The Lathe1

The Lathe


The lathe is a creative piece of industrial machinery that many people are not aware of. It is a multipurpose machine that provides a unique hands free approach to metalworking, woodworking, and other types of material such as plastic or glass. If you are interested in a serious creative process, lathes are great machines for the job! There are three types of a lathe that top the list and this article is going to reveal all three and explain their uses.

The first type of lathe and the oldest is the wood lathe. They are actually the base models for all other types of lathes. The lathe accommodates the correct positioning for all the necessary wood shaping tools through the use of a horizontal metal rail. These tools are usually hand held so the wood lathe allows you to shape the wood hands free. This hands free function also allows you to run sandpaper along the surface of your creation just as you would if you weren't using the machinery. Other types of lathes used for wood can be used for the making of plates and bowls and they do not have a metal rail and is instead held by a metal faceplate.

The second most prominent type of lathes available are the metal lathe. They use a hardened cutting tool in order to remove the metal during the shaping process. This metalworking tool is fixed to a moveable mounting which is called a tool post. This moves against the metal piece using hand wheels. The tool post is driven often automatically in order to produce roughing and finishing cuts that actually turn the piece into the desired shape and size. Cutting fluid can be added to the tool post in order to keep it cool during the process. It is much more complicated than the wood style. The last type of the lathe that is commonly used is the mini lathe.

The smallest lathes, which is used mainly for hobbyists, inventors and experimenters, is the mini lathe. The lathe is very inexpensive making it a popular choice for those wanting to create rather than mass produce! It can be used to shape small precision parts made of wood, metal or plastic. They resemble a metal lathe in a lot of ways and also function similar to them. This lathe is a great creative tool alongside the wood and metal varieties.