Mini Lathe

I was given a Proxxon DB250 Mini Lathe for Christmas. I have never done any wood turning before so I spent a few weeks turning fat sticks into skinny ones to get the hang of it.



It isn't very expensive, it takes up little bench space, it is very quiet for a power tool, and it is very therapeutic.


After getting comfortable with the tools I tried making some baseball bats to get the hang of some basic techniques.







#tool #custom

Here are a few other things I have been making.

Lectern/Podium. The candle was cut from a taper that Churches use to light their candles.






Candlestick and candle. Same candle as above. The base of the candlestick is a wooden button.






Balance scales. The trays are the backs of jewelry pendants with some holes drilled through them.

It is not just that you have the instrument, you also have the talent to use it. I imagine we'll get to see plenty more of your tiny creations.

I knew someone who had one years ago......he was making mini metal lightsaber hilts. I picked up a few from him for some of my custom Jedi. I wonder if this one can do metal? I may have to find one of those.....I'd love to make some more custom hilts.

Excellent work. That little device seems pretty handy.

Love the stuff you're turn out with the lathe. Getting more and more tempted...

Yeah, I'm with dadrab, you've got me really tempted to pick one up. Everything is looking great, and I especially love the podium and scales. And my post apocalyptic wastelanders could always use some baseball bats, maybe with some nails and barbed wire.... may start looking into one sooner than later.

Materials costs are zero. The main advantage in working with miniatures is that we need very little in the way of materials. I love using eucalypt wood on the lathe but these trees don't grow straight. It doesn't matter because I generally only need a piece that is 3-5 inches in length and, even on a twisted branch, I can often find a section that is straight enough to use. Even if I need some square-sectioned wood, I only need a small piece, and can get those by fishing off-cuts out of a bin on a construction site. I work in an electrical store and a lot of large appliances include lengths of cheap wood in their packaging. Whenever one of them is unpacked to go on display, the timber comes home with me instead of being tossed in the bin. Everything I do on the lathe costs me nothing except time and I'd rather spend my time making stuff rather than watching TV or playing video games.

Card Table

I love the card table. Is that real felt?

Wow, impressive work!

The card table is awesome!

Perfect Figure Toys wrote:I knew someone who had one years ago......he was making mini metal lightsaber hilts.  I picked up a few from him for some of my custom Jedi.  I wonder if this one can do metal?  I may have to find one of those.....I'd love to make some more custom hilts.  

In theory, it should be able to, since rotating metal stock ( especially at this size) shouldn't tax the motor. Your main issue would be cutting tools. You can't cut metal with the tools made for wood. You could use sand paper, of course, though it would be slow and difficult to get fine detail ( I imagine)
You might want to check the local auto parts store for brake lathe bits and make your own handles. They could handle the cutting, have a fairly tight tip and multiple cutting sides. Just a thought.

This baseball bat had a few dings in it so I turned it into a post apocalyptic weapon.

Cool spikey bat. Where’s Snake?

I think ReverendSpooky will need the spikey bat for his Radio Kings.

GubernatorFan wrote:I think ReverendSpooky will need the spikey bat for his Radio Kings.

I SO do!!! When I ordered the test tubes off of Shazzdan a little while ago, I immediately regretted not asking about ordering a few bats too to save on shipping. But I think I'm going to have to order a few really soon. Shazzdan, keep an eye out for an etsy order, probably next week.

I've actually been thinking of going through all the old figures I have in bins in my basement, that don't hold up to current standards, and start kitting them out as generic wastelanders. Try not to spend too long on them, but just get a bunch together for some really brutal action photoshoots. And they are most definitely going to need a few nail-bats.

ReverendSpooky wrote:I've actually been thinking of going through all the old figures I have in bins in my basement, that don't hold up to current standards, and start kitting them out as generic wastelanders.  Try not to spend too long on them, but just get a bunch together for some really brutal action photoshoots.  And they are most definitely going to need a few nail-bats.

If you have any figures with broken limbs then turn them into cyborgs or amputees or zombies. The really bad ones can be the remains of corpses scattered on the ground.

Made a little addition to the lectern. Took a while to find a crucifix that was the right size, style, and price.

shazzdan wrote:

ReverendSpooky wrote:I've actually been thinking of going through all the old figures I have in bins in my basement, that don't hold up to current standards, and start kitting them out as generic wastelanders.  Try not to spend too long on them, but just get a bunch together for some really brutal action photoshoots.  And they are most definitely going to need a few nail-bats.

If you have any figures with broken limbs then turn them into cyborgs or amputees or zombies. The really bad ones can be the remains of corpses scattered on the ground.

Totally a good plan! I think there may be some limbs flying off too, if I can get it right.

Really nice podium you made, shazzdan. The addition of the cross really sells it.

Nicely done sledgehammer. You wouldn’t know the head was made of wood.

Oh these are all fantastic! I used a wood lathe at college a few times and you’re right, it really is incredibly therapeutic...right up until you overdo it and your bit of wood goes flying off the machine into your face! (I’m pleased to say it was a classmate who made that mistake, though I came close once or twice! XD)

Stryker2011 wrote:Nicely done sledgehammer. You wouldn’t know the head was made of wood.

"gun metal grey". I use this colour paint everywhere.