serious question. You say your shop time on this was about 5 hours. What was the approximate shop time on the Underhill/Hulot? I have no lathe whatsoever, but that Underhill/Hulot has been on the To Do List for a couple of years because the design is just very appealing.

Thanks,

Doug F.