Thread: Lathe Info

Originally Posted by bollie7

Even with lights above, for me, a good light on a flexible arm of some that you can have the light pointed exactly where you want it is essential. Lots of options around. Could also bbbbbbbuy a new one.

Very true Bollie, I have a single light source on a flexible arm on my old lathe which works well, but not being ourose built it just is not long enough on some ocassions.
I must imporve at situatio this time around.

Old eyes, definitely need a good light source...

Well, I got some paint on the lower portion of the apron and fitted it up.
I'm pretty happy with it.
It kinder looks too good to get it dirty or so my wife tells me. Hahahaha!!!

As an occupant on a surgical table quite recently,as I was being put under anesthetic, it occurred to me that the lights above the surgical table would be a great installation above my workbench.

Probably would need a small power station to run it. Sigh!

Let there be light , yeah baby!!! You can never have too much light.

Grahame

It isn't the power consumption that gets you (most are only 36W or 50W), it's the shipping from the USA, India, or China:



https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000051900183.html



https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002803615712.html

I like the idea of using LED lights, as they are light weight generally and not so expensive.
However, I remain a little gun shy upto now as my personal experience finds the light very strong and bright for my old eyes.

A friend of mine tells me some of these LED's have a small swith under the cover that can be switched to select different level of light intensity.
Anybody had any experience with such a thing???

Originally Posted by Oddbod1

A friend of mine tells me some of these LED's have a small swith under the cover that can be switched to select different level of light intensity.
Anybody had any experience with such a thing???

I've never heard of that but it wouldn't surprise me on the more expensive ones. I doubt it would be on the cheapies I've bought.
Peter

Most Down lights these days have three colour temperature settings, I assume it will become more common on other types

Just came across this thread, I have one of these lathes, they are Lantanes, mines a LAM480BHG and it has the factory headstock (Medium).jpgcabinet (Medium).jpgstand along with additional tooling storage under the bed which was added by the original owner. I'm the second owner and have owned it for over 20 years.
They were sold in Australia by the Lathe and Machinery Company hence the LAM badging.
I have the manuals for my lathe as well.

Originally Posted by PJames

Just came across this thread, I have one of these lathes, they are Lantanes, mines a LAM480BHG and it has the factory headstock (Medium).jpgcabinet (Medium).jpgstand along with additional tooling storage under the bed which was added by the original owner. I'm the second owner and have owned it for over 20 years.
They were sold in Australia by the Lathe and Machinery Company hence the LAM badging.
I have the manuals for my lathe as well.

PJ, thanks for joining in and sharing your pictures.
Just wonder how you assess this lathe since you have had lots of years of ownership and if you have any pointers for a young fella like me.

Given my time over, I may have tackled my stand/cabinet setup differently, but I've just been running with what I had or could get my hands on at the right price.

I think that I'm onto a LED light setup that may work.
I'm told my local Bunnings Store has some LED strips for $18 each, so I will go down to check them out tomorrow.
Beats waiting for shipping and sounds cheap enough if any good.
If I get them, I'll psts a picture or two.

I'm a schoolboy machinist, no machining training at all so I'm probably not the best person to ask. The lathe gets used reasonably often but only for very basic jobs by me.
I have a mate who is a machinist by trade and I get him to do anything complicated or requiring accuracy. If he has time he will come and use my lathe and show me how to do stuff.
I bought my LED lights online, quite often ebay. bought a large panel light with reflector/shroud to hang over my woodlathe.

Originally Posted by PJames

I'm a schoolboy machinist, no machining training at all so I'm probably not the best person to ask. The lathe gets used reasonably often but only for very basic jobs by me.
I have a mate who is a machinist by trade and I get him to do anything complicated or requiring accuracy. If he has time he will come and use my lathe and show me how to do stuff.
I bought my LED lights online, quite often ebay. bought a large panel light with reflector/shroud to hang over my woodlathe.

Me too PJ, never had a lesson and no real help.
Wish I had a machinist friend to turn to in a time of need.
I got these 2 x 600mm long LED strip lights, a bit like a small fluro from the old days, just more compact and way lighter.
I plan to use them as back lighting and then find some other light more like what has been posted here with an arm and use that as my main work light.
That too could also end up being LED if I find the right deal...

Here are pic's of the lights I have chosen for my lathe.
I am no expert in this regard, so what ever I choose, I am stuck with I guess.

The 2 x 600mm LED's ($18 each) I will use as back lights at the top of my apron and the small 300mm LED ($31), I plan to attached to a flexible stem some how and that will be my primary work light.

My first piece of advice to anybody else buying lights is make sure they come with some attachment clips or brackets or look at the light to determine whether it is easy to attach it to whatever you have.

In my case the 600mm lights came with plastic clip on brackets lets call them and it looks to be a straight forward process to attach them, knowing full well nothing ever ends up straight forward...

With the smaller 300mm light, I discovered once back home that it came with no clips/brackets and it was not going to be an easy attachment although not impossible, just time consuming for little reward lets say.

What attracted me to the 300mm light was the fact that it had externally that switch that can adjust the light brightness settings as my buddy had mentioned.
I've tried to include that in my picture attached but white on white it is not so visible...

Anyway, next step now is to figure out my attachments and wiring.

Originally Posted by Oddbod1

Me too PJ, never had a lesson and no real help.
Wish I had a machinist friend to turn to in a time of need.

I'd be happy to share my 60+ years in the trade with you if in Sydney.

Originally Posted by Snapey

I'd be happy to share my 60+ years in the trade with you if in Sydney.

Very kind of you and you never know a question could arise.
However, the answer will be by long distance as I'm in Perth.
Thanks, Russ.

Originally Posted by Oddbod1

Very kind of you and you never know a question could arise.
However, the answer will be by long distance as I'm in Perth.
Thanks, Russ.

Not quite around the corner then.