All My Mini Lathe Modifications - What's Next?

This is a compilation video about all the modifications I did till the end of 2023 since I started this KZbin channel. I'm also talking a little bit about future plans and projects for this lathe as there is still a lot of things which can be improved.
It is also time to say thanks to all of my viewers, subscribers and especially the patreon supporters!
I hope you enjoy this compilation video.
If you want to stay tuned for further projects and future machining and Mini Lathe content, consider subscribing to my channel. I really do appreciate that.
If you have questions or suggestions on the projects shown here, let me know in the comments. I try to read and reply to all.
Thanks
WCDTB
Patreon support:
www.patreon.com/wecandothatbetter
Compound slide mods:
- • Bearings for the mini ...
- • Brass nut for the comp...
- • Mini Lathe compound an...
Tailstock mods:
- • Mini Lathe tailstock m...
- • Lever clamping modific...
- • Mini Lathe tailstock l...
Bedslide dial and handwheel:
- • Making a dial for the ...
Poly-V belt mod:
- • New drive for the Mini...
Brushless motor upgrade:
- • New Brushless Servo Mo...
Cross slide handwheel mod:
- • New Cross Slide Handwh...
00:00 Intro
01:13 Compound slide bearings
02:13 Compound slide angle adjustment
03:44 Tailstock fine adjustment
04:32 Tailstock lever clamping
05:58 Bedslide handwheel and dial
07:10 Bedslide dial accuracy test
08:57 Cross slide handwheel
10:33 Brushless motor
10:54 Poly-V belt
11:30 Gear lever
12:19 Leadscrew bearing
13:04 On off lever
14:10 Electrical cabinet
15:45 Future plans
- • New Cross Slide Handwh...
Lead screw bearings and hex rod:
- • New Lead Screw Bearing...
Start - stop lever:
- • New Spindle Start/Stop...
Gear lever change:
- • Switching the Mini Lat...
Electrical cabinet and electrics:
- • Finally Proper Machine...

[@dalius98]

With a longer bed, new headstock and tailstock, different motor... it will be a lathe of Theseus ;)

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Haha, yes that's probably right :D

[@warriormes6012]

Maybe they can build a second lathe from all the leftover parts😆

[@ronwhitmill7068]

@@warriormes6012 that is exactly what happened with my 7x14. Everything has been replaced with the exception of the motor guard and all the "old" parts were given away over time. Those parts have once again become a lathe and the person who I gave them to is now going through what I just did. Should have binned the parts and been done with it to begin with.

[@jambusspeakermouse1325]

​@@ronwhitmill7068i think that might be standard for mini lathes! I've replaced tailstock, leadscrew, bearings, spindle, change gears, hand wheels, and cross slide. Been eyeing up a new bed as mine has a huge dent in the middle due to a careless previous owner. I think that's the fun of these things, they are the kit cars of the lathe world.

[@RichardHurd]

Triggers Broom

[@davidt8438]

I’m so impressed by what you’ve done. My god if they made and sold lathes of this size and quality we’d have tens of thousands of people buying them and becoming machinist overnight. It’s the crappy products with so many problems that cause frustration and causing people to walk away never learning and honing their skills. What I wouldn’t give to buy your machine.

[@hoernst2762]

Wie schon lange verfolge ich diesen Kanal sehr gerne und freue mich über jeden neuen Beitrag! Ich bin immer etwas neidisch, dass ich nicht so gut "basteln" kann. Bitte weiter machen.

[@michaelclark9409]

I would love to see a thread cutting gear box. If anyone can do it, it would be you. Keep up the great work.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much for your kind comment!

[@ronwhitmill7068]

@WeCanDoThatBetter I upgraded to the Amadeal tailstock and I do find it more sturdy, though it does take more room. That said aligning the amadeal tailstock can be a bit of a Schwein otherwise much superior than the original. I did have to machine some material from the underside of the clamping plate/foot that goes under the ways as it was a little too deep, but that is about the only issue I encountered. The two set-screws on the rear of the body set alignment along the length of the bedway, the one at the rear front corner sets alignment front-to back in combination with the one on the rear side of the tailstock. There is also the fixing bolt on the underside at the headstock end of the tailstock which needs modifying for ease of adjustments. I am a little concerned over the push fit bush for the feedscrew, but that is something easily sorted with a drill, a tap and a grub screw, which will stop it wanting to push out as happened to mine. I am also considering shortening the tailstock nose by about 8mm (minimum) and relocating the anti-rotate grub screw further forwards to avoid potential problems. The only other "niggle" (or issue) is where the locking handle is. I removed the restrictor pin to enable a good, tight locking action as the pin restricted that even when the foot was correctly adjusted. The extra length of the new tailstock means a little less distance between headstock and tailstock but that is easy enough to get around for the odd jobs where you can swap in the original camlock tailstock for extra space. Have you considered the 4" spindle upgrade?

