Whether you’ve set eyes on a metal lathe for the first time, or are seeking new insights to take your craft to an even higher level, we’ve got an expansive list of projects here for you. Read on to find out more about what a metal lathe is, how it works, and some of the many useful and artistic creations you can make with one.
How does a metal lathe work?
Wood lathes and metal lathes
A lathe is a machine which holds a piece to be worked and rotates it along an axis. This allows the craftsman to sand, deform, carve, or otherwise shape the piece as he desires. A key feature of a lathe is that unlike a drill, for instance, it is the workpiece that turns – not the tool.
Lathes have been around for hundreds of years in their current, mechanical form, but early lathes have been traced as far back as possibly the 13th century BC. A lathe can be used for nearly any material; historically, lathes were frequently used for wood, stone, and metal.
Today’s lathes are motor-driven and, often, computer-controlled. They can be outfitted with a number of different heads, cutting, and drilling tools to perform various operations, making the best lathes nearly an entire machine shop in one tool.
Many types of metal lathes
The modern metal lathe is known as the father of machine tools, since it allows the creation of other tools as well as finished pieces. There are numerous kinds of metalworking lathes, but most fall into two general categories.
- Manual Lathes – Manual lathes require the operator to do the shaping, planing, or sanding by hand; the lathe is there simply to hold and position the workpiece.
- CNC Lathes – Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathes integrate the latest technology to allow fully programmable, fully automatic part production. They can be loaded with CAD files, allowing engineers to design and fabricate complex tools and parts easily.
WIth a very basic understanding of a lathe done, now we can consider a range of metalworking projects for your new lathe. Traditionally, metalworking lathes fall squarely in the province of toolmakers and technicians. Consequently, the following lists are divided between personal projects (fun, crafty, aesthetically pleasing) and projects that are genuinely useful for your workshop. Most of them can be done using only a lathe; others may require a mill as well as a lathe.
7 Beginner Projects for the Novice metalworker
- Rings
Learning to make basic rings, like a metal wedding ring, will go along way to teaching the basics of a metalworking lathe. If the project isn’t challenging enough, more advanced projects can focus on their finishing techniques, producing something that looks professional and ornamental.
Even a ring, while simple in design, doesn’t have to be plain or boring. Check out the video below, of a carbon fiber, copper, and marble ring, for an example of a high-quality ring made on a metal lathe.
- Hammer
A basic requirement for any tool shop. A metal hammer makes a great beginner’s project as well. A simple, mallet-type head is straightforward to make, and the tapered handle offers more of a challenge. The hammer can be modified as needed; you could make just the handle for a rubber mallet, or a ball-peen hammer for a different shape. A machinist’s hammer, like show in the video below, is one example of the many different kinds of hammers that can be made on a lathe.
- Candlestick
Candlesticks can be highly ornamental or very straightforward, and the variance between the two will challenge a beginning metalworker’s design abilities and skill with a lathe. This will require a little bit of grinding, to make the inset for the candle itself. The design doesn’t have to be a heavy, “old-fashioned” look either: check out this modern candleholder below.
- Replica bullets
Much like the ring and mallet-head, shaping replica bullets with a lathe teaches some of the most basic techniques for metalworking; shaping and finishing. They’re not practical, but as beginning projects they’re great. There are a number of helpful tutorials out there.
- Tap guide
If you’ve made a hammer for your shop, a tap guide is a great companion. These come in a huge array, from tap guide blocks to individual ones. Search around to find out the best fit for your project.
- Cylindrical square
A precision cylindrical square allows exact measurements of certain projects, as well as a secure means to hold and measure other parts to be worked on. Making a cylindrical square is easy enough, although getting the measurements precise makes this a slightly more challenging project.
- Cup/Goblet/Bowl
A little different technique is required for these; you’ll either need to partly grind out the center of each piece, or spin and form the metal into the bowl or cup, finally finishing the outside. The same method is used to create cups, fancier goblets, or large and small bowls, giving a number of applications.
