Replies

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Jan 08, 2006 12:36pm | #1

   Hi steve,

   I too had to make some minaitures for a school project about two years back.When I was thinking of how to make some turnings without a lathe I too thought of the drill press idea and gave it a go.I did have some trouble at first so I tipped my drill on its side and I got along much better.Also because my drill press is homemade I made it to run on one speed (approx 500rpm) which made it even worse, therefore I would recommend that you have your drill press running on the highest speed possible for the best finish on the miniatures.Here's a link for getting the plans for the toolrest and extra bits and bobs.

   http://metalwebnews.com/poorman/wood.html

   The plan is about 1/6 of the way down.There are also quite a few other ones on there aswell.

   p.s.In the end I just got a lathe and am really enjoying it, it gives you a break from the cabinet making work.

   Good Luck,

   Sawdust.

   'It's not a mistake It's a design feature'

1. 
   rangersteve | Jan 08, 2006 06:08pm | #2

   Thanks for the link sawdust.   I thought it could be done.    The cannon we are making is actual size however, not a small model.   The kicker is, the darn thing has to be able to "shoot" a 5" diameter dodge ball.     So I've got a piece of 6" PVC  with a clean out for the breech and am planning on building a 12 sided column around it.  I'm sure I could just hand plane and sand it somewhat smooth but the perfectionist in me wants to turn it so it actually looks like a cannon barrel.    Thanks again, Steve

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Jan 08, 2006 08:04pm | #3

   Hi steve,

   In that case then I not quite sure whether It would do your drill press a lot of good as the bearings would not stand up to the weight.If I am wrong please do correct me.I would however be careful if you are going to bring something like this into school, your son might have an idea or two about ruining the teachers days in more than one way.This idea can be run off of a compressor as I have done it once myself.To avoid risking your drill press I would recommend hiring a lathe from a machinery hire shop i'm sure that you could get one for a week for about $50 but then again that is a lot of money to spend on something that you will not own.Anyway good luck.Please tell me how you got on with it, that is if you do it. If you are thinking of making a firing mechanism then just give this website a try:

   http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/cannon/improved_launcher.html

   Good luck to both you and your son.

   Sawdust.'It's not a mistake It's a design feature'

2. 
   kesac | Jan 09, 2006 02:02am | #4

   I used to know a guy in Tulsa, who did just that with a Craftsman drill press.  That was in about 1980, so right now I can't even remeber his name, except that he made lots of stuff with it.

3. 
   highfigh | Jan 09, 2006 05:44am | #5

   Since you probably have a router, why not set it up on a sled that rides on a pair of rails over the barrel, with the barrel on two centers so it can turn? If one of you turns the barrel, the other can advance the router. You can taper the barrel or add a bulge in it by cutting the rails to that contour. Just use a straight bit and then either scrape it smooth or use a random orbital sander.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
4. 
   mike4244 | Jan 10, 2006 01:38am | #6

   Build or buy a lathe . Have you used a lathe? It would be difficult to turn  a large piece such as a cannon vertically. Just roughing in would be hazardous. Perhaps you can borrow a lathe or use a schools lathe.

   mike

5. 
   Handrubbed | Jan 27, 2006 12:15am | #7

   I saw article about using a drill press to turn pens.  I tried it and it worked fine.  You have to make a small fixture with a dowel center set into a small 1/4" id bearing for the pen mandrel to spin on.  You also need some 1/2" steel rod to use as a tool rest.  This is fastened vertically in the same fixture.  This was a good way to try some turning without much of an investment.  I sold the gouge soon after, so I did it all for a few dollars.  It wasn't a real turning experience, but enough of one that I found out I wasn't all that excited about turning.  My club now has a lathe that it lends out if I need one. 

   That would have to be a very small cannon.