Categories: Metal work

My first Welding Lathe made from a Old Bicycle

Back around 1998, I got a request to quote a job that involved welding 200 or so small round stainless steel parts.
I didnt have a welding lathe or even a turntable at the time…but I quoted the job anyway and got it.
The story was… was supposed to get 100 parts every month for several years. (seems like thats always the story to get you to quote lower) but I had heard that song and dance before so instead of stepping out and spending money on a welding turntable, I built my own DIY welding lathe turntable for these parts for the first order of 200 parts. I used an old bicycle, some drill chucks, and a cheap Kmart variable speed drill motor. see the full article here http://goo.gl/h7720K visit the store here http://goo.gl/P36UKS

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  • In the beginning of the video, you mentioned "grounding issues". Meaning something to do with drill which is running off of AC current and the DC weld current? That's something I've been wondering about in regards to my desire to convert an antique metal lathe into something similar. Since mine is an old cone pulley drive, which uses a leather flat belt to transfer motion from corresponding cone pulley/ v-belt shaft, and v-belts link to the electric motor. My thoughts are that as long as the motor is mounted in a way so it's electrically isolated from contact w/ the lathe, with only v-belts to leather belt, I won't fry myself and blow up the transformer out on the utility pole outside. Open to all input people, chime in you feel need. Love the podcast too by the way, thanks.

  • you Sir are one smart individual.  This country  sure needs men like you.

  • This is genius, I was wondering what is the easiest way of making turntable, I was thinking about gears, gearboxes and all but it did not occur to me that bicycle transmission is quite perfect for the task already.

  • is the DC or AC motor in the positioner? what voltage?

    I want to do a similar positioner and need information about power and motor

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