[@nicolaschampagne8988]

the old tailstock ways were horrible 😂. good stuff !

[@ikkiiiieee]

We need to see that gearbox! I don't understand why you are looking to replace head and tailstock though; might as well get another lathe. Gearbox though... entirely different!

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thanks! I will try at least the gearbox build.

[@tinkerer570]

Sir, if you're going through adventure with longer lathe bed and different head stock, you may consider sealing up the headstock and using conical bearings running in oilbath with the gearbox - just like the big machines do. Seriousily it would be damn cool. It is a little more complicated than simply ramming sealed angular contact bearings in, but seeing how capable you are, it would be piece of cake for you 🙂 I did it on mine and it works flawlessly, Also, if you are interested in it, Robert Adair made really nice video about it. Hats down to your work and to the one of the best minilathes out there!

[@samimas4343]

I like your sense of humor.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

:D Thank you very much! At least one aside from me ;)

[@Tome4kkkk]

That's exactly why I've decided to budget 3 times the original amount for my first lathe, i.e. something closer to 1800 USD.

[@K3porkak]

The gearbox has to come to life. It has been said. Cheers.

[@haydenc2742]

The mighty mini lathe...very cool! Keep em coming!!!!

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much!

[@sniffdogg420]

got several laughs out of me with the indicator drawer! lovely video

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much :D Happy to hear, you like it;)

[@dannymullane9252]

Thanks for doing these videos it not only helps me it helps so many uther. I've just started my journey into this subject. Stay safe

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much for your comment! Happy to hear you like my work. Thanks for your support!

[@orangetruckman]

Your work has been incredible to watch. I hope you’re improvements have many helps others. I could only imagine what you’d be able to do with a lathe twice that size 🤔 keep up the great stuff. The dial indicator part way great 🤣

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much for your kind comment! Happy to hear you like my video and especially the dial indicator part ;)

[@orangetruckman]

@@WeCanDoThatBetter -I literally laughed out loud. With comedy like that, This Old Tony better watch out 😉

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Happy New Year! And I'm excited to see the upcoming modifications to the lathe. 👍👍

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much! Happy new year for you as well.

[@angelramos-2005]

Great modifications.Thank you.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thanks!

[@user-dj5gf9jp8g]

Cool work thanks 👍

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much!

[@nrml76]

An electronic leadscrew would be more practical than a gearbox. A replacement top half of the cross slide with a T slot cross slide would be useful. It would allow more effective milling operations on the lathe. Small geared dc motors for power feed on both axis would be a good one also. I plan to do the last two on mine sometime this year (hopefully).

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much for your input! Yes ELS would be cool too but I prefer the mechanical solution for now. The idea with the new cross slide is great. When I'm changing the lathes bed slide to a wider one, I will have to redo the cross slide as well and will probably implement some t-slots.

[@silverbullet7434]

You've done amazing upgrades I like them all. Looking forward to more .

[@Pushyhog]

thanks again!

[@AERuffy]

Ingenious way of fixing the compound slide angle adjustment.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thanks! Yes this one is extremely useful.

[@jeffhiggins3794]

I've had a wonderful time viewing your work. I would love to see you build one from scratch, with hardened ways. Du hast eine Menge Geschick, Bruder!

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Many thanks for your kind words! Oh yes, hardened bedways would be nice. I don't know if the longer bed which I ordered is hardened but I think it's not.

[@jimsvideos7201]

Happy new year!

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much! Happy new year to you as well :)

[@karlh6700]

Why not use an electronic leadscrew?

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

That would be an option too. It's probably easier to install but somehow I like the mechanical solutions.

[@mike9500]

on the carriage slide wheel. aliexpress has a longer aluminium piece you can use to get to 210mm cross travel and then you jsut mill more onthe saddle off.

[@jungko9031]

Wow, not much left from the old lathe. 😂

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

That's right ;)

[@uisan0heal]

nice lathe moddify and funny dialgauge collection😄

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Haha thanks! Happy to hear, I'm not the only one who find this funny :D

[@uisan0heal]

I have a kotobuki-mecanix fl-350E (probably a reconditioned SIEG C2 350). Your video is very helpful for me. I'll try custom my lathe too.@@WeCanDoThatBetter

[@webdevil9125]

An electronic guitar can be installed in the place of the feed box. It consists of a stepper motor mounted on a lead screw, an encoder on a spindle and a microcontroller that controls everything.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thanks! That's an option too, yes. Would probably be easier than to build a gearbox, but I like the mechanical solution.

