Essential MINI Lathe Upgrades 

What’s your favourite Upgrade/ mod on the lathe ???

Exceptionally well done video young man. I've been a machinist for about 30 years and have 'mini' machines at home. You seem to have a really good handle on what you're doing. Keep up the good work sir!

Take a shockasorber protektrubberfrom a Cross bike over the screw they are very flexible , sorry for my bad English I’m from Sweden .. Have it best. Chrick

I like your upgrades and plan on copying several of them. Thank You!

Enjoyable, Informative and a well presented video, well done Joe.

Great vid mate, keep em coming 👍

This was a great presentation! I like the idea of the magnetic way covers, and I love the idea of extending the chip guard. Just little things that make the operation much more pleasant. Nice work.

Hmm.. I really like the power feed built into my lathe... plus its nice being able to do accurate threading with it. Some of these are good ideas though.

very good. Lots of good information for upgrades/ Good job mate!

Good upgrades...Thanks for the video.

Thanks for some nice ideas

Nice video mate. Thanks very much!

I'm really loving the stepper controlled leadscrew. I'd really like to try something similar out, though I might make a bronze (not sure which type maybe lead bronze) half nut to reduce wear on the leadscrew. Cheers

When I thought about driving the saddle by motor my first thought was the lead screw, but since they are mainly meant for threading and prone to wear I opted for a small DC motor and adapted a pot controller and a DPDT switch for reverse. I am machining the coupling mechanism to attach to the handwheel shift and a quick on and off mount to retain original functionality. Gives me the option of adjustable feed bypassing the lead screw and half nut. Let you know how it works out, all for under $100.00 US. Love your resourfulness. You are a very creative individual, keep up the good work.

Great info here ! Thanks

Very good video Joe you have something in there or everyone, Also nice to see your subs on the rise, I wish the best for you, cheers!

Fantastic Video. Subscribed! Cant wait for new updates. A video covering how you did the lead screw stepper setup would be really useful. I am interested in duplicating your setup.

Excellent video thanks🤠👍

You have some great upgrade ideas, nice video

Well done :-)

I saw the Ades sticker and just had to sub. All really good additions.

G’day mate this video was well done by you you explained well and your approaching how to look after and improve your machine. That apron lock on your saddle was very good it’s something that I will do soon , good video look after yourselves regards John Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺

Awesome list of upgrades! The next upgrade level for the lead screw ought to be a programmable electronic one for multipurpose threading.

The DRO will also negate the backlash. Great video keep up the good work.

I have a mini lathe and this video is perfect !!!!!! I just suscribed grate job master !!!!!!

Great video thanks!! .... like the idea of the DRO and the stepper leed screw driver... like having a automatic change gearbox (which the imports do not generally have)

Brilliant 👏 👏 I need to get to work on them

Top 👌

Nice one! Cheapest way of doing "about 20mm" is wrap insulating tape around the drill "about 20mm" from the end😂

I agree. As silly it may seem to some, DRO on a lathe is a must if you want to do quick precision work without looking at the dials all the time.

Think they all worth doing, me thinks the DRO first, but I like the simplicity of the ways cover.

I love the flat block! You could mount a vertical slide on it too!

Favorite upgrade? CNC of course... :) Subscribed.

Great vid fella, have you considered adding a limit switch to the power drive feed so that I is stopped say 3mm from the chuck, as you useing a QCTP you probably never use odd tools for stock removal, a limit may be the final element in a great idea

Hello sir, great job, nice

You seen retro steam tech latest video,, he done a cooling mod for the motor as he had a motor melt down aswell and explained why.. Well worth adding to the list joe

As an hobbist for my mini lathe, i already have installed upgrade 2, 5, and 6. I'll try to install also "Tailstock-DRO" ( n. 8 ) that i believe very usefull. I don't like "toolpost riser" ( n. 3 ), but i can fix the compound with a screw when not to be used. So i can achive a good rigidity of the tool post. Best regards from Italy.

Upgrading the spindle bearings to angular contact bearings makes a huge difference - at least it did to mine. Also, if you are going to fit a stepper motor to the lead screw, might be worth investigating clough42's electronic lead screw project for change gear-less single point threading.

The magnetic cover is very nice, but what materials did you use? It would be nice to see the construction, simple but really effective!

These 180 videos are incredible Joe, its nice to see videos like this from another Brit, as the more common American videos tend to be based around machines that are only available in the US - I’m looking at setting up a home machine shop soon and the 180 seems like an ideal first machine in terms of size and price, it’s just a shame they don’t offer a WM180+ model with all these extras as stock options, I’d gladly pay £1500/£2k for a 180 with a power feed, AC inventor driven motor, reinforced gib, DRO etc. Considering one of the bigger units but in all honesty i don’t want to go too far and end up buying one that I’m out of my depth with! Out of curiosity where do you buy your metal stock from?

Love that music. Maybe you can keep in mind that it feels better if you keep the track sounding “rich” and “full” - not cutting out too much of the bass for example. Loved the sounds though 🎉 bravo

WM180 have a pre-installed DRO option, although waiting for new stock at the moment.

Do you not need to add a limit switch to the power feed so it doesn't run into the chuck?

You might want to check out Clough42 and his ELS (Electronic Lead Screw) project, to take your "power feed" to the next level. You're almost half way there already. Nice list of upgrades though. One more upgrade I would suggest is also swapping out the stock radial bearings on the spindle for angular contact bearings. Cheers!

HI Joe you can use an Aluminum strip of angle iron for your lead screw cover.

Hello Thank you because of sharing your video with us. Iwill say your all upgrades was amazing only the power feed not. Because the original power feed on the lathe They move in harmony but your extra power feed that you did not,so can make your lead screw be damaged.

