Wood lathe hack with treadmill DC motor build and setup

[@zing913945]

Jake, Great project ! The motor is a huge upgrade and it looks like it runs really smoothly ! It has to be an absolute pleasure to turn with. I'm planning on using a treadmill motor on an old shop smith. I have an old reliable craftsman lathe but I can't resist wanting to put some of the functions of the shop smith back to working condition. The motors are the weak link with the shop smiths. Instead of seven machines with seven motors you have one motor. Your video was fun to watch and gave me a lot of ideas for my projects !

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it and got some good ideas out of it

[@denverheid4604]

That is slick! I thought about filling my serp pulley down to 1.125 to fit a V-pulley. Cutting it off might be just as good.

[@Omegadoomship]

That would help so much! Changing pulleys and belts can be a real pain, especially when it has to be done often. This could solve everything!

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

Yes. Yes it does.

[@leewardleworth3225]

Thanks heaps buddy. Im about to modify a big lathe I have in the back of the shed. I have been trying to sell it, but I keep getting seriously low offers. Then I stumbled across your video. I think I can modify it for under $100 . Then it will be an awesome lathe. Once again cheers mate.

[@fordsonmajor89]

Now that is thinking outside the box, Great Job Jake! Keep growing with that God give mind!

[@heru-deshet359]

Excellent video! I love to fabricate, restore, re purpose equipment like this. If it's not in your second video, I would install a digital speed readout which is very important on a variable speed lathe. You have a new sub!

[@buttcutt1289]

id stick a sweet little light that turns on with the power switch in that hole where the dial used to be located.

[@heru-deshet359]

A smiley face light. :)

[@Omegadoomship]

I am planning on using a 1.5 HP PMDC motor on my lathe, mainly because I hate changing pulleys all the time. The problem I am facing is finding a good quality controller that also features a governor. I plan on reducing the speed by using two sets of pulleys so it doesn't spin so fast. I may add an arduino with an LED segmented display to show the RPMs. There is a reflective photo sensor on the motor so the treadmill could regulate its speed, so I might use that with the arduino to show the speed.

[@chaoticlogic588]

This is incredible. Thank you for sharing. Very inspirational.

[@paulmanhart4481]

Great video. You make it look so easy. I have a Jet 1014 wood lathe with a 1/2 hp motor with variable speed. I want to increase the hp and keep the variable speed. Can you recommend a DC motor and controller for me? Something between 1 and 2.5 hp with a max rpm of 4000 rpm (that’s what my lathe maxes out at) Thanks, Paul

[@willemkossen]

Nice work. The lathe is going to be sweet

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

Thanks Willem! I can't wait ti get part two done so I can get turning

[@jean-claudegolovine5725]

Very good and inspirational!

[@donnythedart]

Nice work Jake! Can't wait for the next video!

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

Thanks Donny! It's getting there!

[@plakor6133]

nice upgrade! I have a vintage monkey wards lathe with a dodgy old motor that this might work for.

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

I'm super happy with is so far.

[@marcchartrand36]

I just finished a conversion on mine using a tread mill motor, I find it very easy to stall out even at max RPM, seem to lack torque? Any thoughts?

[@valveman12]

Nice conversion. I have a few questions: 1. Was it necessary to keep the flywheel? I ask this because i want to do a similar conversion to my metal lathe and can't keep the flywheel due to space constraints. 2. Why did you decide to keep the linear Pot and not change it to a rotary type. I would think being in close proximity when using the lathe, it would be easy to bump and change speed setting. Of course you could add a guard to prevent that. Thanks

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

1. I didn't need it necessarily. the flywheel is keyed to the shaft so you can put on any pulley you'd like. It just provides more momentum which is a good thing for me. 2.I decided to go with what the original treadmill came with. You could easily change it to a radial. honestly I could have mounted it somewhere else. I just figured this was the best potential spot for not getting hit or broken ob the lathe.

[@valveman12]

Thank you for answering my questions. Cheers.