[@ED_T]

A lot has happened to this lathe!

[@engfab456]

So you got a new lathe ready to be assembled.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

haha :D almost like that ;)

[@rafaelreina6364]

In reference to the thread changing speed, I have a video (Need to look for) that someone did a modification with a stepper motor synchronized with the rotor speed, to set the advance of the tool according to thread selected. When I find it I will put the link in your UT Page.

[@Bob_Jones_]

Please do the gear change box!! Would love to see that, and honestly wish there was a commercially available upgrade for just that option.. Manual change gears are awful.

[@Mr666samuel666]

столько модификаций, что уже проще купить новый станок хороший или восстановить подержанный высокоточный

[@Svanda592]

Totally relaxing videos. What is the proper type of this lahte?

[@itarry4]

I take it the headstock already had angular contact roller barrings in rather than the cheap ball barrings they often have. You've made so many really clever, really thought out changes so I'd be amazed if you hadn't done that basically first if it needed doing. Lovely work as well. Not sure why you haven't just built your own lathe totally by now though. Understand buying what you could afford at first as you can use the cheap lathe to make the parts you need to upgrade it but with all you've changed and are going to change in the future feel you'd be far better off stripping this one for parts and just building your own lathe from the base up making every part as you want it and as good as possible whilst not having to compromise on anything like putting the new gearbox in front when it'd be better built in and making the bed etc as long and as solid as possible. Also have you said what the make of the mini lathe was when you got it plus really hope you watch Inheritance Machining and definitely Clickspring as really sure you'd get a lot from them both. Any chance you'll be doing a Mill next? Maybe building one from scratch or upgrading like with the lathe or even building a Mill attachment for the lathe if you want to keep it lathe centered.

[@rafaelreina6364]

Thanks, all yours Videos are very educating. I am cleaning and fixing little thing from a mini lathe that my son had and almost never use and I have a question for you. Where do you order the parts, ( I am in USA ). I don't know the brand of the Lathe... is white, the Tailstock is like the old one you have and almost identical to yours. I will appreciate the information because your sources may have an distributor here in USA. Thank for the time you dedicate to the video and I will appreciate the information

[@MF175mp]

I admire your patience with upgrading a chinese mini lathe vs. Buying a little bit bigger and better machine.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thanks! Yes, it is not rational ;)

[@chriskucia8348]

I'm curious about the gear change lever. Been considering the same motor swap to a sewing machine motor, but I figured with the wide speed variation and higher torque, I wouldn't need the gear changing. But you mentioned you use it frequently. Is it just more convenient to make the large speed jump quickly, or do you find you need the low gear torque?

[@mariusmac2005]

Hi, I love watching your videos, and i would enjoy the modifications proposed, but i don't see the reasons. You might acquire a bigger lathe instead. Anyway, i'm looking forward to future videos .👍

[@JohnThawley]

Love your work. And surface finish on steel is especially impressive. Are you using mostly 1215 or 12L14 or equivalent?

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Thank you very much for your kind comment! As a higher grade steel I use almost exclusively 42CrMo4 or also called 1.7225. Don't know the international code for it.

[@JohnThawley]

@@WeCanDoThatBetter Looks like that’s 4140 in the USA. A high quality alloy, but not one of the “free machining” steels I had assumed. Even more impressive.

[@be_best_ever]

По англицки не понимейшейн, но на заметку взял!

[@brucemansfield2501]

Instead of a threading gearbox, why not do an electronic lead screw controller similar to the one from Clough42?

[@christiane.4655]

wo hast du denn den neuen Reitstock her? wäre toll wenn teilen würdest wo du die ganzen Sachen herbekommst. ich hab die selbe Maschine und möchte mir gerne ein Paar der Sachen Nachmachen die du dir da zusammengebaut hast. das ist wirklich der Wahnsinn was du da gemacht hast.

[@sblack48]

How did you make new pulleys for the new motor? Do you have a 2nd lathe? Amazing effort.

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

I provisorily used the old tooth belt for turning the new pulleys.

[@un-factory]

It's a greedy machine.😊😊😊😊

[@ianday38]

If you bought a better lathe you'd have nothing to do! Love your work. Your German humour though 😐 (🤣)

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

You got it;) Thank you very much for your comment!

[@user-gl3xc7kn5s]

This is all cool, of course! But maybe you should initially think about buying a more serious class lathe? In terms of costs, you are probably already close to it).

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

I probably already invested more than a bigger lathe would cost ;D But doing the youtube thing kind of legitimates that :)

[@user-gl3xc7kn5s]

Ha ha! Everything that happens here is not against the law! Amen.@@WeCanDoThatBetter

[@SethKotta]

Ah, yes. The lathe of Theseus

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

It's definitely becoming one ;)

[@DUIofPhysics]

Why not add an electronic leadscrew like the clough42 unit?

