lathe made from connecting rods...

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The problem with most of these vintage plans that I look at is that with the glut of Tiawanese imports it usually ends up costing more to scrounge the parts to make it than buy an import tool. Back in the 50s that wasn't the case, but today unless you own your own scrap yard your going to be hard pressed to make any tool for less than you can buy an import model.
 
Justin nailed it.
There was a time when one did for himself.
You couldn't just run down to the friendly Woodcraft or Grizzly store and buy your pick of many different models. And, if there were such stores, most folks couldn't afford the items offered. You made what you needed. It used to be called Yankee Ingenuity.
And, BTW, most men dressed in suits, with ties, as everyday attire. In much of Europe that is still the norm.
 
Alex, that was back in the day when they knew how to turn without creating any dust. you could spin out a couple table legs and head straight for the office.

altaciii said:
Looks like a lot of work to be doing wearing a tie.:biggrin: Never seen done or heard of it before.
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Connecting Rods

Rebabbitted rods for your model A. These are sold on exchange only! We must have your old rods before we can send out new ones. Sorry, no exceptions. Come with new wrist pin bushings installed. Wrist pin...
Part NumberSpecificsPrice A-6200-010.010 Oversize
1928-31$55.00 / exchange A-6200-020.020 Oversize
1928-31$55.00 / exchange A-6200-030.030 Oversize
1928-31$55.00 / exchange A-6200-040.040 Oversize
1928-31$55.00 / exchange A-6200-STDStandard Size
1928-31$55.00 / exchange
 
Have been looking for something to do with this.


ROD.JPG


Chuckie
 
jleiwig said:
The problem with most of these vintage plans that I look at is that with the glut of Tiawanese imports it usually ends up costing more to scrounge the parts to make it than buy an import tool. Back in the 50s that wasn't the case, but today unless you own your own scrap yard your going to be hard pressed to make any tool for less than you can buy an import model.
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Yeah, I agree, but I just like to make things.
 
glycerine said:
Yeah, I agree, but I just like to make things.
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Oh don't get me wrong. I always look at something and think I can make the same thing cheaper and better. 3x the cost and 4x the time later I have something that works, but would have been cheaper and easier to buy in the first place.

One of these days I'll have money and sense and learn to just buy instead of build.
 
jleiwig said:
Oh don't get me wrong. I always look at something and think I can make the same thing cheaper and better. 3x the cost and 4x the time later I have something that works, but would have been cheaper and easier to buy in the first place.

One of these days I'll have money and sense and learn to just buy instead of build.
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But where's the fun in that!? You could go buy a pen from Office Depot... But who wants to buy one when you can make one!!
 
About 30 years ago I had a grinder I made this way for grinding knife blades. Had 3 speeds, worked like a champ. I had the motor, got the connecting rods from the wrecking yard, the steel came from the scrap yard. Cut and welded it together myself, not sure of the cost but I am sure it was less than $20. Sold it about 10 years ago for $200 and a custom knife.
 
dogcatcher said:
About 30 years ago I had a grinder I made this way for grinding knife blades. Had 3 speeds, worked like a champ. I had the motor, got the connecting rods from the wrecking yard, the steel came from the scrap yard. Cut and welded it together myself, not sure of the cost but I am sure it was less than $20. Sold it about 10 years ago for $200 and a custom knife.
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Really?! That's awesome. I'm having a hard time finding cheap channel iron. I've found lumber yards around here, but no metal scrap yards.
Did you use a washing machine motor or another type? And did you have to turn down the rods to fit into the connecting rod bushings or did you have something that fit snuggly already?
 
The motor came out of an old evaporative cooler, I think 1/2hp 1725rpm. I made the shaft to fit the connecting rods on a metal lathe. We have a couple of scrap yards in town, look under recycle centers or steel in the yellow pages.
 
dogcatcher said:
The motor came out of an old evaporative cooler, I think 1/2hp 1725rpm. I made the shaft to fit the connecting rods on a metal lathe. We have a couple of scrap yards in town, look under recycle centers or steel in the yellow pages.
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Ok, thanks for the info. Also, did you use step pulleys to change speed or did the motor have different speed settings? I was going to go so far as to cast my own pulleys from aluminum, but haven't gotten a furnace or anything built yet. I have several of Gingery's books, so someday...
 
If you don't have access to a machine shop, a scrap yard and your own hardware store those Gingery books will get you into trouble.

I used step pulleys on the motor and grinder.
 
dogcatcher said:
If you don't have access to a machine shop, a scrap yard and your own hardware store those Gingery books will get you into trouble.

I used step pulleys on the motor and grinder.
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Yes, I may never build anything from Gingery's books, but I would at least like to learn a little about metal casting. It's another one of those "lost arts"... who knows, America may become a third world country someday and I'll have to cast my own goblets to drink from!
 
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