Metal Lathe Tutorial 18 : Your Second Project!

This is Lathe Skills, a multi-part series to help you learn basic machine shop work. Exclusive videos, drawings, models & plans available on Patreon!

Here's my version of the 3D printed indicator holder for you to download:

Watch the whole Lathe Skills series at

Here are links for many of the tools that you see me using:
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For more cool shop projects, check out

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[crewdawg]

For an extra sneaky version, left hand threads, so even if someone tries to open they will just tighten it up!

[carlwhite]

Quinn, I love your channel. I made a bunch of these tubes years ago from aluminum that fit inside a handlebar on my antique Harley for ashes from my riding buddies that have passed.

[briankrupp]

Just finished making a magic tube and it came out great. It was a fun and educational project to practice the skills I learned watching your tutorials. Thank you for taking the time!

[wulfdal]

So that's how it's done! I've seen muzzle brakes on the end of a threaded barrel with no distinguishable parting line. It looked like the brake was integral to the barrel. Very nicely done and explained!

[seditiousmonkeyart]

You mention trying to come up with useful and practical projects for beginners. A great project for putting together those fundamental skills is a tap handle. Making a tap handle was one of the first projects I made on a lathe. In fact I made my first while still at school (a long time ago in a far away galaxy). If you put a centre hole in the top it can be used in the lathe. Everyone needs a good tap handle and can use it in the early days of their machining life.
Keep up the great work. ( "If the chips aren't blue you're not going hard enough!")

[Bagooda]

Parting is such sweet sorrow? Enjoy your channel very much.

[michelled]

Such a fun and educational second project! Your lathe series has helped me beyond belief. Thank you for explaining everything so thoroughly for us beginners!

[AfricaTwin-Stuff]

I’ve just binge watched 1-18. Brilliant. I’m an old fart recently retired and looking to start playing with a lathe. Your series has helped a lot.

And by the way “Robert IS my farther’s brother-in-law” !

[jimsvideos]

Good morning Quinn! I was going to go be productive, but this is good too!

[rickpalechuk]

Yaaaah! Saturday morning coffee with Quinn.
Only one internet this time
Cheers

[scottb]

After putting what I've learnt into practise to get a nice clean parting-off of non trivial size and type of stock, I now know why Quinn says 'Yahtzee'! It's a feeling of yes I've done it!

[eddietowers]

Hey, Quinn, Tim Lipton just posted his video for the Equalization valve for project Egress, and at 9:28 he's using the process of rounding a work piece on the mill while turning the work piece by hand, as we talked about in your hinge project, the rounding end part.

[daxliniere]

The bearing tool at @11:32 is such a great idea! I'm making one tomorrow. 😊 Thanks Quinn!

[zanpekosak]

Now this is awesome content! I love the fact that you dont speed up footage. I always thought lathes were a lot faster especially after using a CNC with premium carbide tooling at my summer job (it was just inserting pieces and pressing start so no actuall using of the machine). Really awesome videos. Love watching them!

[GiacoWhatever]

Never subscribed to a channel so quickly! 🤟🏻

[ChrisShenar]

Hi Quinn! Thank you for this video series! I *just* got a mini lathe as a Christmas present and am soooo looking forward to following along! :)

[practicemakesbetter]

Hi Quinn, I enjoy your videos and your keen sense of humour. I recommend making an offset wrench/ nut for your tool post, it is so much easier to adjust the swivel of a tool post without having to reach for a wrench each time. You are an excellent teacher!

[-Mr.Fusion-]

Love that you included the copper over the jaws in this vid. Cheers for the advice on Instagram 👌

[eddietowers]

This reminds me of the Machinist Bolt/nut puzzle. But it’s also reminiscent of the machinist version of the magic (pull apart) finger trick, too. Cool project.

[danedewaard]

You can use the "error" hole to mount an eyelet and chain for an exquisite pendent!!!