Free Metalworking Project Plans: Ball Turning Toolpost (Lathe, Mill)
Material: Steel
Units: (in)
I’ve seen many ball turning designs as I read through the back issues of Home Shop Machinist and Projects in Metal, but I’ve never seen one as simple and effective as Steve Bedair’s Ball Turning Toolpost.
Steve runs a website dedicated to 9 x 20 lathes and it’s full of great information. If you’re interested in this project, be sure to check out the other projects Steve has listed on his site.
Note: Because this project requires both a lathe and mill to complete, I’m listing it under both categories.
Here’s an image of Steve’s Ball Turning Toolpost in action:
And here’s a YouTube video clip of the toolpost in action:
Excited yet?
Here’s the link to the plans so you can create your own! If you want a detailed walkthrough of the process, be sure to visit Steve’s site.
Ball_Turning_Toolpost_-_Complete.pdf (225.4 KiB, 6,438 hits)
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Tags: Intermediate, Lathe, Mill, Units (in)
February 9th, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Very interesting, I have wanted a ball turning tool for ages. With the details I am finding on the web I’m sure I can make one.
Kind regards
John King
New Zealand
February 10th, 2009 at 12:55 AM
Excellent! When you finish yours send me a picture and I’ll post it here. I found another design for a ball turner a few days ago. I can post it if you like.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Hi,
I’m very pleased to see Steve’s plans on another site.
I found them over 2 years ago and built my toolpost (the one in the video) shortly after….. Best tool I’ve ever made!
I also made a mini version for a 7×12 chinese lathe for a forum friend who had no mill.
I’m glad that youtube insight lead me here…. I’m quite enjoying wandering around your site.
It’s going into my favourites.
Ralph.
March 1st, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Thanks for the kind words Ralph. So I take it you’re the author of the YouTube video? If so, excellent work. I’ve had other comment on how helpful it’s been to see Steve’s ball turner in action. I’m glad you’re enjoying your visit, and thanks for adding ProjectsInMetal.com to your favorites!
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Hello again,
Yes, that’s my video. I sent Steve the link to make sure he was ok with me posting it.
He was not only ok with it, he placed a link from his site to it…. Very happy me!
My most hit video!
I’m glad to hear that it has helped someone, it was originaly made to demo the tool to a few other people thinking of building one.
With the double headed toolpost it can be used to make all sorts of shapes, some of which I have also posted in film.
The tips I used are – Sandvik VBMT 16 04 08 (VBMT 11 02 04 in the 7×12 size one I made) just incase anyone wants to know?
I’ll leave upto you if you want to show any details of the forum I listed in the ‘website’ box.(I’m just a member there) There are details and pictures as to my mounting method for the tips.
I’ve seen some projects on here I would really like to try when I’ve cleared my backlog….
Thank you for making them available.
Ralph.
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Ooops… I put the wrong address in! Hope it has now changed?
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Are you talking about this link?
http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=741.0
Feel free to share any additional info/links for this project. At the moment the ball turner plans are the most downloaded of all the plans on the site, so it’s obviously a popular project.
Also, if you have plans for any other projects that you’ve made, please consider uploading them. I really like the projects I’ve seen of yours on YouTube – feel free to share plans and links for anything that you think visitors might enjoy. That’s what this site is here for!
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:36 PM
By the way, if your forum allows it, maybe you could post a link to this site so others interested in building the ball turner can find a copy of the plans (if you do that though, be sure to also post a link to Steve’s site, I’m certainly not trying to steal his thunder!).
Anyway, a link on your forum would definitely help spread the word about ProjectsInMetal.com, which I would greatly appreciate!
Just a thought … :)
March 10th, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Hi,
I’ve posted a couple of links there (got permission first)
It’s only a small site at the mo’ but it’s growing. The post of the link has had 35+ views already and I’ve posted it on the ball turner posts I did there too….
Hope it sends a few your way :-)
Ralph.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Hey Ralph, thanks for the plug on MadModder.net – I’ve been noticing a few hits from that URL over the past several days so I checked it out and saw your posts. Thanks for the Kudos! It’s resulted in several hits. In fact, MadModder.net is the 7th largest incomming link currently, so I guess the forum isn’t as small as you might think, or maybe you just wrote such a compelling plug that it’s getting a 100% clickthrough from everyone who reads it :)
Have you been working on anything else lately? I’d love to feature another project if you’ve got the plans to go along with it. Let me know or feel free to submit via the “Submit Your Plans!” tab at the top of the page.
Thanks again for the kind words, you’re helping the site grow by spreading the word.
Tyler
March 10th, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Oh, and the ball turner plans are still the most highly downloaded of all the plans (with nearly 1000 downloads after just 1 month), and I’m sure its due to your video. That should make you proud!
Tyler
March 13th, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Hi Tyler,
I think that MadModder has quite a few “guest” hits…. Just that only a few like to join and share!
Glad the link is sending some your way too (even the Mad boss himself! ;-) )
I’ve got a few things of my own design I have made but the plans are either not drawn up properly or (most of the time) there never were any! I make a lot of things on the fly.
If I use someone elses plans then they’re always listed or linked to.
Lately,I’ve been making a couple of small fun engine type ideas, all from my head, inspired by others though :-) None of them finished yet…. need to get myself back out into the cold workshop!
Happy that the vid’ is helping, glad to see more projects being listed since I first found my way here. I’m going to have a good look through.
Very, very good site you have here :-)
Ralph.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Hey, great site! I’m very excited to find your site… I plan on “cutting my teeth” and doing some of your projects to better my skill on the lathe. (Rather new to it) I’m thinking that this ball cutter tool could be used to also cut domes in metal by facing the cutter outward. This will be killer for modifying and making cylinder heads on scooter engines. Thanks for the great site! When I find the time, I’ll also post a link on my scooter forum. (http://forum.scooterinvasion.net)
~Josh
July 8th, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Hi Josh,
Glad to hear that you liked the site. My hope is that people new to machining will find simple, yet useful (and hopefully somewhat inspiring) projects to “cut their teeth” on. Eventually I’d like to expand the site a bit to include a few instructional videos that walk you through the project step by step. Even with a set of plans, someone completely new to machining would still have trouble getting started with even the most simple of projects.
Let me know if I can be of any help along the way as you start to hone your skills on the lathe. Good luck and have fun!
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Liked it so much I bought the soundtrack!
August 27th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
This is an excellent design. I have been thinking of adapting this design to my Atlas lathe for some time. Way to go Tyler.