Home made lathe

[HollowPoint]

If you want to do this go ahead and do it. I think that when you've completed such a project you'll be alot more knowledgeable having completed it than a good number of those who have warned against doing it.

I'd be willing to bet that whoever it was that built the very first metal lathe was also cautioned about this that or the other by knowledgeable well meaning folks. Where would we all be if that particular person or persons would have been talked out of it?

It's your choice to make, not ours. Just weight all the pros and the cons and do what you decide to do. You only live once.

HollowPoint

[country gent]

A machine dosnt always determine accuracy of the part. Its the skill and craftsmanship of the operator also. While that lathe doesn't have any dials a mag base and indicator can be set to make adjustments. It wont single point threads. It doesn't have tail stock so drilling would require using the carriage and tool post. Modern machines have came along ways in development and abilities.

Some of the more accurate machines I have run didn't have feeds or threading capabilities. Hardringe and tag come to mind. Some watch makers / jewelers lathes were very accurate also.

[indian joe]

A few problems I see if you want to do precision work:
No gear train means no threading and no power feed.
Linear bearings don't like dirt, so they may bind up quickly.
Spindle axis must be parallel to bed rails.
Crossfeed axis must be perpendicular to bed rails.

This bloke knows his way about - might surprise you what that machine is capable of - I couldnt fault his build - but think he maybe left out some steps to make it look easy