A new toy! A new project!

[Toymaker]

I just got a model 1460 Delta lathe. It was built in 1945 as best as I can tell from the serial number.
It runs....IT RUNS LOUD  :shock:  So I took the headstock apart and found that the bearings were shot. Then I ran just the motor. It was loud too so I pulled it apart and found the bearings were also shot. I'm surprised the thing could cool itself, it was all packed full of sawdust. It's all cleaned out and ready for some new bearings! I have a cross slide attachment for it so I can do some plastic and metal work with it!!! I've wanted a lathe forever! I got this one for $200. Although this seems like a decent price, It is actually an awesome price when including about every attachment made for it as well as about 200-300 lbs of tooling to go with it!!!


My first project with this is going to be to make a lam grinder attachment for the lathe itself.
I was thinking of mounting a drum sander in the head stock into the Morse taper to make that part easy. I was thinking of making a powered sanding belt conveyor to keep the feed nice and constant.
I had some questions about the drum. I have some aluminum stock that I could make my drum out of, do I want to do that or use a store bought rubber one? It seems like I could get a much truer grind if I make my own. Should I make the aluminum drum to fit a store bought sanding drums or some how mount my own paper to it? I know there would be an optimum speed for grinding lams. What is that speed?  I know RPM depends on drum diameter, Is there a foot per second speed?

[hardwaymike]

TTT
nice lathe!

[Roy from Pa]

Always wanted one of them, good find and repair.

[Toymaker]

I've been looking at other lathe based drum sanders It looks like It's going to be easy to do. I'm going to make a 6" long drum and it' going to be pretty much dedicated to lam grinding so I don't need it 18" or 24 " wide like some of the wood working forums are talking about. A lot of those use spray glue and 1" wide or wider sandpaper tape. Then they use strapping tape on the ends. Is there anything wrong with using this kind of tape when grinding lams? I'm thinking of making a 4" wide feed conveyor I've seen some belts that are 89" long so I could have a 40"ish conveyor. I can also put some feed guide wheels to hold the lam/sled down.

[Ricky Wallace]

I like to see old machines still being used. That one is very nice!

[Savage]

Keep me posted. I am always looking for something new to do with my lathe. It barely gets used now.

[Savage]

Toymaker, check out this link, it has some pretty interesting things you can do with the lathe.  http://www.shopsmith.com/academy/drumsand/

Here is a couple pics I found there



I might have to try this out.

[Toymaker]

Savage, That's what I was looking for! I think regular sandpaper will be a much better way to go. sanding drums can get expensive.

[Savage]

I agree. I will be building this little attachement tonight myself!

[Savage]

There is also a really simple one using the sanding drum and fence on a drill press.