Jack Bonofey’s Taig Chuck On His Prazi Lathe

Jack Bonfoey mounted a Taig chuck on his Prazi lathe:

“Here is the story and a few pictures of the Taig chuck on my Prazi SD-300 lathe. 
By the way, this is the link to the yahoo group where this started: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/prazi-machining/conversations/messages/161
I wanted a 4-jaw independent chuck for my older Prazi SD-300 lathe, but I don't believe you can buy one any longer. I heard some folks where having a "register" (recess) cut into the back of a Taig 1030 chuck and adding studs to mount it like the Prazi 3-jaw chuck. There is a person in United Kingdom who will do this, but with shipping and difference in exchange rate it would have been over $200 (half of what I paid for the used lathe).
So, I got the idea to buy an 2MT to 3/4"-16 arbor from Little Machine Shop and just screw on the Taig 1030 chuck. I happened into your website when searching for a Taig chuck, and I've been pleased with the support I've got from you. I also liked the quite affordable Taig accessories that screw-on to the 3/4"-16 spindle.
I put it all together today and it had a little over .003" run out on the face of both the chuck and the face plate. So, I took your good advice and did a very light facing cut on the arbor right where the chuck and face plate mount. In the attached arbor picture the cut would be right on the nut portion of the arbor facing the camera. Then it went down to less than .001" run out, which is more accurate than about anything I can do.”

Chris Smith's Taig Lathe Projects

Wood handles for the carriage and cross slide

His Taig based wood lathe

Violin pegs

Drill press modifications

Pat Miller's Taig Mounted On A Larger Wood Lathe

Pat Miller mounted his Taig lathe on the bed of his large wood lathe and is driving it from his variable speed spindle.

Eldon Johansen's Taig Mill Modifications

“A 1/4-20 bolt runs all the way through the spindle body. (the 10-32 threads and clearance hole on the dovetail clamp have been drilled out for 1/4th inch clearance)
I highly recommend making this modification!

I made a cradle from about 40 pounds of 1.25 inch wide angle iron 1/4th thick. (left over from a failed project) and it worked well, but i would do it again differently ( actually, i did, i'll upload some new photos soon.) (the new cradle i built is cement filled 2 inch square steel tubing.) another modification that is visible in the photos but hard to make out is i removed the bar behind the Z axis and mounted it 4 inches higher, then welded a brace on the back of the mill. (i'll get a few more photos soon) (however, i don't recommend anyone do this because welding the bar will warp it, i spent some time with a file and a grinder to smooth it out, even a few thousanths of warpage will cause the Z axis to bind) the reason why i did this is because the mill only has 5 inches of Y axis travel for the first two inches of Z axis travel. the Z axis leadscrew and ways get in the way, and the stock arrangement has the axis of the spindle sitting 3.75? inches away from the leadscrew.. i've run things into the leadscrew before...

Another modification i made was to flip the Y axis ways over, so they extend an inch further out toward the operator. 1.5 inch long steel tube sections hold the y axis stepper motor 1.5 inches further toward the operator.flipping the ways over will also compensate for wear by swapping left and right.
flipping them end over end will move one of the mounting holes, and you will have to drill and tap one hole in each one (might not be necessary for light milling)”

Lou Somer’s Home Brew Drill Press Milling Rig

“Here are a few pics of a home brew drill press milling rig I've tinkering with if you would care to post them.  Previous to this I stacked feeler gauge blades to shim the quill down. It worked but it was an ordeal at times. This set up eliminates all the aggravation. It uses an infeed table from a 4" wood jointer. Depth of cut is controlled by an elevation screw. The advantage to this rig is that the quill stays in the home position where it is the most stable. Pictures show an action shot, table down, table up, and the elevation screw. This table raises about 1/2". Since it's on a pivot it also moves to the right about 5/8" at full elevation making it best to do grooves and shoulders on the x axis.”

Derrick Kortvejesi’s Dial Indicator Holder

I liked the 0-1" travel indicator holder for the Taig that you posted the other day enough to make one.  Made it from 0.750" square stock and milled it down to fit in the Taig tool post.  I think I'm going to mill down the opposite side so it can be flipped over and work in a .500 QC tool post holder for the Eldorao 3-in-1, too.  The matte finish is glass bead.

Flint Spatula (Turner) Rivets

I had a spatula that separated due to broken rivets. I love these old style spatulas (turners). I wish I knew where to get new ones made of thin spring steel. I buy them whenever I see them at yard sales.
Some stainless rod turned down for a rivet.
Checking with the spatula blade for fit.
The handle has a larger hole than the blade.
Parting off. I made them a little long, next time I’ll leave them shorter.
Much peening later. It would have been less work if there was less rivet and the holes were the same size.
 
This is the brand. I think they were bought out by Ecko. You can buy them on Ebay for $15-$20, less if you’re patient.

Notice I made a few dings…well a dented spatula is better than no spatula.