My homebuilt tools

[Beri]

Hi Beri,
If you've built any interesting tools, yourself, we'd love to see them!
Regards,
Ken

Hi everyone,

as per request here are a few of my homebuilts :

(Mostly) wooden bandsaw, as per woodgears.ca plans



rear view



Wooden woodturning lathe (mostly as per Shopnotes plans, but driven with a drill press)



A simple disc sander (180mm)



A tablesaw-router table combo







An electric pottery wheel (for my girl)





And of course, many minor mods on handtools.. like everyone does

Next project : powered metal hacksaw (but at the moment not enough free time... in a month or 2 maybe)

[Jon]

Thanks Beri! These tools have been added to the following categories: Sanding and Grinding, Woodworking, Table Saws, and Bandsaws. We've also setup your homemade tools page here: Beri's homemade tools. Your receipts:

180mm Disc Sander by Beri

tags: disc sander

Electric Pottery Wheel by Beri

tags: pottery wheel

Tablesaw and Router Combo by Beri

tags: table saw, router table

Wooden Bandsaw from Plans by Beri

tags: bandsaw

Wooden Woodturning Lathe by Beri

tags: lathe

[zippidee]

very interested in getting more information about what you used for the pottery wheel. Did you have a plan from somewhere or your own ?
thanks in advance...

your projects look very professional

zipp

[Beri]

very interested in getting more information about what you used for the pottery wheel. Did you have a plan from somewhere or your own ?
thanks in advance...

your projects look very professional

zipp

Hello zipp,

the pottery wheel is a very simple one. It uses a old washing machine motor and pulley. Those motors have 2 speeds, 315 rpm and 2800 rpm. Only the slow winding is used, and you want your wheel spinning at around 60-70 rpm. For making more delicate object like tall slender vases, you will want a wheel with adjustable speed, 3 - 120 rpm for example. But for a beginner, the simple on off type is enough. I have attached a picture, under the motor is an additional fan, because the motor at 315 rpm does not have enough cooling to run for more than 5 mins (good enough for the washing machine, but not for the pottery wheel )
Make sure the switch is waterproof, and no water can get on the electrical parts...

[zippidee]

Hello zipp,

the pottery wheel is a very simple one. It uses a old washing machine motor and pulley. Those motors have 2 speeds, 315 rpm and 2800 rpm. Only the slow winding is used, and you want your wheel spinning at around 60-70 rpm. For making more delicate object like tall slender vases, you will want a wheel with adjustable speed, 3 - 120 rpm for example. But for a beginner, the simple on off type is enough. I have attached a picture, under the motor is an additional fan, because the motor at 315 rpm does not have enough cooling to run for more than 5 mins (good enough for the washing machine, but not for the pottery wheel )
Make sure the switch is waterproof, and no water can get on the electrical parts...

---
is the platter part wood or plastic ?
what about the shroud for the platter ... looks like it might be a plastic basin or such ?
... wow... did not realize you needed that much speed range for this... if you have a set of those stepped pulleys (like on a drill press) would that give sufficient range ? and how much torque is actually needed for the turning ?

(next thing to consider.... a kiln)

thanks

zipp
http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/i...ons/icon14.png

[Beri]

---
is the platter part wood or plastic ?

The platter (blue) is metal, I found it dumped behind a shop, it was a sort of turntable display...
I put 2 pins in it, and a plywood disc on top, that is where you actually work. When you make a few pieces in a row, you remove the plywood disc with your work to dry up before removing it for drying and kiln.

what about the shroud for the platter ... looks like it might be a plastic basin or such ?

Yes, just a plain plastic basin, with a collar in the middle (for the shaft) and a drain, which is plugged while you work and you can release the sludge for cleaning

... wow... did not realize you needed that much speed range for this... if you have a set of those stepped pulleys (like on a drill press) would that give sufficient range ? and how much torque is actually needed for the turning ?

I don't think stepped pulleys would work, you need throttle control.. start slow and speed up. Now imagine yourself with muddy hands changing the belt from pulley to pulley
For the initial centering of the clay, the torque is not insignificant. Later on, when forming the piece, it is rather small. To give you an idea, my motor is 90W @ 315 rpm reduced to 70 rpm and it is more than enough.
The speed regulator is more of a convenience than actual need. If you use a DC motor its easy to add. I have seen pottery wheels driven with cordless drills, when the battery dies and is too expensive to replace. Add a DC source ( PC power supply for example, or lead acid battery charger) and there you go. Reducer, speed regulation, even torque limit, is built in already

[Beri]

and yes... if all fails....

[kbalch]

Wow, that's something I've never seen - and I so rarely get to say that!! :-)

Very resourceful!

Ken