7 Mods and Improvements for a Metal Lathe

Here's a little collection of the various modifications and improvements I've done for my import metal lathe over the years.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Improved control panel
01:34 Improved carriage handwheel
02:14 Tailstock DRO
04:21 Tool Shelf
06:04 Steel Headstock Covers
07:53 Solid Toolpost
14:43 Way covers
17:01 Chip shield

[@nataliepotter3635]

well it's a lathe kzbin.infoUgkxN9zrzkkhnjUF5PQbuA_B1gYdsfCu9k6z but it wasn't what i would have anticipated. Headstock, tailstock, carriage apron are manufactured from aluminum now not cast iron. The spindle diameter for the bearings is too small allowing for a few play in the spindle so I am using some blue Loctite to take out the play.

[@matthewf1979]

That shield is ingenious!

[@michelhv]

Machinists never cease to amaze me with their ability at using a machine to actually improve said machine. I think only programmers can really do that also, but they’re not working out of chunks of metal.

[@David-hm9ic]

It's been said that the lathe is the only machine that can be used to make a copy of itself. Certainly if they're not too badly damages they can make their own replacement parts.

[@johnathonmontie2234]

Dude, love the video and hope you do more of these improvement videos!

[@clarenceedrusnell7187]

Hello Phil. It is so nice to watch your view of the improvements you posted. I have to tell you I like your sense of humor even more. Your high degree of skill really shines.

[@ardemus]

Great stuff, thanks for the insights, and congrats on the new shop.

[@bostedtap8399]

Excellent modifications and upgrades. Thanks for sharing.

[@CafeRacerGarage]

This was awesome brother thank you :)

[@nilslemann4903]

Sehr schön. Deine Ideen sind immer der Hammer. Und auch die Sorgfalt mit der Du die Dinge umsetzt. Einfach genial.

[@danielstewart3507]

Great content Phil. Always love it when you upload.

[@Felipe.Portugal]

Love the video man, I didn't realize you could customize a lathe that way. Btw the videos with commentary are much more engaging than the previous one with music and text. Keep up the great work!!

[@rickguyevans]

Thank you for an excellent, well produced video with lots of great ideas for mods! Cheers from Canada

[@joewhitney4097]

Great video, great solutions and upgrades. Thank you.

[@bcwrangler]

Great additions....that solid tool post made a huge difference!

[@AlexanderGibbonsAudio]

That shield on an arm is genius! Great video Phil, thanks for posting this.

[@ignaciop9592]

Love this type of contenten Phil. Cheers from Argentina

[@nealepitts]

One of the best ( if not the best) videos explaining issues and problem solving in a fact packed package..... no waffling on, no umms and errs ! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@Wezly]

Great mods! - Looking forward to seeing the new shop in use.

[@aimanapril24]

Oooo Congrats on the new space !

[@henrypostulart]

Congratulations on your shop upgrade!

[@TheMadMagician87]

Hope you are enjoying the new shop! Thanks for the ideas on the lathe :-)

[@hanslang3764]

Great job, love your work and humour :-D

[@GiacoWhatever]

Congrats on the new shop man!

[@joell439]

Phil, Great to see you’re doing well. Thanks for sharing 👍👍😎👍👍

[@jmtx.]

Thanks for sharing your awesome mods! That super adjustable cover is a great idea!

[@joels7605]

Beautiful work. Well done, sir.

[@luciogonzalez5029]

Super enjoyed your video! & happy for your new shop as well!

[@keithammleter3824]

This is a really nice presentation by Phil. Good clear video, good clear voice, and some really good ideas clearly explained.

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Phil, Congratulations on the new workshop... some nice modifications to your lathe... Take care. Paul,,

[@Ryan-dz3jo]

Nice video, new shop looks great.

[@kevinmurphy5506]

Been missing your videos but this is definitely worth the wait thank you.

[@budzab]

1:34 You should do handwheel with 2 step ratio (push to slow fine ratio - pull it out for larger ratio for quick reposition )

[@bigmotter001]

Very nice mods Phil. I will be incorporating some of them over the next few months! Thanks for posting and take care!

[@aimanapril24]

that shelf turned out soo good ! Love you videos

[@HepcatHarley]

I've given up trying to part off on my Sieg SC3, now I know why, great modification, Thanks :)

[@oletrenner]

I'm really enjoying your videos! Thanks for sharing, cheers!

