Machinist extraordinaire. Truly a skilled art form but you make it look so simple. The reuse of materials gives one a "why didnt I think of that" moment.
I am now scanning craigslist for cast iron weights, great idea. Just made a plate like this for my rotary table to adapt a 4 jaw chuck and used a old flywheel from a tread mill motor. My chuck was a 6" and the flywheel is about 6.5 so it works perfect. Did it similar to what you did here. For those doing machine work on a mill and not playing around with a drill press you will want to look for a rotary table. It works similar to this but better.
Hi Robert,....Sounds a good job. The weight bars are also great. I'm not sure what type of steel they are but they seem to machine nice and you get a lot of material from the long ones. Thanks for watching....Regards Steve
I could do with you being here in lockdown so your inventive brain teaches me how to make all the clever tools I know I need for my projects. Very very interesting I shall be hunting out your other videos in case you are already offering lessons that I am looking for. Well done old son. Very best wishes .
I love the video artefacts you get when your check is spinning... it looks like you've got some kind of sci-fi force-field surrounding your chuck. First ever home-shop lathe to be powered by anti-matter.
Thank you Steve! Another cheap and cheerful build that is really useful. Like the idea of the weights as a base...and using it on the DP is a great idea. Been working on RT angle one with some scrap 1/2" AL that is 4" square for use with my 3" mini chuck. I use it for all kinds of things, like holding round stock tight for deep hand tapping. My plan is to print a degree wheel and apply it to the AL and make a pointer so I can rotate to any degree and lock it down with a clamp of some type or maybe with a cam. Thanks for all you bring to us!! ~PJ
Good reuse. I do a bit of that myself. Materials from commercial products tend to have decent properties and they are basically free. Win win situation for sure.
Honestly, one of the very best lathe project videos I’ve seen. EXCELLENT job! I’m across the pond, but you and I seem to think alike. I also repurpose metal objects for many projects. I have a 1937 South Bend 9” model C, a 1952 South Bend 9” model A, and a 9”x20” Asian lathe model CT-918A.
+Metalman 329 Hi thanks. Yes its great to save money by repurposing things. I have just used an old 2lb cast iron scales weight to make a backplate for an 80mm chuck. You have a couple of nice lathes. Thanks for watching.. Regards Steve
I would like to extract your knowledge and inject it in my brain ... time's too short to learn everything myself so this method would allow me to learn more before time is over! Very good video! Thank you for sharing!
I really like that one. After viewing several of your videos on making tools for your equipment that makes your equipment more versatile, I have subscribed. I like that you take everyday items that other people have tossed and turned it into a useful tool for your equipment, now I don't feel so bad by holding all the stuff that I have I can reuse it now. LOL thanks
Funny that i bought a weight a couple of days ago-- and today before i saw this video i was thinking it was some good stock to play with.There so much stuff at Goodwill if you can figure out what to do with it. NICE JOB!
You come up with some really wonderful ideas. I never even thought about the old weight idea! I got 10 or 12 of those of different size laying around my garage. If not even in my basement. I'm always in need of a back plate for something is this is a wonderful idea thank you very much. In the drilling attachment that you made for your lathe is brilliant
Steve, Another very useful idea for the shop. Thank you for your teaching, I haven't really thought about using weights as a useful item to make things of. This is good thinking. I feel like you have an overall plan on boot strapping up you shop. Each project feed up to the next to create still more capability in your shop. Thank you for sharing you wisdom with us. This is very inspiring indeed.
Hello steve I checked the realization of the indexing of the back plate chuck (the 3 jaws on the Myford) and I found nothing. Did not you film? It's easy to do a second when the first is done, but how did you do it first?
Steve - another great video! Your vidoes are functional and help those with lesser talents see that they too can product a quality tool at a fraction of the cost of tools at a big box store.
Hi Steve, again a very useful idea and well explained. You let things look easy. Thank you for sharing. I keep looking forward to your video about pre-ground lathe tools and what to do to improve them. Keep them coming. Best regards, Piet
Hi steve ive been watching your videos now for a couple of years this is the first comment just to say thank you l have a lathe but no mill and just play in my shed but you do give me ideas thanks again.
Hi Frank, Thanks for watching and for your encouraging comment, I'm really pleased when I here things like this. It makes it all the more worthwhile to me. Regards Steve
Hi Steve Great idea. I'm sure it will be used a lot. You could have used locktite if you drilled clearance holes through the cast iron for the chuck bolts. Thanks for the idea
The window weights look a nice size. I've seen quite a few of those at my local recycle in the past. I never thought about using them. I will get them if I can in the future!...Thanks.
