Using a lathe or alternative for scouring cylindrical sections

[Vanvlak]

I was wondering if anyone uses a lathe for manufacturing cylindrical components or for just scouring circumferential lines around cylindrical plastic sections - I currently have a very good use for one (for my tunneller project as well as for Mother Hydra), a small low power benchtop version, although space is always an issue for me.
Any suggestions for (smaller) alternatives for (for example) scouring a line around a round section - not to mention longitudinal lines?
Thanks.

[tima113]

Do you have a drill press? There are affordable lathe attachments available for drill presses, see shop fox d4088. You could also easily cobble together a jig for a hand drill to do something similar. Since you are just scoring plastic, lower speed drills may be better than a dremel.

[FifteensAway]

Check out Micro-Mark.  They are the main source for hobby sized power tools.

https://www.micromark.com/search?keywords=lathe

The drill press option might be cheaper though I'd expect you'll have to custom build some sort of cradle for each project. 

[Mako]

Check out YouTube Videos on how to make a mini-lathe with a corded power drill.

Seems to be a fairly easy and inexpensive option, especially compared to the exhorbitant prices of full-sized ones.

Just need some scrap wood, a few screws and other metal parts, some wood glue (if desired), a bit of time, and, of course, a power drill to make it all work.

Need to make myself one of these.

[Vanvlak]

Thanks guys.
tima - I do actually, but it's for use with a hand held electric drill, so it won't lock in position and probably would need more hands than I have to use! But it could be viable with some modifications.
FIfteensAway - the lathe is a bit beyond my model budget (it IS nice though...) but there's loads of stuff which is very tempting. Thanks - I think! 
Mako - Combined with the above mentioned press, this could be the way to go.

Might be a Christmas Uni break project...

[dampfpanzerwagon]

This is what I use.....

http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/modelling-lathe.html

Good luck.

Tony

[Vanvlak]

This is what I use.....

http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/modelling-lathe.html

Good luck.

Tony

That's cool - and quite simple too. Was the tailstock custom built?
Thanks Tony.

[Rich H]

Find a local engineering workshop and ask nice?  See if there is a maker space nearby or an engineering school?

A lathe is a nice to have if you have room but they are a waste of time and space unless you have a regular use for one.  I've just sold mine as it was jsut taking up 5ft of benchspace and hadn't been used for 5+ years. 

[Mako]

A mini-lathe, made from the power drill is pretty small, and should be inexpensive to build, especially if you can get scrap wood.  I got some from the local home store the other day, that they were just throwing away.

A couple of metal hose clamps to hold the drill in place, and a few other parts, and you are good to go.

[Vanvlak]

Find a local engineering workshop and ask nice?  See if there is a maker space nearby or an engineering school?

A lathe is a nice to have if you have room but they are a waste of time and space unless you have a regular use for one.  I've just sold mine as it was jsut taking up 5ft of benchspace and hadn't been used for 5+ years. 

(or my own former faculty of engineering at uni ...!)

[dampfpanzerwagon]

That's cool - and quite simple too. Was the tailstock custom built?
Thanks Tony.

No this is how it came.

Tony

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Find a local engineering workshop and ask nice?  See if there is a maker space nearby or an engineering school?

A lathe is a nice to have if you have room but they are a waste of time and space unless you have a regular use for one.  I've just sold mine as it was jsut taking up 5ft of benchspace and hadn't been used for 5+ years. 

Good call. I would also suggest that you contact a local model club (as in Droitwich there is a model boat club that will give advice and I am sure someone will have a lathe).

Good luck

Tony

[dampfpanzerwagon]

A mini-lathe, made from the power drill is pretty small, and should be inexpensive to build, especially if you can get scrap wood.  I got some from the local home store the other day, that they were just throwing away.

A couple of metal hose clamps to hold the drill in place, and a few other parts, and you are good to go.

I have seen many tutorials on the internet showing how they can be made.

My father used a hand held, hand powered drill to model the masts when putting ships in bottles.

Tony

[Vanvlak]

No this is how it came.

Tony

Thanks Tony

[dampfpanzerwagon]

A Google search brought up these;

https://www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1164&bih=812&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=uRn2WfHYOsvHwQKjp4-ADw&q=hand+drill+lathe&oq=hand+drill+lathe&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l2j0i24k1.89850.96003.0.96316.37.25.0.0.0.0.108.1755.22j1.23.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..20.16.1176...0i67k1j0i8i30k1.0.YOu3cl7d9LM

Tony