Uploaded September 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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After having completed the bed and the ways now is the time for making the headstock for my metal mini #lathe that I'm making at home. For the headstock base I have ordered some pieces cut from a giant sheet of mild steel, they have been cut with a CNC plasma ruoter in a local shop. The spindle that will be mounted on, and that will become part of the headstock, is composed by some parts milled in a local machine shop. I finished myself these parts making the required holes and tappings.

The next step is about making the spindle that requires to mount the ball bearings on the shaft and into the barrel. For this job it will be very likely necessary to have a press, so I plan to build one. Furthermore, the lead screw and some other components will arrive in two weeks so in the meanwhile I have time to make an hydraulic press, therefore the next video will be about the construction of that tool.

Cheers from the Alps, Claudio.

To see the previous part: youtube.com/watch?v=osy_W3m5y1I

I've made a playlist named DIY metal lathe with the whole series: youtube.com/watch?v=KSE7DORiYfs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_wrUUInSUWJksA-LHhhMhFx