Very nice work. I have solved the same problem.Split a circle on 24 exact pieces is impossible with my equipment. I got an idea to use gear wheel. The teeth on the gear wheel have exact distance. I used gear wheel with 24 teeth.
Very nice project and a cleaver use of the cast iron weights. I like your added detail with painted recesses. Would you consider hand-stamping an index number below each hole along the side of the index ring for easier referencing the holes? Thank you Steve for your excellent way of showing your thinking that went into your designs and steps of machining.
Hi Paul Thanks. Yes that is a very good idea about the stamping. The only important thing I forgot to mention about the weights is the cast Iron dust that comes off when machining. I take care not to breathe it in and thoroughly clean the lathe afterwards, as it gets everywhere! We have a good recycling centre where I can get bits and pieces to use. The bar for the weights is great as well. It is a nice diameter and length of mild steel. Regards Steve
Thanks for this video! I am just starting out but can see a need for a 4 jaw chuck for my Drummond lathe. Unfortunately it has a 3/4 x 10tpi spindle thread and so it seems my only option will be to make my own backplate... somehow!
Very nice project Steve. Good idea on the weights. Have you considered making a locking column slide for below the table so you can support it whilst fine adjusting the PCD ?.
Another amazing video. You are a master at make-use. This makes me wonder, if you where in my shoes, where you could not afford a lathe at present, but really want one. How you would go about making one from scratch? I seen it done on youtube a few times. I think most though have a lathe to make a lathe, that and they do sand casting of aluminum. I could do the sand casting and maybe turn some parts on my watchmaker lathe with Jacobs chuck. That and I was considering buying a 3 jaw and adapting the plate to something. Your thoughts appreciated
Thanks. The only thing I've noticed so far is that its a lot quicker to use and its easier to see the face being machined. It just makes everything more versatile. As I've got the Myford indexing plate it is quick and easy to do all the chucks I have as well. I am doing one for the Mini Lathe at the moment. My Regards Steve
Steve excellent videos, real easy to understand. I am new to this field and have learned more from you than any other series on you tube. Keep up the good content. Just curious how come you don't except patreon so you get donations for your effort and time. Also, do you ever post plans on how to build your projects?
Hi Steve, A fantasitc idea i do however have one very small niggle ,and that is when you drill i noticed you drill table dipped,this may be of Little concern to the precision you require,and is perhaps not worth mentioning but it can be rectified by a small bottle jack under the table (i do it on my table)and it works fine.keep up these high Quality vids,best regards mbg.
Hi Mark, Thanks...I use a scissor jack under the table now. I found that the scissor type are easy to control, as soon as it touches the underside of the table, stop. The bottle jacks are just as good but I found there was a tendency to push the table up a bit on the pump action/lack of feel....Probably the bottle jack wasn't very good quality....Regards Steve
Hi Steve, Thanks for sharing,what great way to recycle and make such a useful tool . I will be following all your videos.I own a Super 7 and wonder if you can give me details on the carriage stop and that other red object under the chuck.
Hi Allen.Thank, I bought the carriage stop on Ebay. Item number 152121266164 ...and I re-painted it. The other stop pin tool for the indexing chuck, I made out of angle iron etc. See in other video. My Regards Steve
hey I see you have the chinese mini chuck. What is the tread size of the shaft arbor? I been thinking of getting one But I can't find that info, and I like to know everything before I work with it.
Very well done ! You're a man after my own way of thinking. I too have used these weights and found them to be really well made with nice cast iron, One point I did not quite understand why did you not simply remove the lettering on the cast weight wouldn't it have looked much less homemade ?Just what I always do to enhance the appearance IMHO .I like your workmanship . Alistair
Hi Alistair, Thanks. I thought about removing the lettering, but then went on to another project to save time! The weight lifting bars are really good as well. Saves a lot of money if you can get them cheap and they are easy to machine with a good finish. Also you can save the knurled sections for new components. Regards Steve
facebook.com/steve.jordan.3766952
Machinist extraordinaire. Truly a skilled art form but you make it look so simple. The reuse of materials gives one a "why didnt I think of that" moment.
Never seen anything like this done before. the cross drilling holder and all of this is above my skill level.
I am now scanning craigslist for cast iron weights, great idea. Just made a plate like this for my rotary table to adapt a 4 jaw chuck and used a old flywheel from a tread mill motor. My chuck was a 6" and the flywheel is about 6.5 so it works perfect. Did it similar to what you did here. For those doing machine work on a mill and not playing around with a drill press you will want to look for a rotary table. It works similar to this but better.
