Shopsmith Forums

Someone recently posted pictures of their lathe rig for polishing way tubes. I can't seem to locate the thread. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Tom

I created a plug using the lathe (on the Mark 7) to "drive" the tube. Some have come up with some very elaborate (and functional) holding devices on the free end. I just created a crude frame from 2x4's and anchored it to the end frame of the Mark 7. Worked like a champ. At the end of the process, as the plug was getting used, I had my wife push on the end with a block, but that was only for the last 10 min. or so. All you need to do is make it stable while wire brushing and sanding.

Look at John Burgers Er restoration picks, I did a pipe plug stopper, with a longer bolt in it chucked in the drill chuck, and at the other end mounted a couple casters to a board to support the way tube and then clamped that board to the auxiliary table.

Some years back this is what I did:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 07&p=69197

Ed

"Freeze plug" "core plug" Expanding rubber type.

reible wrote:Some years back this is what I did:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 07&p=69197

Ed

That is a great idea. It is sort of what I did, except I had a stand that stood on the floor, and was stabilized in the longitudinal plane to the SS with a board. I then used, like I said, a tapered wood plug turned on the lathe to drive the tube.

OK, almost nothing like I did, but it proves you don't need anything elaborate, just functional ....

Great ideas all, thanks guys.

JP, if I used a freeze plug like this one, http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/dorm ... 7CL3*16025 I could use the drill chuck like Michael did to grab the bolt for a little low speed spin action? Otherwise I could attach a block of wood to a lathe faceplate, which I think is what Dick did, and turn it till it fits inside the tube. It would be my first SS lathe project. I could have the other end of the tube resting in a v-crotch cut out of plywood like Ed used and I'd be in business with very little cost. Although I would like to get a nova chuck for the lathe eventually, I will probably have to wait on that for now.

tomsalwasser wrote:Great ideas all, thanks guys.

JP, if I used a freeze plug like this one, http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/dorm ... 7CL3*16025 I could use the drill chuck like Michael did to grab the bolt for a little low speed spin action? Otherwise I could attach a block of wood to a lathe faceplate, which I think is what Dick did, and turn it till it fits inside the tube. It would be my first SS lathe project. I could have the other end of the tube resting in a v-crotch cut out of plywood like Ed used and I'd be in business with very little cost. Although I would like to get a nova chuck for the lathe eventually, I will probably have to wait on that for now.

It was my first as well

Sounds like a plan .... When you turn it, make sure it has a slight taper. That way you wedge it into the tube. Mine worked great .... FWIW

It was my first lesson in the idea of having at least 2 shopsmiths. I rebuilt the 10ER using the Mark 7 when I could.

Here's the setup I used: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kschwarz2 ... 628899564/

I used #8 a freeze plug with a hex spacer and a regular Jacobs chuck


You don't need to get all the rust or pitting out to make them nice, and don't make the headstock tubes too shiny smooth or the locks might not grip well.

Freeze plug 'chuck'.

Rubber freeze plug sized for the tube(yes there are different wall thicknesses hence different IDs.) See previous post by tomsalwasser for link.

Coupling nut to fit the plug threads.

Discard(salt away) the nut that came with the freeze plug.

Screw the coupling nut onto the freeze plug threads.

Place modified freeze plug(coupling nut) into drill chuck etc.

Insert way tube onto expanding part of freeze plug.

Tighten nut(now a long coupler) until the rubber expands tightly in the id of the tube.

Support the far end.

Set to slowest speed.

Get on with it!!!