All nice upgrades but I am most impressed with the DRO for your quill feed and the lead screw motor setup. Where can I buy setups like these? Great Video, by the way!

Will any of these upgrades allow you to turn a 22 inch diameter gear blank?

Did you ever find a cover for your lead screw? I might be able to help you out. I have a pretty bouje 3d printer (raise3d pro3 plus)

Have you tried wire loom tubing for the lead screw cover? I don’t know if it would work but they sell many different sizes and I’m sure they are available on Amazon UK. (Or are in Australia ?) Anyway good job with the video and I’ve subscribed.

A point about lead screw cover, I don't know if it's the same on the Warco but on the Sieg when the leadscrew cover is fitted it gets in the way of the top half-nut, so they did away with it and only used one half nut on the bottom and a 'hook' for the top, might be worth looking to see if a cover will get in the way.

Great info, can you flip the around and mount it's below the carriage to cut down o d length of d setup and also having to mount the motor on d bench?

Hello Joe, have you tried Warco for leadscrew covers? The telescopic leadscrew covers they supply for the WM240/250 might fit, and they may hold them as spares.

Nice video! I kept looking at the battery impact holder was that custom or they have it at a store?

Hi Joe, I have the same DRO installed on my WM180, just a question regarding the cross slide axis, one turn on the hand wheel removes 2mm of material but DRO only says 1mm as that's how far the slide has travelled, is there a way to compensate for this on the DRO? Cheers. Adam.

What model is the DRO you have on the lathe? it looks cheesy, but looks like it works well!

I'm confused about the Lead Screw Power Feed motor. Doesn't your lathe gearbox turn the lead screw, making the external motor superfluous? Otherwise...Great video! Thanks for putting this together.

Did a quick search for ways covers. MSC wants hundreds for any version. Can anyone suggest a source for the stiff bellows paper that I can fold and combine with magnets to make one like Joe's?

WIth regards to the stepper motor feeding the leadscrew, doesnt the WM180 already have power feed? Mine certainly does so wondering if I shouldnt be using it? Do I need to remove a belt to stop the motor turning it?

hi Joe, where did you purchase the way cover?

DROs from SHAHE are the most affordable. They are good enough by far and easy to insall. They run with batteries, but power them with 3,3 volt from a 5Volt saurce with a little 3,3V regulator is easy done.

Hmm, so with this setup you can’t do threading? I didn’t see if you have an encoder tracking your spindle position hooked up to the stepper motor like other ELS projects. Nice video!

Maybe it can be possible to use an AXA tool post on a minilathe instead the smaller chinese tool post ?

Hi Joe, if possible I need help fitting a 250x500 mm dro scales on a al 51 g mini lathe . Regards Sean, Australia

how did you make the ways cover

I’m looking at buying a sub 1 k Vevor for knives but my main lathe is 10 times the size of that and weighs 1500-2000 kg

tapered roller bearings. if not already installed.

Just use on of those telescoping umbrella cover

I'm surprised that there's not much "After Sales" on Chinese lathe, seing how I had to replace just about everything.

Love your show me Triple M Brother. Master of Manipulating Metal.

Is that a green hamerite paint job?

Did you manage to get a lead screw cover?

How about a carriage stop?

Little machine shop for leadscrew cover

Please provide the address for this mini lathe dealer/distributor, in *Indonesia* .

Joe, what the... happened to your barnet?

It does make you wonder if it's worth just buying a better quality lathe that doesn't need upgrading.

Hi Joe, great video, apart from a carriage stop, I think you covered about anything a man could want. Views are going well for this video, I don't get views like that in that time and I have 5k subs. You must be doing something right. Mini Lathe? To me a mini lathe comes with a 100mm chuck or smaller. Both my CNCs have 100mm chucks. My manual lathe has a 160 chuck and that is no mini lathe. Clever that you replaced the compound slide, it seems to be the major cause of wobbliness in mini lathes. First time I have seen your channel, will have a look at some of your other videos. Cheers from Australia, Nigel

I have a 3dprinter let me know

I would draw issue with you. A Mini-Lathe often referred to as 7 by 12, 7 by 14 or these days even 7 by 15 is a light lathe weighing in 12 centres around 37Kg The Warco WM-180 is an ultra short bed version of a full size model engineer's lathe weighing 60kg. Please do not try saying to me that it has a 90mm (3 1/2") centre height. The most popular Model Engineer lathe as made by Myford has a 3 1/2" centre height with a gap bed. I own one. So with all due respect, please do not equate your WM-180 with the far narrower bed true mini-lathes. It just isn't one of these machines. It is a far better lathe to start with. Not as good as an ML7-R or Super 7, both of which have a true precision front bearing as used on the best toolroom lathes. But then, a new Super 7 costs a lot more than the WM-180 & you only get what you pay for or are prepared to re-build using your own skill & money.

well it's a lathe ru-vid.comUgkxN9zrzkkhnjUF5PQbuA_B1gYdsfCu9k6z but it wasn't what i would have anticipated. Headstock, tailstock, carriage apron are manufactured from aluminum now not cast iron. The spindle diameter for the bearings is too small allowing for a few play in the spindle so I am using some blue Loctite to take out the play.

algolola

Essential MINI Lathe Upgrades..........remove oil fill cap and throw the rest of it away !!!!!!

Antonmursid 🇮🇩🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Hi Joe, if you have a stl file for the leadscrew cover I’ll print it for you no probs, no cost 👍Drop me a msg

My first and best upgrade was buy a better lathe.

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Aghhh look at the camera

Man, the english accent is.... interesting. 😂

Sounds like you're reading hostage demands. lol, sorry man, j/k, but really, just talk naturally! That way you can look into the camera.

for a feed screw cover use a piece of u channel aluminium or (stainless) steel contact me if you want for pictures

Antonmursid 🇮🇩🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