[@EitriBrokkr]

Where are you getting these parts from?

[@mundaryus]

Next year project: casting 2 meters lathe bed

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Haha :D That's a little above my skills ;)

[@mundaryus]

@@WeCanDoThatBetter you can do that better man :)

[@MarkDennehy]

Does it work out cheaper to buy a new bed, headstock, motor and tailstock instead of just buying a larger lathe?

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Probably not, but doing the youtube thing makes it legit ;) If I really needed a working and capable lathe, I would buy one. But if modifying the existing one is part of the game, it seems ok for me :)

[@MarkDennehy]

@@WeCanDoThatBetter Fair enough!

[@BillyBob-si2db]

What make and model is this lathe?

[@user-qf8uo4ni7q]

Where did you obtain the headstock

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

The tailstock is from amadeal.co.uk

[@stevedavey1343]

​@WeCanDoThatBetter I think they asked about the new red headstock you showed. Was that from Amadeal, too? My 7x14 lathe was from Amadeal; their AMA714B (it's a rebranded Weiss WBL1835). It's not a bad little machine, but there's lots to improve. Your videos have given me loads of ideas. Not looking forward to making those 200 cuts in the carriage wheel scale though 😮😂

[@user-qf8uo4ni7q]

Yes I meant the head stock

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

@@user-qf8uo4ni7q Ah sorry! The headstock is a replacement part for german Rotwerk machines. All the replacement parts for these machines are available on toolarena.eu.

[@mike9500]

ha!

[@Kai11017]

@WeCanDoThatBetter hey :) ich hoffe es ist in Ordnung wenn ich mein Kommentar in Deutsch verfasse, woher hast du denn dein kleinen Keilrippenriemen, kannst du mir vielleicht ein Link schicken und danke für deine herausragenden Videos, ist jedes mal ein Vergnügen diese anzuschauen

[@JLmcct]

Amadil ?

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

amadeal

[@JLmcct]

@@WeCanDoThatBetter Thanks !

[@fallencrow6718]

Multifix toolpost owners be like:

[@NS-no1li]

For a great CAD CAM program.. Autodesk Fusion 360.. Much better than Solid Edge… Fusion 360 for non commercial (hobby) use is FREE.. Commercial use is still 1/10 price of Siemens Products for CAD CAM…

[@DULENSHK]

It is just like a non educated person after graduated from university, because a total different person.

[@johnhall8455]

Why not just buy a bigger lathe?

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Would be too easy ;)

[@sblack48]

Bigger doesn’t mean better, but it seems a bit of a waste to put all this effort (and impressive skill) into such a limited machine, except it was probably an excellent learning experience. Curious to see what you would do with a bigger lathe

[@gerhardbotha7336]

Because then, when he improves the bigger lathe somebody will ask why not just buy a bigger lathe...

[@vandalsgarage]

A lot of people have these inexpensive Asian lathes, and would be interested in how to make them better. I'm impressed when people can demonstrate quality machining does not require expensive industrial machinery.

[@GOOGLE-ADMlN]

​@@sblack48"Bigger, doesn't mean better" you sound my wife right before our bi annually love making.

[@union310]

Why not just buy a good lathe?

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

Cause there were less reasons for making videos about ;)

[@union310]

@@WeCanDoThatBetter But you could make something on the lathe of use

[@ronwhitmill7068]

@@union310 Never under estimate the capability of a smaller lathe. Very handy machines, even when working at the machines limits, providing it is properly set up and can be relied on to be accurate.

[@union310]

@@ronwhitmill7068 I am well versed in machine tools, I was apprenticed trained and have been in engineering all my life. I manage and look after two large factories. I have been in model engineering for over 35 years. The lathe has limits, my point is after spending all the time adjusting modifying and playing on you may as well have bought a decent machine.

[@stevedavey1343]

​@@union310And yet, despite all the experience you have, you seem unable to understand the pure joy of taking a machine with serious limitations and using one's own ingenuity, improving it way beyond it's manufacturers conception. Sure the fella could have bought the German equivalent of something like a Colchester Student or a Harrison M300 or a Southbend 9 and sure they could have had some fun tidying it up but it would be maintenance, not creation. Some people like to work on creating tools, not just using them.

[@macmillion83]

Umm why not just make your own lathe lol you could

[@WeCanDoThatBetter]

It's almost like that already :)

[@wolfgangbalu1253]

When do you buy a used much more precise lathe. This ia always a fight between you and your lathe, you are not the best friends.