[@AffordBindEquipment]

@@valveman12 the flywheel usually has some vanes on it to provide some cooling. I am building a potters wheel with a treadmill motor and cut the flywheel off with a holesaw. I will need to add a small fan to keep the motor cool.

[@valveman12]

@@AffordBindEquipment Sounds like a great project. Will you be putting up a video of your build? I'd love to see it.

[@lifttheempirestate83]

I have a harbor freight benchtop bandsaw and a dc treamill motor set up. Is it possible to install the dc motor without a potentiometer and just use the dc router controller from harbor freight?

[@fredwilma8994]

What is the name of the belt that you used? I have never seen one like that before.

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

Here's the link for Amazon www.amazon.com/Belt-Adjustable-Link-V-Belt-2-inches/dp/B07WDL1CBX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=adjustable+v+belt&qid=1635564619&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQk1USUhaTU9MNFBBJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjkwMjYyMUM5S1czMUFDREU2RiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjQyNzgyMzVIQ0VMVlBYNUVFWSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[@solracanallero1156]

nice job Jake I have the same problem with my harbor freight wood lathe the pulley system is broken do you think may use the first motor you show us in your video ?

[@bobleeswoodshop7919]

Very cool 👍👍👍👍👍

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

Thanks! It was a fun build.

[@davesloane5610]

After market wiring is very simple there are many speed controllers available on eBay and lots of info on KZbin.

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

I created a playlist on just those things, you can check it out in my playlist section under treadmill builds.

[@davesloane5610]

Why keep the flywheel? Seems to me it would be a pain in the keester having to always wait for the machine to spin down after a stop.

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

I decided to leave the flywheel to help with momentum. I haven't found that it hurts or makes stopping the piece hard after turning off the power. It feels just right.

[@davesloane5610]

That sounds good, most of the tests I have seen made it seem like the flywheel took a long time to stop. I haven't had a chance to experiment with my motor yet but I plan on converting a ShopSmith machine to DC.

[@AffordBindEquipment]

one problem with no flywheel is the flywheel is usually also the fan. If the flywheel is eliminated, then a fan should be added, especially if it is located in an enclosure.

[@zetuskid]

Jake, is there a difference in. the motors of a regular treadmill and a incline treadmill? also, in previous comment you said it was better to get one with manual speed control. Please explain the difference. all I have ever seen(not many) there is a knob or slider for speed. Thanks

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

the incline motor is only used to raise/lower the treadmill.

[@zetuskid]

Jake, is there a lot of differences between the power controllers of treadmills? There are so many different brands and models. if I got a motor some where, would there be a big problem finding a power supply to work weigh the motor? I know nothing about electronics and realize it would be better to find a treadmill and salvage all the parts together AND remember how they went. Just trying to get my lathe on variable speed.

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

It would be best to get all the parts from one lathe if you can. I used a motor from one treadmill and a controller from another treadmill. It really shouldn't be a problem unless the controller is rated higher ( more voltage ) than the motor can handle. I would also be sure to find a treadmill with a manual adjustment for the speed. It just makes life so much easier.

[@AffordBindEquipment]

it's been awhile since you posted this. Have you turned any bowls on this lathe with the treadmill motor? If so, did the motor bog down or did it perform well with no problems? the motor on mine is undersized and even though i have 6 speeds, it just can't take heavy cuts and almost stops the motor....3/4 hp.

[@michelbaum466]

could you send me the plans for that conversion to a treadmill

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

I don't have plans but I can send you the wiring diagram I have.

[@zetuskid]

So Jake, I have dug up a 2HP 5950 RPM permanent magnet 17 amp Icon Health motor with a mc- 60 speed controller and the choke(I think). what else do i need to test this motor to see if it runs? the 2 black wires from the choke are already connected. I just need to figure out where the other wires go and ifs I need something else to get it running. any suggestions?

[@Jake.of.All.Trades]

email me a picture of what you got

[@basketballjones6782]

Says, "clutch". Points to "choke". Sigh.