I'd recommend trying it, all you need is an old file ground down at the end and something to scrape. A lot of people overcomplicate the process, it's pretty easy to get reasonable results - certainly good enough for the home workshop.
You can often pick up old cast iron jointers (planers, you might call them in the uk?) which consist of 3 cast iron plates. The indeed and outfeed tables make good surface plates, and the fence a decent rigid straight edge. Takes a bit of work to scrape in, but are much beefier than a hand plane
These mini lathes are a big pet peeve of mine because so many people buy these, want these or try to use these but there’s not one single manufacturer that will make them right. They all have problems galore and while it’s actually fun to tune things up or adapt them for different things, these are practically torture to get working even half way decently. Can’t somebody charge $500 more and make one where EVERYTHING isn’t wrong with them? Now that would be fun to fine tune, debut and adjust. This is torture and you are a brave man or just a masochist with extra time on your hands.
I totally agree. The frustrating thing is there is a good little lathe in there somewhere, and I feel sorry for the folks that aren't able to fix the problems themselves.
I could really do with a bevel edge straight edge to scrape in my dovetail surfaces on my mini mill and the cross slide on my lathe but as you say they are impossible to find. I’m thinking of making one if I can source the right size of suitable cast iron. In fact the right size makes 2.
Yes, same here. I want to make some phosphor bronze gibs at some point and a bevel straight edge would come in handy for that. Old car brake disks are a good source of quality cast iron if you can find some.
how would u go about if the poor man is really poor and doesn't even have a surface plate? What is he gonna reference this of of? Creating a surface plate via the 3-plate-method from the late 18th century?
The cost of 3 iron plates to flatten would be more than a cheap surface plate. The really poor man would be better off scrounging a piece of float glass for a surface plate.
Thanks Richard, Intriguing idea, I'm fascinated with the idea of hand surface scraping but have yet to acquire the skill !
I'd recommend trying it, all you need is an old file ground down at the end and something to scrape. A lot of people overcomplicate the process, it's pretty easy to get reasonable results - certainly good enough for the home workshop.
You can often pick up old cast iron jointers (planers, you might call them in the uk?) which consist of 3 cast iron plates. The indeed and outfeed tables make good surface plates, and the fence a decent rigid straight edge. Takes a bit of work to scrape in, but are much beefier than a hand plane
Great tip, thanks for sharing 👍
These mini lathes are a big pet peeve of mine because so many people buy these, want these or try to use these but there’s not one single manufacturer that will make them right. They all have problems galore and while it’s actually fun to tune things up or adapt them for different things, these are practically torture to get working even half way decently. Can’t somebody charge $500 more and make one where EVERYTHING isn’t wrong with them? Now that would be fun to fine tune, debut and adjust. This is torture and you are a brave man or just a masochist with extra time on your hands.
I totally agree. The frustrating thing is there is a good little lathe in there somewhere, and I feel sorry for the folks that aren't able to fix the problems themselves.
I could really do with a bevel edge straight edge to scrape in my dovetail surfaces on my mini mill and the cross slide on my lathe but as you say they are impossible to find. I’m thinking of making one if I can source the right size of suitable cast iron. In fact the right size makes 2.
Yes, same here. I want to make some phosphor bronze gibs at some point and a bevel straight edge would come in handy for that. Old car brake disks are a good source of quality cast iron if you can find some.
how would u go about if the poor man is really poor and doesn't even have a surface plate? What is he gonna reference this of of? Creating a surface plate via the 3-plate-method from the late 18th century?
The cost of 3 iron plates to flatten would be more than a cheap surface plate. The really poor man would be better off scrounging a piece of float glass for a surface plate.