Mini lathe from scrap - video

[Jon]

Mini lathe from scrap. By kurtscottage. 10:11 video:

[Hans Pearson]

Nice idea, there have been some similar constructions, but I was wondering how it would work if a stripped-down engine, using either the cam shaft of the crank bearings for the spindle and driving through a multi speed gearbox would work? A clutch and various speeds would thus be available plus a reverse, unless you use a motorcycle engine combination.

[tonyfoale]

That has to be the worst homemade lathe that I have seen. Rusty stuff sliding on more rusty stuff. The amount of play was clearly visible. Low budget is no excuse for such low quality. As a kid I built many of my own machines because I had no money but that was never an excuse to do it badly. Here is an example Home made horizontal milling machine. . That cost was very little, only the castings which was low. Good workmanship is not a question of budget, it is a question of attitude. Unfortunately, as useful as Youtube can be it also encourages the display of crap work. It seems that the worse that you make something the higher the number of viewers.