Thrust Bearing Blocks

Does anyone know whether it is possible to buy plummer blocks that will take thrust? I want to try to make a small wood turning lathe from standard components.

Thank you.

James.

Not something I have come across in the past forty odd years. The nearest you can get are combined thrust and axial bearings. You may find components in the usual engineering part suppliers which would allow you to assemble something like you want.

I have not come across plummer blocks that have an integral thrust bearing. However you could use the type at the link below with a heavy washer (see down the link page) either side of the needle thrust bearing. This would deal with the thrust load and they are not too expensive. I am not sure where you are but any industrial supply or bearing supply firm will be able you get you one. I have such a thrust bearing set up in my 1949 South Bend lathe and it has performed well for over 16 years even under heavy drilling loads. The original ball thrust bearing in the lathe had heavy wear and some flat spots on the balls. So far no sign of wear on the needle thrust bearing. I lube my lathe with iso 32 hydraulic jack oil which works well and is easily available.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/thrust-bearings/roller-bearing-type~needle/

Thank you, both. That is pretty much what I had feared, but hope sprang eternal. I did search around before posting and could not find anything, but hoped that I was searching for the wrong thing.

James.

Angular contact spindle bearings may suit your project. link

Michaelr

It was common on old lathes to have a point bearing at the back end of the spindle. Lots of pictures show that.

Have you thought about using a car hub assembly? Dual taper roller bearings good seals and low cost.The Mk7 transit one looks eay to mount
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123925114485?
You even get a faceplate
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143374557735?

Ther are smaller ones for cars.
You could buy a complete hub carrier / upright with integral bearings and machine it into a headstock.

Robert

Edited By Robert Atkinson 2 on 12/08/2023 09:51:44

Additionally a plummer block almost always has self-aligining bearings. So you would need two and a shaft to make a rigid headstock

Not quite what you asked, but usually there are bargin Myford ML8 woodturning lathes on ebay, £100 and upward ?

Just an idea?

Pete

Yes you can they have a cone arrangement for adjustment they are used on boat propshafts.

Thank you for all of the replies and suggestions. I should have given more context, but I was posting from my phone, which is laborious.

My daughter's boyfriend is developing an interest in woodworking and woodturning. He seems more interested in making smaller things and due to a lack of a workshop, works indoors. I wanted to try to make him a very small, lightweight basic wood turning lathe that he use on the dining room table. I am currently very short on spare time, so was hoping to be able to use off-the-shelf bearing blocks on which to base the machine. I have looked at second-hand wood lathes and have seen several affordable machines, they are all too large to use indoors, realistically.

I might need to think again or just wait until I have the time to build something using some the ideas given.

James

How much end thrust are you expecting? Provided that the spindle is of a reasonable diameter, say 1" - 25mm then plummer blocks with standard (deep groove) ball races will be capable of handling axial loading from wood turning.

To put some numbers to it, the very common 6005 deep groove ball race will be able to take about 1/2 a ton axial (end thrust) load while rotating.

That sounds just like the ones I saw in Lidl this afternoon. £50 spent would see him making his first cuts a few minutes after getting it home...

As I was reading this, my dearly beloved came back from Lidl and said that they had wood turning lathes at very reasonable prices. Problem solved. Thank you.

One Lidl lathe bought. One happy daughter's boyfriend.

Too late to make a difference, but for a small tabletop wood lathe, the axial forces would be well within the capacity of these blocks. The Lidl lathe will be a fine start and ready to use immediately, assuming some tools and wood are available now, good luck.

How happy is the daughter - with the resulting dust and chips all over the dining table!

Edited By James Alford on 14/08/2023 08:06:22