mini lathe upgrades

A few mods I have done to my Chinese mini lathe.
Wider spaced rubber feet, simple divider, carriage stop, handle for manual chuck rotation, cross drill adaptor, banjo plate and cast hand wheels.

[@josephleister9198]

You'r set up for indexing at the headstock is very clever ....thank you.

[@mrrgstuff]

Interesting set of upgrades. I have a similar lathe and I have just started experimenting with gear chains for threading. I have to agree that the standard banjo does seem very fiddly to use. Thanks 😀👍

[@markkoons7488]

Real improvements. Thank you.

[@goldgulfcoastdesignericsho8628]

I love the upgrades! Well done sir. I’m going to work on some of the same ones myself👍🏻

[@kenzomisael8259]

Instablaster.

[@19ghost73]

Thanks for sharing! You have added a hand wheel to the tail end if your lead screw, too. And it looks as if You added a locking screw to your compound / cross slide, correct? Would You mind elaborating in these upgrades, for the benefit of us newbies?

[@InTheShedUK]

@@19ghost73 yes hand wheel on lead screw is to manually move the compound assembly instead of powered and extra screws/locking screw makes the compound slide more rigid

[@gvet47]

Wish I had not switch to metal headstock gears. Knew they would be noisier but they had more backlash that made noise even worse. Hope you have a power lockout when you use that hand crank! Upgrades can be never ending on these little lathes. Should have just got a bigger lathe to start with.

[@InTheShedUK]

No power lockout, just make sure I unplug it from the mains or lockdown the emergency stop button. Would have liked a larger lathe too, Boxford or Colchester but they are expensive and heavy, for now the mini lathe does all I need.

[@edrowley1]

Appreciate the ideas, thanks!

[@drewstools1770]

Great mods spindle bores are never big enough!

[@fredflintstone8048]

Nice upgrades. No worries on forgetting what things are called while the camera is on. Seems to be a common problem for video content creators.

[@steventhompson3507]

Do you know what would make a good upgrade for the factory spec chuck guard would be to have it able to slide along a rail to any position along the lathe bed either with or without the electrical switch. You know those guard switches can become a dangerous default (go to) way of quickly switching off the lathe to make a quick tool change or adjustment. Which is bad practise. I use a harrison M300 at work and I noticed that my mind is drawn to do exactly that with the guard except that I make myself switch off properly instead. Great vid cheers.

[@InTheShedUK]

Very good point, form good habits from the start and safety becomes automatic.

[@abzyberdy]

why do you need a handle on leadscrew? what is it good for?

[@rubenclark8017]

Awesome. 😉👍🏾

[@InTheShedUK]

Thanks, more stuff to come! 👍

[@kostasathens6465]

good evening a question this lathe can also make threads in inches or just metric???

[@InTheShedUK]

It has a metric lead screw but I have cut an imperial thread on it for my BSA motorcycle. I needed a 3/4" dia 26TPI internal thread. I did have to purchase an extra change gear to do it though but yes it is possible to cut imperial threads on a metric lathe! There is a very good calculator on www.littlemachineshop.com/Reference/change_gears.php

[@kostasathens6465]

@@InTheShedUK thank you very much for your important information !!!

[@AdaptingCamera]

I wish you'd manage to keep the camera from shaking. I get seasick by watching this. Sorry.

[@InTheShedUK]

thought I would go for that shaky camera look they use on TV dramas these days ;-)

[@AdaptingCamera]

@@InTheShedUK Whatever rocks your boat is fine for me. Was only trying to help, but never mind.

[@bustednuckles2]

Some nice upgrades.