6 Intermediate projects for an apprentice-level craftsman
- Slide hammer
One for the tool shop, particularly useful for automotive applications. A slide hammer delivers the force of an impact without actually hitting something. It can be used, among other things, for pulling out dents in cars. Find a good example of making a slide hammer on the lathe below.
- Toolmaker’s Vise
Both a lathe project and a general metalworking project, a toolmaker’s vise is a basic, highly-useful addition to any workshop. They can be made in nearly any size as well.
- Bolt with captive ring
A fun project, rather than a useful one, but handy for teaching a variety of techniques including thread-cutting. It’s a double-ended bolt, threaded between the heads, with a nut or ring on the threads. Confused? Here’s a handy step-by-step guide with informative pictures.
- Machinist’s scribe
A machinist’s scribe is a metalworker’s pen, allowing measurements, serials numbers, or key identifying marks to be put on any of the projects that come out of your shop.
- Pen
If you’ve made a scribe, considering making an actual pen as well. Done correctly ,you can make a pen that will accept standard ballpoint replacement ink cartridges, giving you a fully-functional, highly-personalised writing utensil.
- Milling attachment
You can build a milling attachment for your lathe, rather than purchase one. With it, you’ll be able to mill as well as turn your workpieces, which will increase the range of projects you can do considerably.
3 advanced projects for the nearly-perfect master
- Chess set
There are plenty of instructions for some highly ornamental wooden chess sets, but much the same thing can be done in metal as well. You may choose to imitate another person’s design, or attempt to come up with your own. In that case, you’ll need to have a different design for each class of piece. The design will be half the battle; a high-quality finish will be the other part.
The great thing about this project is the potential for a creative, highly attractive final product. The exact design of the pieces is entirely up to you, from functional, minimalist sets to highly decorative pieces. And of course the choice of material, from aluminium to bronze, can emphasize the design of the sets. This video shows a little bit of the beauty of a modern metal chesspiece.
- Steam engine
Tubalcain on YouTube has a highly informative series on how to make a model steam engine in your machine shop. These models are fantastic teaching aids as well as challenging projects for the hobbyist. Of course, lathes can also be used to build parts for full-size engines; many automotive
- Turner’s Cube
The Turner’s Cube catches the eye with the contrast of square and circular lines. Actually boring out a Turner’s Cube isn’t necessarily difficult, but getting the technical details correct makes all the difference and can prove difficult. However, if done well there are some highly-dramatic, beautiful creations to be seen.
For more information on a Turner’s Cube, check out this link. There are also directions for a Turner’s Cube on Instructables.com
Resources List
- tubalcain YouTube Channel
Tubalcain has posted over 300 machine shop videos on YouTube, and receives highly positive feedback from experts and new machinists alike. Not every one of his videos concerns a lathe, but enough of them do to warrant watching. Not to mention that his other videos will be highly relevant to anyone interested in metalworking either as a hobby or a career.
There’s a huge variety of information available on Reddit, but for metalworking and lathe work there’s probably no better place to start than r/Machinists. Canny Reddit users can also find a lot of general lathe advice and project ideas by searching for “lathe” under r/woodworking; while the tools are different, the ideas and principles are usually the same.
- Instructables
Instructables.com contains a number of metal lathe projects. Some are linked to above, but many more are waiting to be discovered.
- Books
- Fundamentals of Machine Tools (U.S. Army Training Circular No. 9-524)
An older book (1996), this instruction manual from the U.S. Army is nevertheless a highly informative, condensed guide to many tools in the machine shop and their function (including lathes). A PDF can be found here.
Well-reviewed, basic manual from an author with a number of books on similar subjects.
This was an old instruction manual, actually sent out with every lathe sold by South Bend Lathe Works. Despite originally being published in the early 20th century, the book remains an indispensable starting point for anyone running a lathe and interested in understanding how a lathe works.
