So, So Many Questions...

I would say the recomendation of a good second hand lathe Is a good idea In that price range especialy if it comes with some reasonable amount of tooling and or chucks etc. , also if your new to lathe work and want to do so some small projects for starters and with the thought that your going to move your workshop soon it may be worth keeping an eye out for a lathe on the larger size of small as they are a lot lighter. And on the plus side you will have a reasonable excuse to get a second one later ;)

Stuart
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hardinge-/181725135054?

How does this look? (Aside from the happy little price) There's almost no info about it, so I don't even know the model, but the eBay protection would cover me on some problems. I've already asked about dimensions and model numbers, but haven't heard back yet.
 
While that is a great little lathe and Hardinge is absolutely top of the line, no. That is a second operation lathe, is not screw cutting, and will not do what you want. I did not mention Hardinge in my list of lathes because they are normally way out of your price range. Now if you can find a Hardinge HLV tool room lathe for under $2000, snap it up quick.
 
Mr.Haines said:
I need to be able to cut a 6" diameter hemisphere into a piece of solid brass.
Kyle
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Keep in mind that a 4" x 7"dia. cylinder of brass will weigh in at about 35 lbs. I would plan on threading the base and mounting to a faceplate if attempting this on a small lathe. Although it is not difficult to turn concave forms on a lathe, that is an awful lot of material to remove if starting with a cylinder. New cost for a chunk of brass that size will set you back more than $250. I would definitely consider casting a rough shape. The cost will be substantially less and your starting weight will be a little over half.
 
What I may do is start with a shallower form and use that to rough out the larger spherical shapes that I will need to make. (Referring to the glass working.) I have a knack for gravity shaping spherical and rounded objects, so I can hold off on the really big perfect spheres until I can afford to cast something or have it cast. Brass may be expensive, but it will be much, much cheaper to have the lathe in the long run - brass molds can be really expensive. In the future I will want a mill too, so I can make any molds that I need.

Can I work Graphite on these lathes, or should that be done on something more specialized. For now, I could make the large molds out of graphite. I hate graphite molds, but the material is cheaper and I am fairly certain that it is a decent bit lighter than brass.
 
Mr.Haines said:
Can I work Graphite on these lathes, or should that be done on something more specialized. For now, I could make the large molds out of graphite. I hate graphite molds, but the material is cheaper and I am fairly certain that it is a decent bit lighter than brass.
Click to expand...
You should not have a problem working with graphite. Injection mold makers use it all the time to make EDM form electrodes for complex dies.
 
If you're planning a move to Minnesota, start shopping there as well on craigslist, eBay, and others,
Might be able to pick up a better deal and not have to move it.
 
Mr.Haines said:
I have a knack for gravity shaping spherical and rounded objects, so I can hold off on the really big perfect spheres until I can afford to cast something or have it cast.
Click to expand...

Hi again Kyle, I've been thinking more about this thread. I know little about glass work.....Can you enlighten me?
(Don't get me real hooked on it though, I already have too many hobbies.....;))

Why are brass mold used for glass making? What properties make it right?
Is about smooth surface finish, weight(but then you would not be asking about graphite I bet), thermal conductivity?

Would a fine polished aluminum hemispherical bowl shape work? It would likely be much less expensive (lower material cost and easier to make).

Do you have any pictures of spherical glass pieces you've done or are working on?

Thanks!
-brino
 
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