Hi Robert,....Sounds a good job. The weight bars are also great. I'm not sure what type of steel they are but they seem to machine nice and you get a lot of material from the long ones. Thanks for watching....Regards Steve
Using barbells as material is very resourceful!
I could do with you being here in lockdown so your inventive brain teaches me how to make all the clever tools I know I need for my projects. Very very interesting I shall be hunting out your other videos in case you are already offering lessons that I am looking for. Well done old son. Very best wishes .
I love the video artefacts you get when your check is spinning... it looks like you've got some kind of sci-fi force-field surrounding your chuck.
First ever home-shop lathe to be powered by anti-matter.
Thank you Steve! Another cheap and cheerful build that is really useful. Like the idea of the weights as a base...and using it on the DP is a great idea. Been working on RT angle one with some scrap 1/2" AL that is 4" square for use with my 3" mini chuck. I use it for all kinds of things, like holding round stock tight for deep hand tapping. My plan is to print a degree wheel and apply it to the AL and make a pointer so I can rotate to any degree and lock it down with a clamp of some type or maybe with a cam. Thanks for all you bring to us!! ~PJ
This man knows what he`s doing - fine!
Good reuse. I do a bit of that myself. Materials from commercial products tend to have decent properties and they are basically free. Win win situation for sure.
Nice to see the drill jig in action. That was a super project as well.
+Kenneth Gilbert Hi Kenneth ....Thanks for watching...Regards Steve
I have used these weights for making cast iron gears.... the material is of a surprisingly decent quality.
Paddy
Honestly, one of the very best lathe project videos I’ve seen. EXCELLENT job! I’m across the pond, but you and I seem to think alike. I also repurpose metal objects for many projects. I have a 1937 South Bend 9” model C, a 1952 South Bend 9” model A, and a 9”x20” Asian lathe model CT-918A.
+Metalman 329 Hi thanks. Yes its great to save money by repurposing things. I have just used an old 2lb cast iron scales weight to make a backplate for an 80mm chuck. You have a couple of nice lathes. Thanks for watching.. Regards Steve
I would like to extract your knowledge and inject it in my brain ... time's too short to learn everything myself so this method would allow me to learn more before time is over!
Very good video! Thank you for sharing!
Very good video, clever usage of old stuff. Bravo.
Great idea for someone who's trying to literally make an entire vehicle I need ideas like to these thank you
Hi Deion, Thanks. That must be a great project, making an entire vehicle! Regards Steve
Very creative Steve. Nice reuse of materials. Best of luck. Fred USA
Thanks
it's interesting the way mpeg image compression reacts to rotating objects
I really like that one. After viewing several of your videos on making tools for your equipment that makes your equipment more versatile, I have subscribed.
I like that you take everyday items that other people have tossed and turned it into a useful tool for your equipment, now I don't feel so bad by holding all the stuff that I have I can reuse it now. LOL thanks
Funny that i bought a weight a couple of days ago-- and today before i saw this video i was thinking it was some good stock to play with.There so much stuff at Goodwill if you can figure out what to do with it. NICE JOB!
Love the video. Great Idea for the drill press indexing chuck. Us old dogs like learning new tricks.
Hi, Thanks for watching....Regards Steve
🎉😢😢😢😢🎉
Very good idea..Your voice reminds me of my grand dad I sure miss him.
Great stuff ! Very useful for quick indexing, going to make one too!
im more interested in the radial indexer behind the lathe chuck..and the tool post horz.drill..very nice to have
Excellent workout and idea , thank you for all your offering hand made low cost inovations machinery used.
Steve it's now January 2020 Have you used your indexing chuck very much it certainly was a great idea and a very Professional build like always.
You come up with some really wonderful ideas. I never even thought about the old weight idea! I got 10 or 12 of those of different size laying around my garage. If not even in my basement. I'm always in need of a back plate for something is this is a wonderful idea thank you very much. In the drilling attachment that you made for your lathe is brilliant
thanks for video,,the way you told how everything was done clear and strait to the point thanks again ,,good day sir
Thanks for watching and for your encouraging fèedback..Regards Steve
Steve, Another very useful idea for the shop. Thank you for your teaching, I haven't really thought about using weights as a useful item to make things of. This is good thinking. I feel like you have an overall plan on boot strapping up you shop. Each project feed up to the next to create still more capability in your shop. Thank you for sharing you wisdom with us. This is very inspiring indeed.
