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Dremel Moto-Lathe

Joined
Oct 2, 2011
Messages
3
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Location
South Carolina
Yes I know, it is not worthy of the term "lathe" but the price was right. The only use I have for it right now is small deck fittings for model ships, yards, etc. The problem is that there are no drive centers. Dremel stopped making this thing in 1991 and parts are scarce. Any suggestions would be welcome, other than throw it out.
 
Ed if yours is just like mine I can make you some centers. The headstock is threaded. I don't remember the size but it's about 1/2" fine thread or something similar. I can't remember what the tailstock size is. I'll try to remember to look tonight. If you have a way to measure yours let me know what size they are. I found the lathe to be about useless. As a joke I rigged up a lighted captured bar system for it and hollowed a Tagua Nut. I looked at it the other day and the nut is missing. Must have fallen off when I moved stuff around.
 
Throw it out? THROW IT OUT:confused: Please don't. If nothing else, save it to your weird tools collection.

The tailstock spindle is 1/4-20 UNC. (And why would it not be?)

The headstock spindle is 5/16-24 UNF. The drive spur has a 1/2" hex head. I don't know about the faceplate, because mine is missing.

Both of these are standard threads, and can be cut with standard taps.

The tool rest is seriously underwhelming. I'd rig up something more substantial.

My joke about it is a picture of it sitting atop the tailstock of an Oliver pattern lathe. The Oliver tailstock is bigger than the Moto-Lathe.
 
Thanks for the quick replies and offers to help

I will try and confirm the sizes tomorrow and I really appreciate the help. I can take a picture of it and try and post it.
Ed
 
Dremel Plus Oliver

Three pictures
 

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just got back from hardware store

The threads are as Joe described. 5/16-24, etc. I really appreciate John's offer to make some. Could we get together and talk cost, etc. I have asked Dremel for the specs but have not heard back yet.
I was also thinking of adapting a drill chuck to the spindle but I think the thread is 3/8 fine.
 
I have gotten hold of a Deluxe Moto-lathe Kit still in the box. It has everything in it, including the package of "lumber;" a bunch of variously sized dowels, and a few extras like a center finder.

I guess I shouldn't say every quite yet. There is a vague picture of a "lathe chucker" on the outside of the box, but I did not find it inside. There is no mention of the item in the manual. I searched around on-line. The closest I found was a series of nested square brass tubes that act as collet chucks.
I wonder what would happen if I sent in the registration card and told them that my package was incomplete when I got it?

I had found one of these lathes years ago, it the early '80's. It was missing everything, and someone had even removed the screws that closed the box around the motor. I turned some stems for tobacco pipes I was making. Interesting, and about the only lathe you could fit into a college dorm room.
anthony harris
 
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