It looks like you're doing great with the little time you get here and there! The "authentic" gingery feel is real here, using the minimum tools required to get the work done.

Solidworks is planning on having a low-cost subscription version released this year with most of the standard features, targeted towards makers and the like. I'd recommend either that or just Fusion36

I honestly misread the question and thought you had mentioned the headstock, not the spindle. I'd say it would be worthwhile if you wanted to case harden the end of the spindle with the center. Until

#lathe

I'm pretty sure all of the cast parts are aluminium.

#lathe

I'd say start with lost foam, simply because you're more likely to get something decent with minimal trouble, and you don't need to worry about all of the problems associated with getting a split patt

I would say no. It shouldn't need hardening. If you want to protect it go with an enamel or epoxy paint.

#lathe

It's a lebond regal lathe, built in the latter half of 1950. 17" center and over 60" working length, it was a bear to get into my garage. I'm about halfway through the restoration now, having taken th

Personally, I kinda gave up on building my gingery machines. Had a lot of trouble with castings, and in the end got an import lathe on sale. Instead of building my own machines I switched over to buyi

I quite enjoyed his videos as well, so seeing this popped up I did a little digging. Seems he's still alive and well, looks like a case of life getting in the way and his channel/brand not being the p