rning Lathe Out of an Old Sewing Machine
[403]

With a hack-saw, cut off the arm containing the needle on line AB,
Fig. 1, leaving the shaft only. On the end of the shaft will be
found a round plate,

[Illustration: Fig. 1]

in which drill four 3/16-in. holes. Now secure, or have turned, a
piece of iron or steel 1-1/2 in. in diameter, Fig. 2. Drill and
countersink four 3/16-in. holes in it to fit the holes on the
shaft plate. File a spur center 5/16 in. long, and two side points
3/16 in. long. Bolt this plate to the shaft plate with four
flat-headed stove bolts, 3/16 in. in diameter by 5/8 or 3/4 in.
long, Fig. 3.

For the bed, use a board 32 in., long and as wide as the base of
the machine arm. This gives a limit of 2 ft. between spur and dead
centers. Let this board be made level with the rest of machine
table by making a pair of legs if needed. Next make a T-rail, Fig.
4, of two boards, one 5 by 3/4 by 32 in., the other 3-1/2 by 3/4
by 32 in. Threequarter inch of the wider board projects over each
of the smaller boards. Nail firmly and clinch nails, or screw
together. Screw this rail on the machine board so that its center
coincides exactly with the machine centers. Bore a number of
3/8-in. holes with centers 2-3/4 in. apart along the center line
of this rail, beginning 6 in. from the end nearest the machine.
Make another T-rail for slide tool rest, of two pieces 32 by 3 by
3/4 in., and 32 by 1-1/2 by 3/4 in. Fasten this in front of the
larger T-rail and parallel to it, the center lines being 6-1/2 in.
apart.

To make the tail-piece, that is, the part to hold wood to be
turned, get a board 6-1/2 by 7 by 3/4 in., and on the edges, Fig.
5, A, screw two pieces 7 by 3/4 by 1-1/2 in. so that the cap thus
made will fit snugly over the large T-rail. Fasten to these last
two pieces,

[Illustration: Fig. 4]

with screws, two more pieces 7 by 3/4 by 3/4 in., Fig. 5, B. This
tail-piece should move smoothly back and forth with no side
motion. Now get a block of hardwood 4 by 2-1/4 in., and 1-3/4 in.
higher than the spur center when mounted on the middle of the
tailpiece just described. At exactly the height of the spur center
bore through this block a 3/4-in. hole, Fig. 5. Have

[Illustration: Fig. 2]

a blacksmith make a crank 8 in. long, threaded for 5 in. as shown.
At the dead center end taper the crank and make a cup center, out
of which allow a 3/16-in. point to project. The cup prevents the
point from borin