Lathe for turning pipes

[acme]

I watched the discussion of lathes posted on the site, so I thought I would show one of the lathes that I make pipes on.

This lathe is called a Harris 3000. I have since done some modifications, and now refer to it as the Harris 3001.

anthony

 

[ejames]

What do you call that shape? 8O

 

[ejames]

What do you call that shape? 8O

 

[olderthandirt]

What do you call that shape?

An XL Ball (-:

 

[acme]

Just because you turn pipes on a lathe doesn't mean that it is the only thing that you turn on it. You can turn anything that you can grab in a chuck. I have turned toothpicks out of ivory on this lathe.
anthony

 

[winton]

The first picture shows the hunk of walnut mounted between centers. The second picture shows about a bushel or two of walnut mulch under the lathe, and the begining shape of a large bowl or hollow form emerging. You do a great job of containg the chips. I usually hang a tarp behind me to keep the chips near the area I am turning. What is the swing on that lathe? I can do 14" round and 42" long on my Jet.
Winton

 

[acme]

The lathe swings a little over thirty inches. I don't know exactly what length it will do; the lathe itself is ten feet long.
In the right-hand side of the bottom picture, you can see a cherrypicker engine hoist. The wood is green, and was over two hundred pounds when I started. The hoist came in handy geting it handy.
The shavings are all pretty close in because I started in at about 150 rpm, and never got over six. Those numbers are guesses, but the lathe only goes to about 1,400 rpm.
I sanded what you see and finished it with Watco. Showed it in a business lobby for a year and then sold it at a gallery show. Pretty good use for a cracked piece of wood.
I wasn't fibbing when I said that I had turned the tooth picks and pipes on the lathe, but I usually do that on my smaller lathe - that one that was in the article.
anthony