Shopsmith Forums

Thanks, Everett. One of those motors would be very nice. You could then bypass the speed changer, and get some really low speeds for larger diameter bowls.

I just wonder whether the 5/8" spindle is up to the task for large bowls and for longevity.

Everett, what are your thoughts regarding the 10er as a dedicated lathe?

TGIF, guys! I've been following this thread, but burning some midnight work oil the last couple days.

I haven't made any actual physical progress on it yet, but my 10ER is earmarked for lathe duty. Being 6'3", I need it a lot higher for that function, and so I'm planning to put a row of drawers atop the factory legs. I'll probably also sling a row down between the legs, somewhat like the machine in the pic below. I'll use heavy construction, and experiment with storing heavy stuff in the drawers as well.
I do have a speed changer for my machine, but for grins I may also put a variable-speed motor on it. The combination would provide both very low speeds and high torque. I have a bunch of ash logs that will yield 16"+ bowls, and a brand new Easy Wood pro rougher that I'm itching to try out on them, so I want the machine to be as capable as possible.

As for the spindle, I'm not really worried about strength or longevity. I expect that the weakest link in the drivetrain is the drive belt/pulley interface, or possibly the set-screw connection to the faceplate or chuck. But spindle stiffness could still be an issue at higher speeds, once the blank is reasonably well balanced.

A couple of my colleagues at work are mechanical engineers with high-speed turbine design experience -- they have the expertise and the dynamic simulation tools to run full structural vibration-mode analyses. Maybe I can get them to work for some beers.

Dennis, good luck on your project. I look forward to the completion of your project. I will probably learn a thing or two from it.

I have yet to turn anything real large yet on mine. If I had the large size wood, I would try it. I'm on the lookout for a larger piece of green wood. I would be satisfied with 12" diameter (I think the max swing on the 10er is around 7 1/2"). The largest I have turned on it was around 9" (if I remember correctly), and it did fine (actually that was on what is now my dedicated drill press 10er with which I experimented with some turning)

As requested, here are some photos of some turnings on the ER.

Here is a photo the other ER that is now being used as a dedicated drill press. Previously posted in another thread.

Dansmith wrote:As requested, here are some photos of some turnings on the ER.

Very nice. Walnut is my favourite wood.

Thanks, Ron. I like the scent of cut walnut in the shop.

Nice work


I dont know what smell is better though,, walnut or cherry .

Hobbyman2 wrote:Nice work


I dont know what smell is better though,, walnut or cherry .

Thanks. I haven't worked with much cherry so I can't make the comparison. I do have a bit of walnut 8/4 material that I scored a few months ago.

Nice .


I was out to the Amish mill today picked up some nice cherry and a piece of beech .