Hi Glenn, Thanks.
Another great idea, Steve.
I keep telling my friends to check out your channel.
This stuff is great.
Thanks,
John
Hi John Thanks
Really elegant solution!
Nice project Steve and great use of recycled materials.
Thanks
Great idea for finding materials and a very nice project well done. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks
Hello steve I checked the realization of the indexing of the back plate chuck (the 3 jaws on the Myford) and I found nothing.
Did not you film?
It's easy to do a second when the first is done, but how did you do it first?
Great idea and very useful tool that broadens the scope of the humble drill press.
Thanks
Steve - another great video! Your vidoes are functional and help those with lesser talents see that they too can product a quality tool at a fraction of the cost of tools at a big box store.
Very clever Steve nice work
Brilliant...exceptionally clever and talented, Engineering Work at its best. Keep it up, Outstanding. Thank you.
Very nice job!! Very good idea!! I have found so many good ideas watching you-tube, and this is right up there with the best.
Thank You!!!!!!!
Hi Michael.....Thanks for watching.....Regards Steve
Hi Steve, again a very useful idea and well explained. You let things look easy. Thank you for sharing. I keep looking forward to your video about pre-ground lathe tools and what to do to improve them. Keep them coming.
Best regards, Piet
Thanks, I hope to do the tools as soon as I get the time.
My Regards Steve
Hi steve ive been watching your videos now for a couple of years this is the first comment just to say thank you l have a lathe but no mill and just play in my shed but you do give me ideas thanks again.
Hi Frank, Thanks for watching and for your encouraging comment, I'm really pleased when I here things like this. It makes it all the more worthwhile to me. Regards Steve
Excellent shop project and a very useful tool!
Thanks
lovely job. I really like the drill mounted on the cross slide, I will definitely be making that.
Thanks. I use the cross slide drill all the time. When you make one you will be surprised at how useful it is.
Wisdom! Can't beat it. Kudos to you my friend, excellent video :)
Hi Michael....Thanks for watching....Regards Steve
take what you have,make what you need.love it.
Hi Steve
Great idea. I'm sure it will be used a lot.
You could have used locktite if you drilled clearance holes through the cast iron for the chuck bolts.
Thanks for the idea
Nice job, thanks for the video
That is a great Idea for material I tried window weights they turn real nice too. Great project Thanks for the lesson
The window weights look a nice size. I've seen quite a few of those at my local recycle in the past. I never thought about using them. I will get them if I can in the future!...Thanks.
Nice work sir!
I am Vietnamese I like your video .Thank
Hi Phuoc, Thank you
Very nice work. I have solved the same problem.Split a circle on 24 exact pieces is impossible with my equipment. I got an idea to use gear wheel. The teeth on the gear wheel have exact distance. I used gear wheel with 24 teeth.
Super great build man , thumbs up !
Thanks
Great idea, I will make one .l also try to use scrap and pre used metal ,wherever I can.
Thanks.Its amazing how much money you can save using other items.
Thanks Steve another well explained project 👍
really nicely made..well done.
Hi Mark Thanks
Well Done Steve 10/10
Well done sir,keep them coming.
I wonder what can be made from those little hand weight dumbbells I see at the 2nd-hand shops?
Excellent idea! Nice work too, I believe it will someday become a project I need to do. Thanks for the well made video.
Hi Bill, Thanks
Very nice project and a cleaver use of the cast iron weights. I like your added detail with painted recesses. Would you consider hand-stamping an index number below each hole along the side of the index ring for easier referencing the holes? Thank you Steve for your excellent way of showing your thinking that went into your designs and steps of machining.
Hi Paul Thanks. Yes that is a very good idea about the stamping. The only important thing I forgot to mention about the weights is the cast Iron dust that comes off when machining. I take care not to breathe it in and thoroughly clean the lathe afterwards, as it gets everywhere! We have a good recycling centre where I can get bits and pieces to use. The bar for the weights is great as well. It is a nice diameter and length of mild steel. Regards Steve
Thanks for this video! I am just starting out but can see a need for a 4 jaw chuck for my Drummond lathe. Unfortunately it has a 3/4 x 10tpi spindle thread and so it seems my only option will be to make my own backplate... somehow!
That is very nice. Genius
Very clever source of cast iron. Great idea.
Great tip using old cast weights.
that's a really cool idea and thanks for sharing
+adrian harrison Hi Adrian, thanks for watching....Regards Steve
Great idea and nice work.
