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Derik Mittag

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Craftsman 12"x42"

Reeves Drive
Jan 2^nd, 2018 at 6:13pm

Hey everyone, I'm fairly new to turning (about a year in) and I'm facing a problem where my lathe isn't slow enough for some of the bigger pieces. It's a craftsman lathe, from the looks of it, it's rather old, got it an estate sale. Anyhow, it has a 4 stepped variable pulley on the motor and spindle. the minimum rpm is 875. I was looking at an alternate route to slow the speed, perhaps a reeves drive or something else anyone could recommend?

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« Last Edit: Jan 2^nd, 2018 at 6:36pm by Derik Mittag »

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Jeff Vanden Boogart WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 921 Rural Green Bay Wisconsin USA Gender: PM 3520	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #1 - Jan 2^nd, 2018 at 8:51pm Variable frequency drive (VFD). If the motor HP is low, they're fairly cheap.
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Derik Mittag Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 142 Gender: Craftsman 12"x42"	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #2 - Jan 2^nd, 2018 at 9:52pm motor is 1/2hp and single phase
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Arlin Eastman Senior Member Offline Born in the USA Posts: 466 Council Bluffs Iowa USA Gender: PM3520B	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #3 - Jan 2^nd, 2018 at 10:41pm Derik Penn State Ind has a VS 1/2hp motor and it is pretty cheap and very popular item Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or It did go up in price I see by $35 and out of stock but you can be put on the waiting list.
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Derik Mittag Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 142 Gender: Craftsman 12"x42"	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #4 - Jan 2^nd, 2018 at 11:40pm Thank you much, that'll be a quick install
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Don Stephan

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Re: Reeves Drive
Reply #5 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 8:23am

Hope you'll stay with us as you continue turning, Derik. This is a great community very quick to share experience and suggestions. Even with several years of experience I find there's much to continue learning, and this is a tremendous resource.

And in case you haven't noticed, the video library here is a wide collection that does not contain unsafe or poor practice. Videos elsewhere, you have to be aware there may be unsafe or poor practice demonstrated. My two cents.

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Derik Mittag

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Craftsman 12"x42"

Re: Reeves Drive
Reply #6 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 10:06am

I shall, I'm not on here much due to being out in the shop. I've made a handful of bottle stoppers and a few bowls. Even turned a segmented plywood bowl.

Perhaps I'll take a look at the videos, I've been mostly watching youtube videos of well known turners.

I do have a few photos of the work I've done, if there's a section for me to post that, where would it be?

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Ed Weber

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Re: Reeves Drive
Reply #7 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 10:48am

Derik Mittag wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 10:06am:

I do have a few photos of the work I've done, if there's a section for me to post that, where would it be?

At the top of the page you'll see a heading named Woodturning Gallery.
You will have to register there, the same as you did here (different software)
Any photos posted in the gallery will remain and not be deleted over time. You can search and comment on pieces you like just as you do here on the forum.
We would like members to post their finished works in the gallery, other photos are fine here on the main forum.
We look forward to seeing your work
Thanks

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Ron Sardo WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Chief cook and bottle washer Posts: 9,675 Drums Pennsylvania USA PM 3520	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #8 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 11:40am Ed Weber wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 10:48am: At the top of the page you'll see a heading named Woodturning Gallery. You'll also see a section called "Tutorials, Projects and Tips" where you'll find a wealth of information
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Mike Mills

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Re: Reeves Drive
Reply #9 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 1:09pm

Depending on how the current motor is attached it may be easier to add an additional pulley.
Two pillow block bearings would run about $25, and a four step pulley about the same, plus a small price for the shaft. If your lathe is old the 1/2 hp may be much more than current 1/2 hp.
The PSI states a slow speed of 650 and you are at 875 so while a lot better not great IMHO. Adding a step pulley you should be able to get it down to about the 250 rpm level for bowls.

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"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." - Edgar Allan Poe

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Derik Mittag Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 142 Gender: Craftsman 12"x42"	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #10 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 1:25pm Do you have an example of how that would work?
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Derik Mittag Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 142 Gender: Craftsman 12"x42"	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #11 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 1:41pm Here's the current setup
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Ron Sardo WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Chief cook and bottle washer Posts: 9,675 Drums Pennsylvania USA PM 3520	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #12 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 4:44pm This is what you are aiming towards Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or
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Mike Mills

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Re: Reeves Drive
Reply #13 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 5:05pm

The video is a metal lathe but it doesn't matter.
You would add a pulley/pillow blocks where your motor is now mounted. I assume there is a way to release the pressure to change the belt position.
Like the video starting about 2:30 you will add your motor to the rear on a wood base which is hinged. You can keep your current pulley on the motor. If the motor does not provide enough weight for drive you can add some scrap metal.
These pillow block are at WT and the 4040-0030 should be fine ($11.50). I built my grinding station over 30 years ago with them and they are still working fine.
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

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« Last Edit: Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 5:07pm by Mike Mills »

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." - Edgar Allan Poe

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Grant Wilkinson WR Addict Offline Posts: 783 Ottawa Ontario Canada	Re: Reeves Drive Reply #14 - Jan 3^rd, 2018 at 5:07pm Derek: When you say that you want to turn "bigger pieces" how big are you considering? That small DC motor in the PennState kit will bog down pretty quickly on heavy pieces.
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