Putting an old glass cutters lathe back in service

[Jim Riser]

Since several of you use such equipment for your brilliant cuttings, I thought you might like to monitor the progress on this project. I picked up the lathe and larger wheels about 12 years ago but did not want to set it up until I found a good counter pulley for it. I like my machines "just so" as I work with and look at them all day long. I do not want to fight machines nor look at ugly machines. Life is too short.

It turns out that the counter pulley I just acquired has a 30mm bore. So, as soon as things cool down here in Tucson, I'll order a 30mm shaft and pillow blocks for the pulley. I plan on installing a 3 phase motor with VFD to give me the optimal speed ranges. This will also allow plugging in to a regular outlet.

One of the things nice about such machines is the ring oiling babbitt bearings. The bearings do not extend above the shaft by very much giving the maximum clearance above the lathe for larger items being cut.

This will be a very nice addition to the shop. You may see progress images here:
http://jamesriser.com/StoneWheels/StoneWheelItems.html

I have also posted images of the wheels as several engravers have asked to see the assortment.

I will use the lathe for deep rough cuts and overall shaping of glass blanks. The final work will be by copper wheel.

Enjoy.
JIm

[erik winkler]

Hello James,
Looks like you have a great set op there.
The model is made in Bohemiam style, maybe Spatzier or Merker.
Inga might know this best.
The work you are trying to do is indeed copper wheel engraving, but I have not seen a copper wheel yet?...
Did you order the dvd of dreisner?
That is THE perfect tutorial for any starting copper engraver!

Keep me posted.
Erik

[Jim Riser]

CompletedSpindleBearings326.jpg (46.93 KiB) Viewed 11520 times

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Erik,
It is not a Spatzier or Merker. The guy I bought it from thought is was German but Inga has a picture she took of virtually identical machines which were Czech. I'll go with Czech. They also made a smaller version for copper wheel work.

I've been doing copper wheel engraving since 1975. There are pics of copper wheels elsewhere on my web site. The lathe that I am restoring is like a copper wheel lathe on steroids. It is large. Yes, I have Dreiser's DVD and books plus any other copper wheel book that I thought worth buying.

Here are some copper wheels for you to look at:
http://www.JamesRiser.com/OldLathe/Lathe.html

This is the lathe I always used when doing demos or engraving names at various stores at Christmas time. My main lathe is a Spatzier which I ordered directly from Richard Spatzier years ago.

At the moment I am making another copper wheel lathe loosely in the style of the old brass bodied lathes. This is being done as a fun project.

Hopefully a couple pics of the spindle I just machined for this new lathe have been posted.

Jim

[erik winkler]

I know the Moser company. You have a real treasure there.
I also have seen this machine in earlier occasions in The Czech republic, austria and germany.
They are very rare indeed, but it seems this one is in good hands.
Nice oak table you have made for it.

[Jim Riser]

Erik,
I feel that I am merely a custodian of my assortment of machines. It is my task to restore them back to workable condition, take care of them, update them if it will do no damage, and use them with respect. Eventually I will pass them on to another engraver. Hopefully it will all avoid being stuck in a museum somewhere. The machines were designed and made to be used not just displayed.

The advantage of using an experienced machine is that it already knows how to do its job. I simply work with such machines and let the experience flow from it to me. This seems to have worked well for decades.

BTW - the oak wood that I made the table, motor mount, and spindle rack from I salvaged from an 1850 vintage barn in Indiana. This keeps the lathe and everything with it vintage. Even the drawing stand is vintage oak and walnut.
Jim

[Roderick Treece]

Jim,
I am so happy you found your way to the forum. I have been drooling over all of your equipment for a long time. Thanks for sharing. Are you interested in teaching ?

Roderick

[Jim Riser]

Roderick;
It's good to be here.

I have no time to take on any engraving students. But I am in the process of creating a DVD on glass engraving. Perhaps I can finish it next year.

When I was starting out in the 1970's a couple stone wheel guys who were afraid that I might be competition for them would constantly harp on how you needed natural stone wheels and there were none available. I nosed around and found plenty of man made stone wheels that worked perfectly for what I needed to do. In addition, I figured that the earth had not run out of natural stone for wheels - so I went looking for suitable stone. The pictures here show a few 2 1/8" diameter by 1 1/8" thick natural stone wheels that I make for my own use. They can be made much larger too. The earth still gives!

One thing nice about glass cutting and engraving is that virtually everything required can be made by the dedicated person. The copper wheel lathe I am building will illustrate how even the ultimate in equipment can be made. All of this type of thinking will be on my DVD. Many great engravers have used rather primitive equipment. The professional goodies are nice but not absolutely required - especially for learning.
Jim

P.S. The wheels shown still need to be leaded and dressed. These are the rough wheels as I make them.

[erik winkler]

The wheels look good.
I agree that every comitted builder could help himself with a working machine.
Except you need to know what you are making.
Now that i have my own brilliant cutting machine, I know how to build one myself.
The same with the wheels, and pulley system.

Do you have some photo's of larger self cut work?

Erik

[Jim Riser]

Erik,
What do you mean by larger self cut work? Everything I do is self cut. I do copper wheel work on crystal. It is generally under 18" tall. The only windows I do are old auto vent windows, port holes, and small door windows. I use stone wheels for rough cuts and shaping glass to later be engraved.
Jim

[erik winkler]

Ok, I was hoping you did larger glass also.
Somehow that is my favourite. Why? Maybe because it gives so many extra problems to tackle. Maybe because you can See the inpact more then on rounded glass.
And i like the final polishing very much.