[@dariushmilani6760]

Isn't it strange that today I thought that it's been a while I ve seen a video from you and I missed watching the Grinder build. After finished watching part 3 latest video appeared. Don't leave it too long between builds. Its so enjoyable.

[@mxcollin95]

Great video! Really love videos like this were people make practical upgrades in ways I might not of thought of. 👍

[@dannywilsher4165]

Nice mods and improvements, thanks for sharing!!

[@AlADrake]

This video and the lathe video series of TechTom are the best starter tips for beginners. I appreciate that! Dont stop making such nice content.

[@xDrDeath78x]

Really enjoyed this one mate. Thank you

[@jusrobington]

Those are some awesome upgrades. Simple & effective 👍🏾

[@Laura-wc5xt]

Dear Phil, you Sir , are a true craftsman and great narrator.....thank you for sharing your great ideas and work.....cheers from the USA, Paul

[@SuffolkFarmer]

Thanks Phil 👍 Look forward to more videos

[@davidangelo8902]

I've been thinking about fabing a chip shield & tool holder shelf for my lathe. Your solution is good & gives me a visual concept to work from. Thanks!!!

[@Dave.Wilson]

That chip shield is genius, I know what I'll be making soon. Thanks for sharing. As for the videos and content, go for quality rather than quantity.

[@Bmklral]

Thank you for sharing. Great improvements. Many of which I will try. Great job.

[@andyreadman]

Very neat. Great work Sir!

[@lcsavi]

Great improvements! Congratulations!!! And I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one with an OCD about plastics on lathes.

[@bikeridernz6169]

Superb as usual

[@inactive67]

Nice new shop and the upgrades were pretty slick

[@courtneyfaas1266]

This is one of the greatest lathe videos I have ever seen.

[@macsmachine2609]

Good stuff. Really like the chip shield.

[@forthrightnight]

Very nice. Congrats on the new shop. That heat thing sure is a luxury.

[@gallupcustomknives2293]

Love seeing the improvements! I have a very old (1940-ish) 10"x32" lathe that I use quite a bit, been making improvements to it since I bought it, I like your chip shield though for sure! I need to build a chip pan and tool shelf for mine next.

[@j.hankinson7803]

Many great ideas. Thanks for posting.

[@brandonshudy789]

I Resently found your channel! I love it! I plan to watch some of your older videos when I have time. Thank you for your continuation!

[@PowerRepublic]

Love the new Tool Post upgrade Phil, very Beefy !!

[@MrHarvard88]

I really enjoyed your video. Very nicely done!

[@BenMitro]

Loved that you used a mag base tool post to mount the shield. Tool posts sit idle most of the but suddenly, its used every time the lathe and the mill are used and can still be used for the dial gauge. Ingenious!

[@MrHuntnfish]

Thanks Phil, Professional as usual, several great ideas, please never stop thinking of new tool toys. Regards Dave,

[@ussweeneyd]

Some bloody brilliant ideas ! Tak.

[@TomMakeHere]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@davekimbler2308]

Very nice and handy mods ! I like the cross slide and shield the most !

[@LarsGoldbachDP]

you're just the best!!!! ordered merch

[@hogan6216]

I am glad to see some one else besides my self doing all kinds of mods to your shop tools.After watching your vid i looked around my shop and i counted up all the mods i have done and it came to 17 total...To be honest the labor and mat was well worth it and would do it again.Nice job....

[@jamesdepaul3410]

Well done mods. Like the shop and machines.

[@CrimFerret]

This is a great video! Great solutions to the issues you were having and I'll take functional, ugly, and cheap. It's a tool, not a showpiece. That is a nice lathe. I've looked at that same line. When I get a place that has the room for one, I may well get one. That's about the perfect size for anything I'd be doing. As nice as the old Monarchs look, once again it's not about looks.

[@elduderino1329]

Great improvements. My favorite is the handwheel gearbox.

[@hartiaacres]

Very nice set-up. Lots of creative out of the box thinking. Nice to see the belt grinder being used. That is a work of art. I had to buy the plans for that machine. Be a winter project next year if all goes well.

[@cjb1kcb1]

Great content. Great narration. More. More. More! Please!

