The 6 Best Lathe Projects For Beginners

G'day everyone,

I have been working on this years major project, and it has been taking longer than expected. I was planning on releasing part one this week, but a few things got in the day so I have decided to delay it a week, rather than try and rush it.

So I had a good thought about what projects I would recommend to someone who is getting started with lathe-ing. Somewhat difficult because we pick things up at a different rate, but I have a short list of projects I think would be a good fit. Most of them revolve around lathe tools, which is good because once you are finished you get a tool that you will actually use.

If you think that I have missed a good project let me know in the comments. Cheers

#machining #lathe

Top lathe Projects
Beginner Lathe Projects
Metal Lathe Projects

Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - Half Centre (Very Easy)
3:45 - Scriber (Easy)
5:17 - Machinist Hammer (Easy)
7:25 - Tap Follower (Medium)
10:38 - Tailstock Die Holder (Medium)
12:46 - Carriage Stop (Mill Required)

Mini Lathe - Sieg c3 7x14 Mini Lathe
Mill - Sieg x2.7l
Big Lathe - Hafco Al 250G

[TechGorilla]

My list of lathe projects has been stuck at 1 for years.

1: Get a lathe.

[danher]

When are we going to find out why you needed to make those giant taps?

[mikebroom]

You can totally 3d print an indicator holder for the carriage. Won't work as a stop, but works well enough I haven't made a metal one and I've been using it for years.

[billshiff]

NUMBER ONE beginner project: Learn to grind HIGH SPEED TOOL BITS.
That would have saved you ~ $450-$1125 right off the bat just for the carbides you showed.
1 $10 tool bit will replace 100's of carbide inserts and can be shaped to do any job then RE shaped to do another and can be re sharpened 100s of times.
You will learn the basics of how cutting tools work and it will also translate to sharpening other tools, like drill bits etc.
Whatever you do, you will do better if you know how to make your own tools.

[kennethstaszak]

For threading in the lathe I'll often start single point to remove most of the metal then use a die to finish since the die will bring the thread to size quickly. It works especially nice if I need the thread all the way to a shoulder without a clearance groove.

[mootan]

Thanks for this, i, m retiring next year and bought a brand new lathe and have been slowly buying up tools, stock, etc for when i get time and these projects are just perfect for me, one thing that i, m looking for is a good chart on holes and thread sizes something that confuses me . any help appreciated. Thanks again for a great channel.

[andrefenske]

At least normal centers are useful without a Lathe. We always had one in our kitchen drawer when I was a child. We used it to open cans of condensed milk 😊

[robertwalker]

For the carriage stop if you don't have a mill a drill, hacksaw, cold chisel and a file will work. You can also learn some pretty handy manual skills along the way. Did it as an apprentice and hated it with a passion, now I am so grateful they made me do it.

[SvdSinner]

If you don't have a mill, a 3d printer is a great way to make a carriage stop.

[rustys.]

Thanks for posting the prints for all these projects. Really helped me make them. Fucking doughnut

[stigmautomata]

I think the half-center is often ignored because for most projects you can just choke up on the stock to face it. Awesome video though, maybe it will be cool to know that my my first shop professor had me make most of these when I first started machining. I love the handle on the die holder. I've had a lot of trouble holding my own die holder (which lacks the big handle) when cutting steel

[PatrickHoodDaniel]

Excellent video as always. I would also love to see some really cool lathe modifications as well, like using the lathe as a mill and other mechanisms that allow out ot the box solutions for the lathe.

[howder]

Very informative video, and like you said, for a new operator there are several techniques that are compulsory for every machinist. Enjoyed, cheers!

[slartimus]

AM, 6:25: "It's easily one of my most used tools if not my most used tool."
Hacksaw: 😭

[TechGorilla]

@5:57 - I've a small lead hammer made by an old plumber. It's on a small cast iron pipe handle.

[ilikewhenitgoeswub]

Do you have plans for any of the stuff you've made on your other videos? I'd really like to make that 2 piece vise from you 22JUL2023 video

[FamTech.]

Thanks for the video! Btw do you use dcmt 7 or 11? Or whats better. Does it matter if you have the bigger lathe now?

[gwheyduke]

I use my die holder all the time! Makes threading easy. Going to make that carriage stop for my South Bend 9, it will come in handy. Good video.👍

[captaingavin]

We make our scribers from 8mm round stock with a masonry nail epoxy resined into the body as a tip. Lasts about a year of 24/7 use.

[TalRohan]

Great little video, showing some very useful first projects, I think most people could work out how to mill the carriage stop on the lathe using the cross slide (with some ingenuity). It's a slightly more advanced way of thinking about a lathe but as you yourself have said a lathe is also a horizontal mill.
Thankyou for sharing