Very Smart Steve. Gives me a few ideas. Thanks.
Hi Garry Thanks.
Excellent job mate
Very nice job.
Very nice project Steve. Good idea on the weights. Have you considered making a locking column slide for below the table so you can support it whilst fine adjusting the PCD ?.
Oh that's clever and really well done. Thanks for sharing, that is just what I'm looking for.
Another amazing video. You are a master at make-use. This makes me wonder, if you where in my shoes, where you could not afford a lathe at present, but really want one. How you would go about making one from scratch? I seen it done on youtube a few times. I think most though have a lathe to make a lathe, that and they do sand casting of aluminum. I could do the sand casting and maybe turn some parts on my watchmaker lathe with Jacobs chuck. That and I was considering buying a 3 jaw and adapting the plate to something. Your thoughts appreciated
Nice, maybe a return spring on the indexing pin. Thanks
Nice work. But you could have done the same using your drill adapter on the lathe.
Are the any other uses, things that can't be done on the lathe?
Thanks. The only thing I've noticed so far is that its a lot quicker to use and its easier to see the face being machined. It just makes everything more versatile. As I've got the Myford indexing plate it is quick and easy to do all the chucks I have as well. I am doing one for the Mini Lathe at the moment.
My Regards Steve
Steve excellent videos, real easy to understand. I am new to this field and have learned more from you than any other series on you tube. Keep up the good content. Just curious how come you don't except patreon so you get donations for your effort and time. Also, do you ever post plans on how to build your projects?
Great video and tutorial, just went up in size on my lathe, will be making a couple of these for sure......
Intelligent design.
Congratulations!!!
Beautifully Done !, thanks very much, I thoroughly enjoyed your video !
Thanks
That was a great build it was inspiring I got some really good ideas from it
This is a very clever project. I can think of many uses for this innovation, thanks for sharing with us.
Hi Virginia.....Thanks for watching.....Regards Steve
I like that drilling toolholder. Great idea on the weights. The brass is almost always expensive, though.
very nice. Well done
Good video and nice job
Thank you Sir for excellent ideas.
Excellent ideas, thanks!
Hi Steve, A fantasitc idea i do however have one very small niggle ,and that is when you drill i noticed you drill table dipped,this may be of Little concern to the precision you require,and is perhaps not worth mentioning but it can be rectified by a small bottle jack under the table (i do it on my table)and it works fine.keep up these high Quality vids,best regards mbg.
Hi Mark, Thanks...I use a scissor jack under the table now. I found that the scissor type are easy to control, as soon as it touches the underside of the table, stop. The bottle jacks are just as good but I found there was a tendency to push the table up a bit on the pump action/lack of feel....Probably the bottle jack wasn't very good quality....Regards Steve
Hi Steve,
Thanks for sharing,what great way to recycle and make such a useful tool . I will be following all your videos.I own a Super 7 and wonder if you can give me details on the carriage stop and that other red object under the chuck.
Hi Allen.Thank, I bought the carriage stop on Ebay. Item number 152121266164 ...and I re-painted it.
The other stop pin tool for the indexing chuck, I made out of angle iron etc. See in other video.
My Regards Steve
Great job. I like recycling the weights. Thank you
Very creative.
Great idea, great project, great video. Thank you much for sharing.
Hi Thanks
Hi Steve, If the bench drill 'table / bed' were to rotate 90 degrees, then indexed cross drilling is an option
Excellent idea. Were you using a carbide bit to mill the cast iron?
Good idea👍
Noticed the drill attachment on the lathe. Is this something you made up? do you have a vidio on it?
An inspired build. Thank you.
hey I see you have the chinese mini chuck. What is the tread size of the shaft arbor? I been thinking of getting one But I can't find that info, and I like to know everything before I work with it.
Impressive, thank you for sharing.
Very well done ! You're a man after my own way of thinking. I too have used these weights and found them to be really well made with nice cast iron, One point I did not quite understand why did you not simply remove the lettering on the cast weight wouldn't it have looked much less homemade ?Just what I always do to enhance the appearance IMHO .I like your workmanship . Alistair
Hi Alistair, Thanks. I thought about removing the lettering, but then went on to another project to save time! The weight lifting bars are really good as well. Saves a lot of money if you can get them cheap and they are easy to machine with a good finish. Also you can save the knurled sections for new components. Regards Steve
thats a good idea. good video to. Thanks.
Hi Michael....Thanks for watching...Regards Steve
What a great idea. I love repurposing.
Jim Porter
Nice! Great ideas!