[@LetsRogerThat]

Awesome video and great mods 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@gurudansingh7209]

Awesome improvements👍👍🥂

[@raymondj8768]

great video dude !!!!!

[@davidgillies620]

Yes please, more of these.

[@QuebecoisSti]

Pretty neat mods! Greets from Eastern Canada! ✌

[@MProper]

That's the kind of video I am looking for ... No "talking face" (I wanna see the stuff, not the storyteller!). No useless redundancy of information. No begging for likes and subscribes. Great video! Thanks!

[@PhilVandelay]

That's the idea! Glad to hear people notice

[@petersmith5277]

Many thanks for excellent improvements of lathe - will be improving my own

[@JB-yp6bd]

awesome video mate!!! just subscribed

[@SteveSummers]

Nice work👍

[@johnmcclain3887]

Hi, twenty years ago, I was low budget, getting my machines, and there was a guy "Metal Lathe Accessories", might be still around, but he made and sold casting kits for tool posts, milling fixtures for a lathe, all kinds of attachments, with plans. The castings were almost all done in Amish foundry's, and the castings were consistently fine grained, clean machining, both iron and bronze, quite useful in my shop. You could likely find some in the UK, at least thirty, forty years ago in my youth. Thanks for a good bit of work, fine improvement.

[@drjwrg]

Enjoyed the video, many thanks. I have commented on others replacing the compound with a metal block and conclude that in most cases they go over the top in increasing stiffness. If you consider that what is being done is to equivalently increase the stiffness of the compound slide arrangement. Consider what stiffness combination does the cutting tool see. A very simple model would be the stiffness of the compound slide, the stiffness of the cross slide and the stiffness of the carriage. These all act in series so that the overall stiffness will always be less than the least stiff of the combination. So increasing the stiffness of the equivalent compound way beyond the others will eventually provide very marginal improvement. Attempting to put some numbers to the problem, consider the stiffness of the compound to be K, the stiffness of the cross slide to be say 5K and the carriage stiffness to be say 10K. Place these in a series combination to find the overall stiffness and watch what happens as the compound stiffness gradually increases beyond K towards rigidity. I would suggest that a steel or cast iron block no greater than the footprint of the tool post is all that is required.

[@ScottTurnerformeindustrious]

Great Improvements Phil! I need to do the Cross Slide Mod for the same reason. Cheers!

[@motari6249]

awesome job i am definitely using some of these upgrades thanks a lot.

[@markphillips3250]

I enjoyed your video very much. So much that I subscribed to your channel. Thank you, keep up the the good work.

[@MeechJacobs]

Take your time bro, I'll wait!

[@jyothikumar811]

Enjoyed your video, Nice keep it up looking for more, great job

[@mftmachining]

Sehr gute ideen und klasse umgesetzt.

[@matsworld9386]

great stuff! thanks for the tips

[@DunderOz]

Love your work 😃

[@bustednuckles2]

Very nice work. Congratulations on moving to a better work space also. That last one looked like a misery pit if I ever saw one. Looking forward to more videos.

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

Very good mods,,thanks for your time

[@cowdogg3085]

Until I watched this video I was on the fence about looking into purchasing one of these lathes. Now I think I will look into them, great mods by the way!👍👍

[@Jayjam209]

Love your channel, I always get some ingenious ideas watching your videos. Thanks, also Congrats on the new shop! Working in a cold shop always sucks. Plants growing inside is a first for me. Haha. Cheers.

[@clayz1]

Even your bandsaw cuts straight. Not bad. I like your improvised stereo too. I am a machinist, I don’t know why some machining videos are so much fun to watch. Thanks.

[@brandontscheschlog]

I think your next mod should be tapered Gibsfor the carriage. I did this to mine and it made a world of difference. Not only has it increased rigidity but the carriage moves like butter.

[@PhilVandelay]

Do you mean for the cross slide? The crappy gibs on that are actually one of the main things that bothers me about this lathe so probably not a bad idea. How did you go about it?

[@sambonefarmer9139]

Congrats on the new shop; you did a good job of hiding the deficiencies of the old shop...kitchen table > makeshift shop -> proper shop - progress is good...so is heat!

[@HGNeese3rd1]

Keep making these videos I learn alot

[@ReubenSchoots]

Nice work!

[@gagasmancave8859]

Love the tool holder. Now on my list