Extra Long Spindle

fiatben · Post by **fiatben** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:13 am

Just a quick question. Have an inquiry locally from someone looking for a way to turn a spindle that is 54" long by 1-1/2" diameter. Thought I'd see what some of you may have already come up with as a solution.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:16 am

Why not just buy a closet rod?

fredsheldon · Post by **fredsheldon** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:27 am

See this link?

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=12076

anmius · Post by **anmius** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:21 am

Here is another possible way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbzEz0-7X0

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:18 pm

Nick has mentioned attaching tailstock to a wall etc.

More practical is to turn in smaller sections and assemble with dowels at a unobtrusive location.

backhertz · Post by **backhertz** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:51 pm

The solution depends on how much you can afford. I was talking to a member of the 10ER Yahoo forum and learned he has used .25" wall thick DOM tubing.
He knows of a people who have used 10 feet tubes for making porch columns out of logs.

You can get it in thinner walls and get it for about $4 a foot, up to 8 feet i length which might meet your needs and not bankrupt you. They will ship 8 foot sections via UPS for a reasonable price.

http://www.stockcarsteel.com/dom-steel- ... r-mandrel/

This is just one source. There might others be closer sources to you. Good luck.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:19 am

If you line up two Shopsmiths end to end, you'll likely see some possibilities for attaching the two together which would allow you to turn the full length you require. You'll have to remove the headstock of the second one, however.

Take a look at the holes already in the Shopsmith legs for attaching a shelf. If you take some long 2x4s, you could attach them with screws to the four legs to keep the two Shopsmiths aligned. If you put auxiliary tables on the adjacent ends, you could clamp a board to them for additional support. Some "U" bolts and 2x4s would allow you to tie the bench tubes together.

A laser pointer in the headstock would allow you to align the tailstock fairly accurately. You could use some hardwood to fabricate a tool rest that would straddle the two machines. You could epoxy drill rod into a cove on the wooden tool rest for a hard surface to run your lathe tools along.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:26 am

If I had to do this, I would start with by building a long work bench. I would then take the legs off my Shopsmith and remount them on the work bench. Obviously the bench would have been built with this step in mind. Height would be critical.

Now you don't need two work Mark Vs. Just secure the Base and Headrest in the proper position to facilitate the turning task.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:25 am

The two ss idea will work without removing anything by turning the tail stock so it points out on the 'extension' ss end. Need to control spacing between the two ss.

Doesn't everyone have two(or more)?:D

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:29 am

dusty wrote:If I had to do this, I would start with by building a long work bench. I would then take the legs off my Shopsmith and remount them on the work bench. Obviously the bench would have been built with this step in mind. Height would be critical.

Now you don't need two work Mark Vs. Just secure the Base and Headrest in the proper position to facilitate the turning task.

And whatcha using for way tubes etc.?;)

And whatcha gonna do with 'legs' mounted to the work bench????:D

Sorry I could not help myself.